Journalism of Courage
Thousands of Thai protesters chanting “down with dictatorship” and “the country belongs to the people” joined an anti-government demonstration in Bangkok on Sunday that was one of the biggest since a 2014 coup. (AP)
Thousands of people assembled at Bangkok's Democracy Monument, a traditional venue for political activities. Hundreds of police were also present, as well as a small contingent of royalists opposed to the protesters. (AP)
The student-led movement has three core demands: holding new elections, amending the constitution and ending the intimidation of critics of the government. (AP)
Thailand has experienced a successful coup roughly every six years on average since the army toppled the absolute monarchy in 1932 and replaced it with a constitutional monarchy. But it has been under military rule for much of the time since then. (AP)
As the army chief in 2014, current PM Prayuth Chan-ocha led a coup ousting an elected government. He then served as PM in the military regime that succeeded it, and returned as premier after a general election last year. Laws guiding the 2019 election were widely seen as so heavily rigged in Prayuth's favour that victory was all but guaranteed. (AP)
Prime Minister Prayuth’s government has done well in coping with the health aspects of the coronavirus, but its management of the economy had been lackluster even before COVID-19 battered it. (AP)
Royalists have responded to the student movement by defending the monarchy in online statements and petitions, and in person with a small presence adjacent to Sunday’s rally. (AP)
