Protesters march to Govt House

Anti-government protesters march from Victory Monument to Government House on Wednesday. (Bangkok Post photos)
Anti-government protesters march from Victory Monument to Government House on Wednesday. (Bangkok Post photos)

Anti-government protesters were moving towards Government House this evening after gathering at Victory Monument.

Riot police built a barricade on Sri Ayutthaya Road outside the Foreign Ministry to block them from reaching the prime minister's office.

Elsewhere, a group of yellow-clad people and student protesters briefly scuffled at Ramkhamhaeng University as both sides were on the campus at the same time.

Scores of royalists confronted the anti-government protesters and skirmishes broke out before the students escaped the campus. The University later closed the gates to prevent another clash as the students agreed to shift their rally to an area close to Hua Mak police station.

Earlier on Wednesday, anti-government protesters returned to Victory Monument to press for the ouster of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha after royalists dressed in yellow assembled in several provinces, and authorities are worried about possible clashes between the two groups in the future.


Protesters started converging on the Bangkok landmark after organisers used social media to name it the main protest venue on Wednesday.

The monument drew thousands of demonstrators calling for a new government and constitutional changes on Sunday.

More controversially, many are also calling for reform of the monarchy.

The highly sensitive issue spurred gatherings of royalists in some provinces on Wednesday.

One of the main events was in Songkhla, where about 2,000 people gathered at the district office in Sathing Phra and about 2,500 more in neighbouring Ranote.


Police said on Wednesday they were worried about the possiblity of confrontations between the two groups, but said they have plans to handle anything that happens.

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Vocabulary

  • barricade: a temporary structure built to prevent someone/something from getting past - แผงหรือแนวรั้วกั้น
  • clash: a brief fight between two or more people - การปะทะกันสองฝ่าย
  • confrontation: a situation in which people or groups are arguing angrily or are fighting - การเผชิญหน้า
  • controversial: causing disagreement or disapproval - ความไม่ลงรอยกัน
  • converge: to come from different directions to reach the same point - ไปยังจุดหมายเดียวกัน
  • ouster: forcing someone out of a position of power - ขับออกจากอำนาจ
  • riot police: police who are trained to deal with violent groups of people - ตำรวจปราบจราจล
  • scores: large numbers of - จำนวนมาก
  • scuffle: to get involved in a short and sudden fight, especially one involving a small number of people - ต่อสู้กันอุตลุด
  • sensitive: needed to be dealt with very carefully to not cause anger or offence - ที่ละเอียดอ่อน
  • skirmish: a fight, especially a small or short one - การปะทะกันเล็กน้อย
  • spur: to cause something to happen - ก่อให้เกิด 
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