Protesters prepare to dig in

Protesters plan to surround Government House to seek the ouster of the government during the rally on Wednesday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
Protesters plan to surround Government House to seek the ouster of the government during the rally on Wednesday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Protest leader Arnon Nampa on Sunday announced a plan to surround Government House during the rally on Wednesday.

Mr Arnon, a co-leader of the Khana Ratsadorn (the People's Group), which is the new name of the Free People group, wrote on Facebook that anti-government demonstrators will gather at the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on Wednesday before going to Government House.

The name was originally used by the group of military officers and civilians which led the 1932 revolution that ended absolute monarchy in favour of a constitutional one.

Mr Arnon, a human rights lawyer, said the demonstrators will then set up camp outside Government House to put pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign. He invited all people to join the rally.



Earlier on Sunday, Mr Arnon appeared at an anti-government gathering in Nakhon Ratchasima. He told the gathering the protest group has now secured enough funding to continue the rally for at least one month with supporters already expected to begin at least seven days of campaigning for Gen Prayut to resign.

Mr Arnon also reiterated the group's demand for the reform of the monarchy.

Senator Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana yesterday slammed the protest group, saying the behaviour of those who have disrespected the monarchy is deplorable.

According to a police source, a meeting of senior officers at the Royal Thai Police instructed officers to avoid the use of force and will set up 21 security checkpoints tomorrow evening to check people for weapons.

The source added that so far the protest leaders had not asked authorities for permission to hold the rally.

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Vocabulary

  • absolute monarchy: a system in which a king or queen has unlimited powers - ระบอบสมบูรณาญาสิทธิราช
  • campaign: to try to achieve political or social change by persuading other people or the government to do something - รณรงค์
  • civilians (noun): people who are not members of the police or armed forces or government agencies - พลเรือน
  • constitutional monarchy: a monarchy in which the ruler’s powers are defined and limited by a constitution - ระบบการปกครองที่มีพระมหากษัตริย์เป็นประมุข
  • demonstrators: people who march with other people in public to show that they support or oppose something - ผู้ชุมนุมประท้วง
  • deplorable: very bad and unacceptable, often in a way that shocks people - น่าตำหนิ, น่าสังเวช
  • dig in (verb): to wait, or deal with a difficult situation, with great patience - อดทนรอ
  • force (noun): making someone do something that they don't want to do - การบังคับ
  • resign: to leave a job permanently - ลาออกจากตำแหน่ง
  • revolution: a situation when people completely change their political system or government, usually by force - การปฏิรูป
  • slammed: strongly criticised - วิพากษ์วิจารณ์อย่างรุนแรง
  • weapon: an object such as a knife, gun, bomb, etc. that is used for fighting or attacking somebody - อาวุธ
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