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Chanting ‘junta, get out,’ Thai activists stage rare protest
By Hathai Techakitteranun
Mar 24, 2018
DPA International
Bangkok (dpa) - Hundreds of pro-democracy activists on Saturday staged a rare rally in Bangkok against the ruling military government following several election delays.
The group walked a 3.3-kilometre route from a Bangkok university to the army headquarters to demand that the army stop supporting the ruling junta.
Along the route, the protesters chanted “junta, get out,” “down with the dictators; may democracy flourish,” and “election this year” amid hundreds of police officers overseeing the security.
A minor clash broke out half-way as police were trying to stop the group from walking on the road instead of the pavement as agreed. No injuries were reported.
“The time is up for the junta. They only keep stalling and serving themselves, not the people. It’s now time for the people,” said Sirawit Seritiwat, a protest leader.
Since coming to power in a May 2014 coup, the junta has postponed election dates at least four times, citing the need to complete its reforms and ensure national security.
The latest timeline was stretched from November 2018 to February 2019 or later, prompting unprecedented protests in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand.
“Today we have stepped up our protest because the junta has ignored our repeated demands for an election this year,” said Rangsiman Rome, who was also leading protests.
“Today we only demand the junta to step down and act as an interim government until a new administration is elected. But if they still ignore our demands, we will chase them all out from May onwards - the four-year mark,” Rangsiman added.
According to the protesters, the junta has not accomplished any goals they have set out since the beginning, including bringing about political reconciliation.
Recent polls show the regime’s popularity has been in sharp decline due to repeated election delays and several corruption allegations.
Most of the protest leaders were charged with violating the junta’s ban on political assembly when they first staged their protest against the election delay in late January but have since been released on bail.
