Activists start days of protests urging Prime Minister to step down

With Government House fortified like a war post, covered in barbed wire and shipping containers, protesters gathered in heated but peaceful demonstrations vowing to camp out until PM Prayut Chan-o-cha steps down, ending his eight-year reign as prime minister. Hundreds gathered outside the building yesterday and the numbers are expected to grow as today marks what many believe is legally the end of his eight-year term as described in the current constitution.

In a recent poll, the public voted almost unanimously that PM Prayut should step down today, although the 68 year old could sidestep that law by arguing the constitution has only been in effect for the last four years of his term.

Demonstrators spoke and rallied over loudspeakers about the end of his eight-year term, and urged him to step down peacefully by the law. While protesters frequently engage in confrontational exchanges with police, so far there have been no reports of violence at the protests at Government House.

Though PM Prayut is not currently residing within Government House, it is the symbolic site of power and protestors intend to continue using it as a home base for mounting demonstrations. Yesterday’s protest started at Democracy Monument and marched from there, while Khana Lom Ruam Prachachon activists also used space by the monument controlled by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to launch their demonstrations.

That protest group may make its way to Government House and join other demonstrators to start the countdown to the end of PM Prayut’s term. They believe he will be an outlaw prime minister if he stays on.

The Constitutional Court is currently discussing whether they will accept a petition from the Pheu Thai Party to end his premiership today, though the discussion could take weeks or months. If they rule he must step down, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam says it is likely that Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan would become the caretaker Prime Minister while Prayut would merely continue in his role as the Minister of Defence.

SOURCE: Thai Newsroom