Months of mass anti-government protests, in Thailand, are about to have their first casualty as protesters remain adamant of constitution change and the trimming of King Maha Vajiralongkorn powers. As protesters continue to fill the streets, it is emerging that the Royal Thai Armed Forces might be planning another coup.
Thailand Anti Government Protests
The student led protesters are pushing for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ochoa, a retired general who led the recent military coup in 2014. It now appears that the Royal army may turn against their own in a bid to end the long running protests that have brought the country to a standstill.
In the past, anti-government protests were silenced by gunfire. However that has not been the case in 2020 as security forces have stayed clear of the peaceful rallies. Likewise, it is unclear how long such restraint will last and how long the army will remain in the barracks watching from a safe distance
The last thing that the protesters want is another military coup in a country that has always dubbed itself as a modern democracy. The rallies have called for an end to the military grip of the country’s political landscape or the meddling through coups.
While the Prime Minister insists he cannot determine whether there will be another coup political analysts feel otherwise. Denials often grow louder as coup intensifies. The fact that the military has ousted elected governments over 30 times over the past nine decades underscores why Prayuth needs to be afraid.
Monarchy Changes Calls
The Prime Minister is not the only one under pressure; the King is also facing mounting pressure as protesters call for changes to the constitution. The monarchy has been targeted over the month’s long political impasse
The protesters are calling for the curbing of the monarchy power. Likewise, the King in what appears to be a concession that there needs to be some changes insists that Thailand is the land of compromise. The student led protests want a reform to the powerful monarchy to ensure the king is answerable to the constitution.
