Crowd Ban Doesn't Stop Thai Activists From Protesting PM Prayuth Chan-ocha's Resignation

JAKARTA - Thai youth activists pledged to stage protests on Sunday, July 18 demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, despite a nationwide ban on public gatherings imposed by the government amid soaring coronavirus cases. hundreds of thousands of people across the country, but their momentum stalled after authorities began cracking down on demonstrations and detaining protest leaders, and a new wave of COVID-19 infections began to hit. Last year's protests also broke traditional taboos by publicly criticizing the king, an offense under the law. The country's strict lese majeste laws make insulting or defaming the king, queen, heir and regent punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Most of the detained protest leaders have been released on bail. Several protest leaders took part in anti-government protests last month. "We have to expel Prayuth even if my bail is revoked," said a protest leader, Arnon Nampa, ahead of Sunday's planned rally from the Democracy Monument to the Government Building in Bangkok. The protest will also mark the one-year anniversary of the first large-scale street protests led by youth groups demanding Prayut's resignation, a new constitution and sweeping reforms to the monarchy.

The Thai government has previously imposed a new national ban on public gatherings of more than five people that carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison or a fine of up to 40,000 baht (approximately IDR 17.6 million), or both. . Police urged people not to join protests and warned that those who broke the law and caused riots would face prosecution. Street protests against the prime minister have been held in recent weeks by several groups, including Prayuth's former political ally, as frustration grows over rising waves of infections and prolonged pandemic damage to economic sectors.