Anti-government protesters on Sunday returned to the Ratchaprasong intersection for a mass demonstration to heap more pressure on the government after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha refused to step down as demanded over the weekend.
It was the first mass gathering since Wednesday when the 2020 Khana Ratsadorn, a group leading the anti-government movement, issued Gen Prayut an ultimatum to resign in three days.
The deadline at 10pm on Saturday lapsed with no sign of Gen Prayut quitting. Pro-democracy activist Jatupat "Pai Dao Din" Boonpattarasaksa, who leads another group of protest organisers, then asked protesters to meet at the Ratchaprasong intersection yesterday afternoon. The intersection served as the protesters' rallying site before.
Mr Jatupat arrived at the intersection around 6pm yesterday. He insisted his group was not in conflict with Khana Ratsadorn although they held separate demonstrations. The protesters had every reason to keep up their rallies as the prime minister was adamant on clinging to power, Mr Jatupat said.
The People's Movement, another protest group, earlier announced a march to the German Embassy this afternoon, in apparent defiance of the monarch, who spends long periods of time in Germany. Mr Jatupat said he would join the march.
Yesterday afternoon, roads around the Ratchaprasong intersection were being closed. At least 1,000 anti-government protesters were occupying Ratchadamri Road outside the CentralWorld shopping complex about 4pm for a demonstration to renew pressure on Gen Prayut to cede power. They gathered in shopping malls around the area to wait for the rally to begin.
Lumpini police asked for yesterday's protest to be called off as the protest organisers failed to secure permission to hold the mass gathering. The protesters have violated the Public Assembly Act, they said. City police chief Pakkapong Pongpetra urged protesters to maintain a peaceful gathering and reminded them to observe social distancing.
Apart from the planned protest outside the German embassy today, a rally will also be held at the Samyan intersection in the afternoon. Protesters warned of accelerated measures to get Gen Prayut to quit his position.
Pol Lt Gen Pakkapong said police have security measures in store for the rally at the German embassy. The measures were devised mainly under the Public Assembly Act and the Communicable Disease Control Act. The police will coordinate with the protesters to minimise impacts on traffic.
Meanwhile, Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Yingyot Thepjamnong said police need to strictly enforce the law even after the state of emergency has been lifted. "Please be considerate to others, and be aware that shops and department stores might be affected by the demonstration," he said.