Protester dressed as a witch at Harry Potter-themed anti-government rally in Bangkok
Bangkok:
Dozens of young Thais mostly wearing striped “Harry Potter” scarves rallied against the government on Monday, vowing to “cast a spell” for democracy as the fledgling movement grows bolder in targeting the powerful elite .
For more than two weeks, young Thais across the country staged nearly daily protests in universities and town halls to denounce the government aligned with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s army.
Some have also entered sensitive territory in recent weeks holding up placards opposing Thailand’s lese majesty law, one of the harshest in the world.
He shields the monarchy and its super-rich king Maha Vajiralongkorn from criticism, making close scrutiny of the monarch nearly impossible.
But young Thais have grown bolder along with their growing discontent with Prayut – whose hold of power is seen as a legacy of a royalist junta regime.
Protests have entered sensitive territory in recent weeks, holding up signs opposing Thailand’s lese majesty law
As night fell Monday, protesters – who rally organizers said would “cast a spell” for democracy – listened intently as an organizer recounted popular JK Romans Rowling’s plot on the adventures of a young wizard.
Prominent lawyer Anon Numpa – dressed in a striped Gryffindor scarf and black robe – took to the stage as dozens of police officers watched to denounce Prayut.
He accused the former army chief of using his position to “gain advantages”.
The government “must stop this before the country finds itself in yet another … showdown,” Anon said.
The kingdom’s draconian lese majesty law provides for a sentence of up to 15 years per charge, which prohibits criticism from media based in Thailand.
The subversive protest took place at the Bangkok Democracy Monument, built to mark the 1932 revolution that established a constitutional monarchy.
Analysts say the kingdom is in danger of relapsing into absolutism under the reign of Rama X and the die-hard royalist generals around him.
The pandemic has also plunged Thailand’s economy into free fall, exposing the inequalities of a society seen to favor the pro-military elite.
Young Thais harpooned the government on Monday for its mismanagement of the economy, calling a protester disguised as Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan a “tax eater”, referring to the “Death Eaters” of the world of Harry Potter.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
