Thai police fire water cannon at pro-democracy protesters

Riot police fired water cannon at crowds of Thai pro-democracy protesters as they attempted to reach Bangkok’s Grand Palace on Sunday to hand-deliver letters urging reform of the country’s powerful monarchy.

Demonstrations have spread across Thailand in recent months, led by young people who have risked lengthy jail sentences to call for the power and wealth of the royal family to be curbed, and for the resignation of the prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha.

On Sunday evening, water cannon were briefly fired at crowds, but protesters did not vacate the area. Later, demonstrators, who wore goggles and hard hats for protection, moved buses and took down barbed wire that had been used by police to block access to the palace. They carried mock letterboxes, made from old rubbish bins and addressed to the Bureau of the Royal Household, which were filled with messages calling for reform.

In a statement addressed to King Maha Vajiralongkorn, protesters said he should listen to “fearless criticisms”, as well as to flattery and praise.

“It does not matter whether the people love the king or not, he must love them all the same. If the king can talk to the people who love him, he must also talk to the people who do not all the same,” it said. It was signed “with power of equal human dignity” by “people”.

The statement was a reference to highly unusual comments made by the king last week when, stopped by Channel 4 news and CNN as he walked among royalist supporters, he was asked for his response to the demonstrations. “We love them all the same,” the king said of protesters. Asked if there was room for compromise, he replied: “Thailand is the land of compromise,” before quickly turning away.

In their statement, protesters said their demands for reform were “the utmost compromise”.

Protesters have breached a longstanding taboo to call for a royal family that is answerable to the public. They say the monarchy’s budget should be reduced and the king’s private funds separated from the crown assets. The king, they say, should not endorse any further coups, nor should the royal family be protected from criticism.

According to the constitution, the monarchy is “enthroned in a position of revered worship”. Anyone who “defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, heir apparent or regent” can face up to 15 years in prison.

Sunday was the second time police have used water cannon on protesters, who have gathered for largely peaceful rallies for months. Earlier in the day, dozens of royalists held a small counter-rally.

A police spokesman told Reuters that water cannon had been fired only as a warning. The Bangkok authority’s emergency unit said one police officer and four protesters were hurt during the brief confrontation outside the palace.

At least 84 protesters have been charged since 13 October in connection with the protests. Charges such as sedition, which carries a sentence of up to seven years, have been used against demonstrators. Amnesty International recently said the government was using “vague, overly restrictive laws to harass and silence people”.