The demonstrations in support of the royal family are now known to have taken place in areas as distant as Chiang Mai in the north of the country, Chon Buri, Lampang, Nan, Narathiwat, over 1,100km south of Bangkok, and Songkhla where thousands of people thronged the Ranod and Sathing Phra district for several hours.
Thai media is now claiming the rallies served a dual purpose, also acting as a memorial service for what would have been the 120th birthday of the current king’s grandmother – Princess Srinagarindra.
In large part the anti-government protests started out peacefully for several weeks as protestors called for the resignation of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, but in recent days the mood has started to shift although to date no fatalities have been reported.
