Pro-Democracy Protests in Bangkok

Описание: Thousands of pro-democracy protesters in Thailand gathered outside the main office of the nation’s most valuable lender, in which King Maha Vajiralongkorn is the biggest shareholder, as they push for more transparency and accountability from the monarchy.

The demonstration outside Siam Commercial Bank Pcl was organized to “reclaim the assets that should belong to the people and the nation,” Free Youth, one of the protest groups, said on Twitter. The bank closed its headquarters as protesters shifted the venue last-minute following a police ban on gatherings within 150 meters (500 feet) of the Crown Property Bureau office, the original site of the rally.

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King Vajiralongkorn’s wealth has become a key focus for protesters following legal changes after he ascended the throne in 2016 gave him the power to put his name on the assets of the Crown Property Bureau, which included holdings of prime properties in Bangkok and shares in major listed companies, including Siam Commercial Bank. They also consolidated management of the assets and eliminated the finance minister’s role as the agency’s ex-officio chairman.

The protesters have demanded those changes be revoked to make a clear division between the king’s personal assets and other palace property they want under the control of the Finance Ministry. They also want the national budget allocated to the monarchy be reduced in line with growth in Thailand’s tourism-reliant economy, which has been hard hit by the pandemic.

Royal Defamation
The Bureau of the Royal Household declined to comment, and the Crown Property Bureau didn’t answer calls seeking comment on Wednesday. Hundreds of pro-royalist supporters have also gathered on Wednesday in another part of the capital.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, who has repeatedly rejected calls to quit, toughened his stance on demonstrators last week. The government and security agencies “will now enforce all laws available to deal with protesters who break the law and ignore other people’s rights and freedom,” he said last week.

At least 12 protest leaders received summonses from police on charges of royal defamation, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. It’s the first time police are using the lese majeste law, which can lead to lengthy jail sentences, against protesters since the movement began in July.

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