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On Saturday, secondary school students in Bangkok rallied for educational and political reform, defying government threats to crack down with lawsuits against the country’s high-profile protest movement.
The demonstration was called by a group calling themselves “” Bad Students “, mocking their status as rebels against traditional school rules and authorities.
Reflecting their light touch towards protest actions, they used props including people in dinosaur costumes and oversized beach balls that replaced asteroids.
Just as an asteroid hitting Earth is believed to have led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, they pointed out, antiquated members of the Thai establishment who stand in the way of change will face a collision with the country’s pro-democracy movement.
Although the original goals of the “Bad Students” included the abolition of antiquated regulations such as dress codes and the reform of antiquated curricula, they now also support the demands of the wider Thai pro-democracy movement seeking major political change.
The demonstration on Saturday, held in one of Bangkok’s busiest shopping areas, drew a crowd of at least 1,000 people, many of whom were not high school students.
Namfon Jaruk, a 21-year-old university student, said it was appropriate for protesters to discuss issues beyond education.
The demonstration took place at the end of a week with two chaotic protests held by followers of the movement for democracy.
On Tuesday, protesters gathered outside Thailand’s parliament to urge lawmakers to pass a bill to consider sweeping changes in the constitution, including sections on the rights and privileges of the monarchy. Lawmakers agreed to consider the changes, but not the sections, including the monarchy.
The movement’s three basic demands are that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha resign, the constitution be amended to make it more democratic, and the monarchy be reformed to be made more accountable.
The movement believes that the monarchy holds too much power for a constitutional monarchy. But their challenge is fiercely opposed by realists, who see the royal institution as an untouchable foundation of national identity.
Efforts by protesters on Tuesday to forcibly enter the parliament building grounds were repelled by police using tear gas and water cannons firing a mixture that included irritating chemicals. At least 55 people were injured, of which six sustained gunshot wounds. Police denied firing live shots or rubber bullets.
On Wednesday, several thousand protesters gathered outside the police headquarters in central Bangkok to protest the force used against protesters the night before.
The demonstration on Wednesday was non-violent, although protesters defaced the ‘Royal Thai Police’ sign outside its headquarters and scribbled graffiti and chanted slogans that could be considered derogatory to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Prime Minister Prayuth reacted by stating that the protesters had gone too far and could now expect to be prosecuted for their illegal actions. Although protest leaders have faced dozens of charges in recent months, they have generally been released on bail and none have yet been tried.
Prayuth clarified on Friday that the government will also employ the use of Thailand’s lese majesty law, which provides a prison sentence of up to 15 years for anyone who defames the king or his close relatives.
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