‘Renegade’ upper-middle-class demonstrators join anti-Prayut street protest

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

”RENEGADE” UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS street demonstrators today (August 8th) joined a ”car mob” procession in the heart of Bangkok in a concerted move to press Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down.

The upper-middle-class protesters who rode on luxury sedans and joined the ”car mob” procession were led by political activist Thanat ”Hiso Look Nat” Thanakitamnuay who called himself a ”renegade” with respect to the country’s political crisis seven years ago. 

Thanat recently apologised in public for his previous roles in the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee which finally triggered the coup orchestrated by the then-army chief Gen. Prayut to oust an elected Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2014.

Read earlier reports: Police fire tear gas, rubber bullets at anti-Prayut protesters again

In pictures: Police and protesters clash at Din Daeng junction

 Police have asked army to help if today’s rallies turn violent

The ”renegade” demonstrators gathered in a ritzy Thong Lor area from where they turned to Sukhumvit Road and proceeded on to  Rajaprasong intersection where they merged with Red Shirt demonstrators. The automobiles and motorcycles of both groups proceeded to Pratunam area and then Asok area where they parted with Thanat’s group heading for Thong Lor area.

Today’s anti-Prayut protest apparently followed yesterday’s protest organised by Free Youth and Ratsadon groups with the gathering of adolescent demonstrators in Victory Monument and Sam Liam Din Daeng areas which saw riot police intermittently firing tear gas and rubber bullets at them.

Yesterday’s protesters had earlier intended to gather outside the First Infantry Regiment barracks, in which Gen Prayut was known to reside, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road but they failed to make it due to the effective resistance of the police.

CAPTION:

Thanat ”Hiso Look Nat” giving the three finger salute at a makeshift stage and talking to the press, above and below, and the “car mob” procession going through heart of Bangkok, below and Home Page. All photos: Siam Rath