By Thai Newsroom Reporters
AUTOMOBILES AND MOTORCYCLES today (August 1) resumed ”car mob” processions in Bangkok and the provinces in a concerted, sustained move to press Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down in the face of the fiasco over the alleged mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic situation.
Many people riding on automobiles and motorcycles tooted their horns, gave the three-finger salute and shouted ”Prayut Get Out” on Bangkok streets and in the provinces to mount pressure upon Gen Prayut in pursuit of his resignation sooner or later.
PM Prayut, who has repeatedly insisted he is not going to step down or dissolve parliament, has remained under pressure due to his alleged failure to ensure an early and adequate procurement and distribution of coronavirus vaccines, thus resulting in daily surges in the numbers of infection cases and fatalities.
Several political activist groups have steered today’s ”car mob” protests including Thais Do Not Tolerate group; Thammasat and Demonstration group; Sombat Tour group, led by Sombat Boonngam-anong; Free Youth group, led by Parit ”Penguin” Chiwarak; and Red Shirt movement, led by Nattawut Saikua.
In Bangkok, all ”car mob” processions proceeded toward Vibhavadi Rangsit road outside the First Infantry Regiment base, the premises where Prayut’s house is located. Empty cargo containers and barbed wire were erected with riot policemen standing behind along the road just outside the army barracks.
Traffic slowed down on the road outside the army barracks as the anti-Prayut protesters riding on sedans, pickup trucks and motorcycles occupied the curbs and sides of the road while allowing other vehicles to pass by.
Nattawut said via a loud speaker from a pickup truck that the people could no longer stand the allegedly delayed, erroneous performance of the army general-turned-premier and will continue to press him to step down.
After the ”car mob” demonstration on Vibhavadi Rangsit road had lasted about four hours, Sombat told the protesters to peacefully disperse.
In another development, riot police fired tear gas at dozens of protesting motorcyclists who still gathered on Vibhavadi Rangsit road outside the First Infantry Regiment barracks though Sombat had told all demonstrators to disperse about an hour and a half earlier in the afternoon.
The police fired tear gas across the road from one side of the road to the other side, making the young protesters duck and back off.
CAPTION:
Today’s “car mob” protest in Bangkok that piles pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down. All photos: Siam Rath
