Advertisement
Thailand’s youth at risk with challenge to monarchy ahead of large weekend protest
- Student protesters are breaking deeply entrenched taboos by publicly calling for reduced powers for King Maha Vajiralongkorn
- They have called for reining in those powers, with the goal of effectively creating a more transparent and accountable monarchy similar to Britain
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
It’s long been the case in Thailand that every conversation about the monarchy requires an extra level of alertness.
Advertisement
One must carefully note their surroundings, who could be trusted and who might potentially take offence. Words are chosen delicately, often using coded language, to establish a sense of trust before offering even mild criticism of an institution protected by laws that carry lengthy jail sentences.
The ever-present fear is rooted in history: perceived opposition to the monarchy has been used for years to justify coups, send political opponents to prison or exile, or even kill them – as happened during a massacre of student protesters at Bangkok’s Thammasat University in 1976.
That’s what makes the protests challenging the monarchy the past few weeks so historic, and so precarious. Mostly student protesters are breaking deeply entrenched taboos by publicly calling for reduced powers for King Maha Vajiralongkorn, with tensions only set to rise ahead of a planned rally on Sunday where they expect a crowd topping 10,000 people.
Advertisement
“If the demonstrations do not cease, then this could be an incredibly dangerous moment for Thailand,” said Paul Chambers of Naresuan University’s Centre of Asean Community Studies, who writes frequently about Thailand’s military. “The government may very well brutally repress them or disappear demonstration leaders.”
Advertisement