Thai protesters reinstall plaque symbolising democracy

Anti-government demonstrators occupying a historic field in Thai capital on Sunday installed a plaque symbolising country's transition to democracy to replace original one that was mysteriously ripped and stolen three years ago, as y vowed to press on with calls for new elections and reform of monarchy.

mass student-led rally that began on Saturday is largest in a series of protests this year, with thousands camping overnight at Sanam Luang field near royal palace. On Sunday, y began marching to an undisclosed location, saying y want to hand over a petition to king's viser.

A group of activists drilled a hole in front of a makeshift st in Sanam Luang and laid down around brass plaque, commemorating a 1932 revolution that changed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

“At dawn of September 20, here is where people proclaim that this country belongs to people,” re part of inscription on plaque. In April 2017, original plaque vanished from Bangkok's Royal Plaza and was replaced by one praising monarchy.

“ nation does t belong to only one person but belongs to us all. refore, I would like to ask holy spirits to stay with us and bless people's victory,” student leer Parit “Penguin” Chirawak told crowd.

Ar activist, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, said ir demands do t propose getting rid of monarchy. “y are proposals with good intentions to make institution of monarchy remain graciously above people under democratic rule.” Still, such calls took nation by surprise. Protesters' demands seek to limit king's powers, establish tighter controls on palace finances and allow open discussion of monarchy. ir boldness was unprecedented, as monarchy is considered sacrosanct in Thailand with a harsh law that mandates a three- to a 15-year prison term for defaming it.

Organisers h predicted that as many as 50,000 people would take part in weekend's protest, but Associated Press reporters estimated that around 20,000 people were present by Saturday evening.

“By holding ir protest on Sanam Luang — a long-time site of recreation and protest for people, taken over in recent years by monarchy — protestors have won a significant victory,” said Tyrell Haberkorn, a Thai studies scholar at University of Wisconsin-Mison.

“ir resounding mess is that Sanam Luang, and country, belong to people.” crowd were a disparate batch. y included an LGBTQ contingent waving iconic rainbow banners while red flags sprouted across area, representing Thailand's Red Shirt political movement, which battled country's military in Bangkok's streets 10 years ago.

re were skits and music, and speakers gave fiery speeches late Saturday accusing government of incompetence, corruption in military and failing to protect women's rights. At least 8,000 police officers were reportedly deployed for event.

“ people who came here today came here peacefully and are really calling for democracy,” said Panupong Jk, one of protest leers.

ir core demands were dissolution of parliament with fresh elections, a new constitution and an end to intimidation of political activists.

y believe that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army commander led a 2014 coup toppling an elected government, was returned to power unfairly in last year's general election because laws h been changed to favour a pro-military party. Protesters say a constitution promulgated under military rule is undemocratic.

students are too young to have been caught up in sometimes violent partisan battles that roiled Thailand a dece ago, said Kevin Hewison, a University of rth Carolina professor emeritus and a veteran Thai studies scholar.

“This is why y look and act differently and why y are so confounding for regime,” he said. “What regime and its supporters see is relatively well-off kids turned against m and this confounds m.” appearance of Red Shirts, while boosting protest numbers, links new movement to mostly poor rural Thais, supporters of former populist billionaire Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 coup. Thaksin was opposed by country's tritional royalist establishment. sometimes violent struggle between Thaksin's supporters and conservative foes left Thai society polarised. Thaksin, who w lives in exile, ted on Twitter on Saturday that it was anniversary of his fall from power and posed rhetorical question of how nation h fared since n.

“If we h a good government, a democratic government, our politics, our education and our health care system would be better than this," said protester Amorn Panurang. "This is our dream. And we hope that our dream would come true.” Arrests for earlier actions on charges including sedition have failed to faze young activists. y h been denied permission to enter Thammasat University campus and Sanam Luang on Saturday, but when y pushed, authorities retreated, even though police warned m that y were breaking law. 

(Im: AP)