Over the past month, students in Thailand have been protesting against the monarchy and the military-led Thai administration and demanding more democracy. An article on the World news website says, “The monarchy seems to have taken note,” as the king asked authorities not to enforce laws banning protesters.
Ford School professor and Wesier Diplomacy Center faculty director John Ciorciari, is quoted as saying that the king’s stance shows he understands the strained public perception of the monarchy. But he indicates there is no indication the legal harassment, such as the latest arrests, will stop, pointing to a statement from the nation’s powerful army chief, Apirat Kongsompong, who said the “hatred of the nation” is more deadly than the coronavirus and can’t be cured. “That was seen as a thinly veiled threat,” Ciorciari said.
The article concludes that, nevertheless, the protesters have vowed to continue demonstrating until the government acts on their demands.
You can read the article here.