The Thammasat manifesto

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On a stage at an out-of-town campus of one of Thailand's top universities, a young woman with wavy long hair and owlish spectacles steps forward, through a dramatic cloud of dry-ice, and reads out a 10-point manifesto to a crowd of cheering students.

Her demands, for a monarchy that is accountable to the country's elected institutions, that moderates its use of public funds, stays out of politics and does not exercise control over important army units, would be unremarkable in most countries.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53770939

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Thailand's youth demo evolves to largest protest since 2014 coup

Thailand's free-speech advocates demanding democratic reforms are winning increasingly open support from academics, celebrities and a broadening swathe of the public as the authorities and royalist establishment attempt unsuccessfully to silence them.

Free People, an activist group that morphed out of student-led Free Youth, organized the biggest rally to date on Sunday afternoon at Democracy Monument near the administrative heart of Thailand's capital.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau put the number of protesters at about 12,000, but a policeman on the ground told the Nikkei Asian Review that around 20,000 had turned out.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Tur...ince-2014-coup

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Prawit affirms people's right to rally, express opinions

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Monday people can stage rallies and express their opinions, as long as they do not infringe on the rights of other people.

He also acknowledged that the constitution needs amending.

Gen Prawit was speaking at Government House in response to reporters' questions about the mass anti-government demonstration by the Free People group at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Sunday night.

The demonstrators issued a statement calling on the government to set up a constitution-drafting committee to write a new constitution based on the will of the people, and to stop harassing individuals exercising their democratic rights.

They also demanded the government dissolve parliament.

The demonstrators said they would lift their anti-government movement to a higher level if their three-point demand was not met.

Gen Prawit said the protesters can express their opinions, which may be different from others', as long as they do not infringe on the rights of other people.

"The government is duty-bound to provide security for the demonstrators," he said.

Asked why the government had not done anything, since the gathering contravened the emergency decree, which is still in force, Gen Prawit retorted: "What can we do?"

Asked how he felt about seeing such a large number of anti-government demonstrators on Sunday night, Gen Prawit declined to answer and walked away.

In a subsequent interview, Gen Prawit said his Palang Pracharath Party was ready for constitutional amendment and party members would propose changes through its executive board.

"It must be amended," Gen Prawit said, referring to the constitution.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...press-opinions

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Thailand arrests activist who called for reform of monarchy

The charges against the six protesters do not relate to their demands, but are for allegedly breaching internal security and coronavirus measures that have banned public gatherings, as well as computer crimes. Three of those targeted have already been arrested once and bailed over recent protests.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...rm-of-monarchy