Thailand Demonstrations End Peacefully, To Resume Thursday

Leaders of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration in Thailand early Sunday called an end to a huge rally in the capital Bangkok that had run through much of Saturday, dominating local and regional media outlets.

Tens of thousands attended the event throughout the day despite calls from the Prime Minister of Thailand 48 hours earlier to call off the rally to avoid a spike in the nation’s battle with COVID-19.

In doing so, the pro-democracy protest leaders were able to present a formal list of their demands to the local chief of police.

The original wish of the protest leaders had been to pass the demands to the nation’s Privy Council.

The demands include reform of the Thai monarchy, a hugely controversial issue in the Kingdom as part of a 10-point list, and were presented to Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Pakapong Pongpetra by Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, one of the co-leaders of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration.

It is understood the protesters will gather again on September 24th outside the nation’s parliament to maintain pressure on the authorities.

A general strike has also been called for October 14th, by student leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak; the date special on the Thai calendar as it commemorates the anniversary of the 1973 student uprising that left scores dead.