A DEMONSTRATION took place at Government House today (July 24) with members of the New Life Network and Salaya Students Coalition burning images of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, INN News reported this afternoon.
Ringing the Government House and the entrance of the Civil Service Commission were 150 Special Branch policemen and two companies from Metropolitan Police Bureau. They were beefed up with several undercover policemen with Pol. Lt. Gen. Phukphong Phongpetra, head of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, also personally coming in to control the situation.
Police had prepared to look after public safety and the safety of the demonstrators in accordance to the law as instructed by Gen. Prayut. However they were also instructed to prosecute the wrongdoers.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Phukphong held a discussion with the demonstrators to explain the scope of lawful assembly.
A representative of the students read out a statement making the following demands:
- The Government of Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha caused economic downturn. Thai society is unequal with capitalists benefiting and taking advantage of the people.
- . Campaign promises have not been followed, such as raising the living allowance for the elderly to 1,000 baht per month and increasing the salary of bachelor degree graduates to 20,000 baht per month. The government has therefore lost the legitimacy to run the country.
- Errors in handling the Covid-19 pandemic led to a scarcity of face masks making life difficult for the people.
- There are no remedial steps nor insurance for the unemployed.
- Allowing the use of violence which led to the disappearance and killing of up to nine people. Hurting activists is a state crime with laws also used to intimidate people. Should the government be allowed to continue running the country it will lead to economic collapse. People are miserable and ask Gen. Prayut to resign immediately and dissolve the parliament and call a new election as soon as possible.
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Top: Demonstrators getting ready to burn an image at the Government House today. Photo: INN News
