The representative of the police said that the demonstration was uncoordinated
Several thousand protesters gathered on Wednesday at the Ratchaprasong junction near the Central World shopping mall in Bangkok. On the eve, leaders of the anti-government demonstration announced the event, which was timed to coincide with the parliamentary vote on constitutional amendment bills.
A representative of the police had already managed to reach the audience and stated that since the police had not been notified in advance of the event, it was uncoordinated and the demonstrators had to leave the venue. Despite this, as can be seen from the live broadcast by the organisers of the rally from the Free Youth Association, people continue to arrive. The roadway in the demonstration area has already been occupied by numerous protesters, and the police are watching what is happening. There is already a car on the spot with a stage where anti-government slogans are heard.
Meanwhile, Parliament is voting on seven draft bills on constitutional amendments. According to the procedure, 750 lawmakers take turns voting for each version of the bill to amend the country’s basic law. At this point in time, the current government’s version of the bill enjoys the most support, followed by the opposition party’s version of For the Thais (Phyua Thai). The version proposed by the iLaw platform, which also includes monarchy reform, is in the penultimate position in terms of popularity.
The protesters were also planning to visit the Metropolitan Police Department, which is located near the shopping centre. In the morning, law enforcement began blocking the main gate leading into the police station using concrete blocks, chains, barbed wire and two large trucks. The demonstrators were dissatisfied with the fact that not a single policeman was present at the site the day before during two skirmishes with the Royalists near Parliament and several people were shot.
Demonstrations in Thailand have been taking place almost every day since 14 October, which marked the anniversary of the 1973 student uprising. The co-ordinators promised to continue until their demands – the resignation of the Prime Minister, a constitutional change and reform of the monarchy – are met. On 21 October, the protesters arrived at Government House and handed a statement to the police demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation, which had to be signed within three days, but the head of the Cabinet ignored it. On 17 November, 55 people were injured during a protest near Parliament, which grew into a confrontation between demonstrators and police officers.