More than a thousand demonstrators gathered in the streets of Bangkok on Sunday, defying the ban on mass gatherings, to protest against the government’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and called on Prime Minister (PM) Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also heads the country’s virus task force, to step down.
Apart from this, the Free Youth Group and its allies, who organised the march, listed two other demands: to divert budget funds meant for the monarchy and military towards COVID-19 relief efforts; and for the government to halt the use of Sinovac vaccines and instead buy mRNA-based vaccines.
“Get out, Prayut!” slogans were heard from several agitators wearing the unofficial protest colours of red and black. Some also showed up with fake body bags made out of cloth stuffed with hay and splashed with red paint. “This represents the bodies of people who died from COVID-19. The Covid-19 situation is proof that the government cannot handle the country well,” Saharat Jantasuwan, a student protester, told The Straits Times. In addition, demonstrators set fire to a cardboard figure of the PM.
In response, the Thai police attempted to break up the protests with water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas. They also tried to stop protesters from removing barriers along the marching route from the Democracy Monument to the Government House, which houses the PM’s bureau. Moreover, The Straits Times reported that while the protest was initially supposed to disperse around 6 pm, a stand-off between the police and a large group of protesters continued for several more hours. Authorities finally managed to disperse the crowd before the beginning of Bangkok’s 9 pm curfew, which has been in force as a COVID-19 containment measure. Offenders risk facing a penalty of up to two years’ jail or a 40,000 baht ($1,218) fine, or both.
Sunday’s protests also marked the first anniversary of Thailand’s large-scale street protests, which were led by youth groups demanding PM Prayut’s resignation, a new Constitution, and an overhaul of the monarchy. Defaming the monarchy is a crime under the Thai constitution.
Thailand’s COVID-19 situation has been worsening since the spread of the Delta variant, making it another critical issue of grievance for citizens. The country has recently been reporting more than 10,000 new daily cases and has thus far recorded almost 3,300 deaths. On Sunday, COVID-19 restrictions, including travel curbs, mall closures, and a curfew from 9 pm to 4 am, were extended to three more provinces, starting from Monday. The curb is the strictest the country has seen in the past year, and it has already been imposed in Bangkok and nine other provinces since last week. The restrictions are supposed to remain in effect until August 2.