THE demonstrators joining ‘Mob Fest’ rally at Democracy Monument started gathering there from 2.20 p.m. onwards today (Nov. 14), parking a ten-wheel truck right in front of this monument, while a large crowd of people wearing yellow shirts had also assembled right opposite them as they waited to greet His Majesty the King, Siam Rath newspaper reported today (Nov. 14, 2020).
Meanwhile the group of protesters calling themselves “bad students” had arrived at Democracy Monument after marching there from Education Ministry. They spread a large white cloth across the road and told protesters to write the future they want on it, INN News reported.
The road was closed from the front of McDonald’s outlet opposite the monument till Khok Wua intersection, with protest leaders starting to give speeches attacking Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and reiterating their three demands, which are: Gen. Prayut and his group resign; Parliament immediately open an extraordinary session to accept the people’s draft constitution amendment; and monarchy reform.
The protest leaders told the demonstrators to keep an eye on the joint Parliament session on November 17 and 18 to see whether Internet Dialogue on Law Reform’s (iLaw’s) draft constitution amendment will be deliberated or not, Siam Rath reported.
Earlier the guards of the “bad students” group were the first to arrived in front of the Education Ministry at 1 p.m. in preparation of a rally to show their dissatisfaction with the performance of Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan having brought a photograph of him, some sandalwood flowers and a coffin which they intend to take along with them on the march to Democracy Monument.
Joining the “bad students” on this march, which was supposed to start at 2 p.m., was the unified student network.
Meanwhile the 34 companies of police, or 5,100 men, are in charge of the Democracy Monument area today where three demonstrations are being held. The third rally is by a women liberation group at Khok Wua intersection from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Police have also brought in several high-pressure water spraying vehicles and had parked a prison vehicle in front of the ministry.
Mr. Laphanapat Wangpaisit, or Min, of the “bad students” group said over an amplifier placed on a vehicle that the march to Democracy Monument would start at 2 p.m. with the reason for this demonstration being dissatisfaction with Education Minister Nataphol’s performance and the coffin will be paraded to show that they do not want him anymore.
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The protest at Democracy Monument and outside the Education Ministry this afternoon. Photos: Siam Rath
