CNN  — 

Thousands of protesters in Thailand’s capital hit the streets for a second night on Thursday, defying a government emergency decree aimed at quelling pro-democracy demonstrations that have gripped the country for more than three months.

Police arrested 22 people, including three prominent activists, after the government announced a ban on gatherings of more than five people. Protests are expected again on Friday.

Authorities warned through a loudspeaker that demonstrators were violating the emergency decree, were being photographed and could be prosecuted and arrested. But thousands of people congregated at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in Bangkok’s commercial center, chanting, jeering at police, and waving lights from their cell phones.

Student-led protests that have been ongoing across Thailand since July have escalated in recent weeks. Protesters, which now include a large cross-section of society among their ranks, are calling for a new constitution, the dissolution of parliament and resignation of Prime Minister Prayut, as well as an end to intimidation of government critics.

But an increasingly central demand is reforming the monarchy to curb King Vajiralongkorn’s powers and ensure a true constitutional monarch under a democratic system.

It’s the biggest challenge to the ruling establishment in decades, with young people publicly breaking entrenched taboos on speaking openly about the royal family in public. Thailand has some of the world’s strictest lese majeste laws, and criticizing the King, Queen, or heir apparent can lead to a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

The decree, which came into effect in the capital Bangkok at 4 a.m. local time on Thursday, was enforced after protesters marched en mass from the city’s Democracy Monument and broke through a police barricade to camp outside Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s offices late Wednesday. Demonstrators were calling for Prayut’s resignation and reform of the monarchy.

“As it has appeared that there have been several groups inviting, inciting and committing illegal assembly,” the decree read. “There have been activities which affected the public’s peace and order.”

The government also cited protesters obstructing a royal motorcade as reason for the emergency decree. Video from the scene showed police pushing back protesters who were shouting and making the defiant three-fingered salute from the “Hunger Games” movies as a car carrying Queen Suthida and King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s youngest son, Prince Dipangkorn, slowly drove past.

Thai riot police force protesters to retreat away from Government House on October 15, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Timeline of the renewed student-led protests in Thailand

  • July 18

    Amid coronavirus restrictions, activist group Free Youth stages a protest in Thailand’s capital Bangkok. They demand the dissolution of parliament, amendment of the constitution and an end to harassment of government critics.

  • Aug. 3

    Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa makes an unprecedented call for reform of the monarchy as protesters dressed in Harry Potter costumes “cast a spell” for democracy.

  • Aug. 10

    Students from the student union group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration list 10 demands for monarchical reform, including abolition of the lese majeste law and curbing the powers of the King.

  • Aug. 16

    More than 10,000 people join a protest at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument.

  • Sept. 19

    Thousands protest in the biggest demonstration since the 2014 coup. Students break into Thammasat University grounds and call for reform of the monarchy and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s resignation.

  • Sept. 20

    Protesters install a plaque near the Grand Palace in Bangkok with the message that Thailand belongs to the people, not the monarch. It’s removed the next day.

  • Oct. 13

    Police break up protesters outside Government House before King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s convoy drives past.

  • Oct. 14

    Thousands march from Democracy Monument to Government House, with some staying overnight. Protesters obstruct Queen Suthida’s motorcade.

  • Oct. 15

    Prayut signs an emergency decree to quell the protests. More than 20 protesters are arrested.


Sources: CNN reporting and Reuters

“Therefore, there are enough grounds to believe that violent acts have been committed. And this has affected the government’s stability, safety, property and staff. This is no longer a peaceful assembly as it should be warrant by the constitution,” the decree added.

Along with limiting groups to five people, the emergency decree includes a nationwide ban on publishing and broadcasting news and information – including online – that incites fear among the public. Assigned officers will now be permitted to implement new traffic rules and close certain premises to the public.

Police arrested 22 people following Wednesday’s anti-government protests, according to Thai Police Colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen.

Among them were several prominent activists including student leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, 21, who was searched by officers in plain clothes at a hotel near the protest site then arrested in connection with a speech she made in August, according to Thai Lawyers For Human Rights.

Human rights lawyer and protest leader Arnon Nampa was arrested Thursday morning following a speech he made in the northern city of Chiang Mai on Wednesday. Protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak was also arrested on Thursday.

On August 10, Panusaya stood on a stage and publicly delivered a 10-point list of demands for reform to the monarchy. Panusaya is spokesperson for the student union group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, and their demands include revoking laws against defaming the monarchy, a new constitution, abolishing royal offices, ousting the military-led government and disbanding the King’s royal guards.

Pro-democracy protesters seen pushing back Thai police during an anti-government demonstration on October 14, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The King, who spends much of his time overseas, returned to Thailand this week for a host of royal duties, including marking the memorial day of his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

On Thursday morning, protest group Free Youth called on people to defy the gathering ban and join an afternoon demonstration in Bangkok, saying in a statement on Facebook that, “high school and university students, workers and general people have assembled peacefully and have not started any violence.”

“But it is clear now the government has intentionally used the monarchy as a tool to get rid of those who are calling out for their better future, the future with equality and no more disparity,” the group said.

King Vajiralongkorn was confronted by protesters for the first time Tuesday. After a demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s offices was broken up by police with 21 protesters arrested, the King’s convoy drove past demonstrators who shouted “release our friends” and gave the three-fingered salute.

Authorities had stepped up security the following morning, deploying about 15,000 police to control crowds. As protesters gathered, they were met by lines of royalist groups who had turned out dressed in yellow – the color of the monarchy.

Protesters seen walking toward Government House during an anti-government demonstration in Bangkok.

“I am here to show my respect to the King,” said 65-year-old Nid, a private business owner from Bangkok. Of the protesters, he said “they should go back home and focus on their studies. Our country has three pillars; nation, religion and the monarchy. They should know that.”

While the student-led movement has suffered a setback with the arrest of its core leaders, it “is likely to maintain traction,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, political scientist and director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University.

“Popular grievances are so wide and deep as traditional Thai institutions, such as military, monarchy and judiciary, have impeded reform and change that can enable Thailand to move ahead,” he said.

He added that Wednesday’s scenes were “an overdue and pent-up showdown that was kept under the lid during the last reign. This is Thailand’s grinding transformation to arrive in the 21st century.”