Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha Vows Not To Resign Despite Growing Pressure

PM Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - The Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha firmly rejects the demand to resign. Prayuth made that statement during a parliamentary session he held to discuss months of demonstrations and protests that have succeeded in breaking the taboo of criticism of the authorities.

Apart from asking Prayuth to resign, the wave of protests also called for reform of the monarchy. "I will not run away from problems. I will not leave my job by resigning when the country is in trouble, "said Prayuth, quoted by Reuters, Wednesday, October 28.

The former ruler of the army communicated this matter to an assembly, which was entirely elected by his old junta. The statement also answered accusations by opposition lawmakers who asked Prayuth to stop hiding behind the proclamation of loyalty to the monarchy.

Critics also say Prayuth staged last year's election to retain the power he took in 2014. But Prayuth says the 2019 elections have been held as fairly as possible.

Prayuth also said he agreed to form a committee to study the current issue, which refers to massive rallies. Prayuth says I don't know whom to talk to as there is no leader. They are all leaders.

One of the protest leaders, Tattep "Ford" Ruangprapaikitseree, thinks the parliamentary session is useless. Several leaders of the demonstration, including dozens of people arrested in October under emergency measures have now been canceled.

Criticism taboo-breaking demo

The show of support by the royalists has so far been much smaller than that of anti-government protesters. King Maha Vajiralongkorn's palace has not commented since the start of protests that have shattered taboos about criticism of the monarchy.

More than a thousand people gathered in yellow shirts in a central Bangkok park on Tuesday, October 27 to show their support for the monarchy. "We want to show support and encouragement to His Majesty," said Thatchapan Boriphet, a participant in the action. "I am politically neutral but I cannot stand a violation of the monarchy."

The protests that have brought tens of thousands of people to the streets since mid-July are the biggest challenges in years. So far, power has long been dominated by people from the military who are close to the Royal Palace.

Recently, protesters have also accused the king of political involvement and have gathered at the German embassy to seek an investigation into whether he used his powers during his long stay in Germany. The Germans stated that this opinion was unacceptable.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Germany would continue to investigate the behavior of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who tends to spend a long time in Bavaria, Germany. "We are monitoring this for the long term," said Maas. "It will have immediate consequences if there are things that we consider illegal."