A ruling from the Constitutional Court on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s 8-year term in office, whether it is in his favour or not, will be the “breaking point” for the Thai society, claimed United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Prompan today (Sunday)
Jatuporn and Nititorn Lamlua led a small group of protesters, who gathered at Ratchaprasong intersection in the heart of Bangkok today, to demand the ouster of the so-called “3-Ps”, who include Prime Minister Prayut, Acting Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda.
The UDD leader said that the number of protesters is not the issue, adding that they will be able to mobilise more people at the right time “which is not necessary yet.”
He did, however, hint that the right time for mass protests will be when the Constitutional Court issues its ruling on Prayut’s term in office, expected sometime in the next 4-5 weeks.
Jatuporn said that the protesters chose Ratchaprasong intersection as the venue for their protest today because it is a political symbol of defiance.
The UDD’s plan to use the plaza in front of the Central World shopping mall was, however, rejected by the management, claiming that the plaza has been reserved for an unspecified event.
Jatuporn explained that the UDD has no conflict with the Central World shopping mall, as he claimed that the Appeals Court has acquitted two “red-shirt” supporters of torching of the mall during the violent protests against the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2010.
He also predicted that the attempt to amend Section 272 of the Constitution, to strip senators of the right to elect the next prime minister, will be aborted anyway “because this charter was crafted in a way in which it cannot be amended easily.”
