Hundreds of people, many of them wearing red shirts, are gathered in Bangkok’s Santiporn Park on Ratchadamnoen Avenue today (Sunday), where the Black May memorial is located, to show their opposition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The event was organized by the committee representing relatives of protesters killed by troops in May 1992, during their protest against then Prime Minister Suchinda Kraprayoon, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) chairman Jatuporn Promphan and Phipob Thongchai, former core leader of the now defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy.
Metha Matkhao, secretary of the committee, said that the political event today is not a protest, but a political discussion among people who oppose the prime minister and want him to be removed from office.
He said that they will discuss their next move, which could be a mass protest against the prime minister, to be held at the Democracy Monument.
Jatuporn, meanwhile, said that he joined the event today in a personal capacity, which had nothing to do with the UDD, adding that it is about time for political groups of different shades to join as one united force to oust Prime Minister Prayut, or he will be in the office for the next six years.”
Blaming the prime minister for being the cause of all the pressing problems and threats facing Thailand today, the UDD chairman said that today marks the beginning of a joint effort by Thai people of various political shades to rid Thailand of the cause of all the problems.
Describing the downpour this afternoon, he said that it was a magical day when the rain cleansed the country of all the evils.
He said he will discuss, with the demonstrators, whether the event should continue into tomorrow or even longer.
He is scheduled to be the last to address the crowd before the end of the gathering.
