Thai royalists rally to support king as lawmakers mull committee to end protests
- Some 1,000 people clad in yellow marched to ‘show encouragement’ to King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who protesters say wields too much power in Thailand
- The rally comes as Thai lawmakers are weighing a proposal to set up a panel to explore ways to end the months-long anti-government protests
“We want to show support and encouragement to his majesty,” said Thatchapan Boriphet, 57, at Lumphini Park in central Bangkok. “I am neutral politically but I cannot stand it when there is a violation of the monarchy.”
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So far, royalist demonstrations have been considerably smaller than the tens of thousands of people who have joined the biggest protests against the government.
The palace has a policy of not commenting to the media and has made no comment since the start of the protests.
The king is currently in Thailand.
Royalists took heart at the weekend when the king lauded as “very brave” a man who had defied protesters by holding up a picture of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, but the reaction of protesters has been scathing.
Prime Minister Prayuth has ignored demands to quit and said the crisis should be discussed in parliament, where his supporters are in the majority, during an emergency session on Monday and Tuesday this week.
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Opposition parties told him he should step down for the good of the country and stop using his proclaimed support for the monarchy as an argument to keep power.
Prayuth’s opponents say he only kept power at elections last year thanks to electoral rules and a constitution drawn up by the junta he headed after a 2014 coup. He says that the ballot was fair.
A working group is looking at a panel proposed by Deputy Premier Jurin Laksanawisit, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said on Tuesday.
Parliament is set to wrap up a special two-day session convened to discuss the escalating protest movement later in the day.
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Critics say the panel chosen by the military government is not likely to change the status quo.
“The session was just a move to show that the government is working on finding solutions, but in fact they haven’t really considered the input from the protesters and the public,” said Virot Ali, a lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science.
“A committee that would be set up likely won’t result in anything. It won’t de-escalate the protest movement.”
