BANGKOK, KOMPAS.com – Questioning the power of the King Thailand so far it was taboo and the perpetrators could be subject to long prison terms, but now more and more young generation which openly states opposition to the monarchy.
One of them is Panusaya Sithijirawattankul, a 21 year old student who is now a symbol of the children’s struggle there.
With tens of thousands of people attending a recent rally not far from the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Panusaya protested against the current political and royal system in Thailand.
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In front of a large screen displaying an image of Panusaya, nicknamed Rung, speaks at the largest anti-royal system demonstration since 2014 when General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha took power in a coup.
“We have the same ideology, the same intention, the same goal: to end Prayuth’s regime, and to reform the kingdom, don’t we?” he said which was greeted with great fanfare by the protesters.
Without fear of the rule of law that prohibits citizens from insulting the king, Rung loudly expressed his wish for the royal family to have less power in politics.
“I decided to speak up because if we don’t have the courage to say it, change will not happen,” Rung told ABC.
“I’m not afraid of going to jail,” he said. Despite saying this, Rung insisted that he did not insult the kingdom.
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“We don’t want to destroy institutions. Our proposal is reform, not revolution.”
A prison sentence of between three and 15 years may be served by the young activist if convicted by a law known in English as read majesty law.
Several people have been arrested and later released on bail in connection with other protests over the last two months.
Rung said that the time would come soon.
“I will definitely be detained one day because the detention order has been issued,” he said.
“What I have to do is plan what I will do before and after the detention, so that this movement doesn’t stop when I or the other leaders are gone.”
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The anti-monarchy movement led by students has begun to move in since July with several demonstrations being held each week.
Protest leaders started with three demands: the parliament dissolved, the constitution changed, and an end to the suppression of opposition activists.
After king of Thailand who was in power in 2016, the palace called for a change in the constitutional law that gave it greater power in emergencies.
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The king now personally controls several military units and palace assets worth tens of billions of dollars.
“Thai politics has not developed at all, there is only a vicious circle. Coups, elections, coups, elections,” said Rung.
“If we want a better life, there must be a good political system. So we have to fix the problem.”
Last August, a group staged a Harry Potter-themed protest against “Anonymous”, over a ban on naming King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Lifting three fingers from the film The Hunger Games was also performed at the demonstration as a symbol of democracy.
In late August, protesters began to publicly present their demands including reducing the king’s control over the constitution, police, armed forces and public funds and the abolition of the Lese Majeste Law.
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It was Rung who took to the stage at a demonstration to read a political manifesto containing 10 terms of demands for the first time.
“The masses are eagerly supporting that statement,” he said.
“It is hard to believe that Thai society, which has been suppressed for so long, has become so courageous. I am also surprised by myself being so brave to speak up.”
According to Rung in the number of hours later, he was then followed by a police in plain clothes.
“They monitored me from outside the dormitory, and sometimes followed me by car when I got out,” he said.
“They disappeared for a while, but came back a few days ago.”
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Thais are shocked by the radical demands of the protesters
The young activist said that his parents were afraid and worried for his safety.
“They say that if this movement is against the government it is okay, but they ask me not to speak against the government,” he said.
“I told them I couldn’t do that, because that’s the root of the problem, and if we don’t solve the monarchy problem, we can’t solve another problem. I have to say that.”
Several generations older supported the student movement, said Kanocrat Lertchoosakul, a political science lecturer at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
Others said they were “shocked” that students had the courage to demand that this “sacred, untouchable and lovable institution” should reform.
“This demand is the most radical demand in Thai political history,” said Dr Lertchoosakul.
“The older generation doesn’t dare talk about what they think. Whether we love or hate about something, we just keep it in. This is the teaching we received from childhood.”
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A television footage from the Thai TV Pool on May 4, 2019, shows Maha Vajiralongkorn when he is crowned the King of Thailand with the title Rama X of the Chakri Dynasty.-
Royal supporters counterattack
Not all residents agree with the opinion of these young activists.
Those who support the royal system have already expressed disappointment about what the young protesters said and have counterattacked by staging counter demonstrations.
In one of the biggest demonstrations in August around 1,200 members of a group called Thai Loyal carried the national flag and a portrait of the king showing their complete support for the monarchy.
A prominent politician Warong Dechgitvigrom formed the group because he felt the kingdom was being attacked.
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“The point of our group is to protect the kingdom with knowledge and facts,” Dechgitvigrom told Reuters.
“The royal institution has no role in running the country. It provides moral support that holds all citizens together.”
Thai Loyal also made three demands: the absence of dissolving parliament, maximum legal action against anyone trying to overthrow the kingdom, and constitutional changes that could only be carried out through legal channels.
“I want the new generation to respect the country, religion and monarchy as much as we do, because without one of these three elements, this country would not be able to survive,” said Somporn Sooklert, a protester from the Thai Loyal group.
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Everyone was waiting for the King’s next move
While protesters are preparing to be detained according to the country’s laws, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha said the King had not ordered any detentions.
Police said they were considering taking action against the leaders of the demonstration which took place on September 19, but had not done so and did not say what articles were violated.
Prime Minister Prayuth has warned that Thailand will “burn with big flames” if differences continue, but has so far allowed large rallies to be held on the grounds of free speech.
He said that the push for monarchical reform was unacceptable and that now was not the time to discuss this.
“I hear the people’s political protests and the constitutional issues, I respect your opinion,” said PM Prayuth.
“But now our country has an urgent problem that must be addressed, namely the economic collapse due to Covid-19.”
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