Thailand Faces Four Months of Anti-Government Protests... Strict Measures Ban Gatherings of More Than Five People

Morning of the 15th: Thai Government Announces 'Emergency Decree'
Ban on Gatherings of 5 or More and Prohibition of Reports Threatening National Security

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] In Thailand, anti-government protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and monarchy reform have continued for four months, amid which the Thai government has enacted emergency measures banning gatherings of five or more people.

Shortly after the enforcement of the emergency measures, the police arrested the leadership of the anti-government protests. However, the opposition groups have refused to comply with the ban and declared their intention to hold another rally that day, making clashes inevitable.

According to local media including the Bangkok Post on the 15th, the Thai government announced an 'Emergency Decree' through the state broadcaster that day, ordering a ban on gatherings of five or more people, prohibiting reports and online messages that could affect national security, and restricting access to locations designated by authorities such as the Prime Minister's Office.

The government explained the background of this measure, stating, "Many groups of people attended illegal protests in downtown Bangkok, obstructed the royal motorcade, and committed serious acts affecting national security. To effectively end this situation and maintain peace and order, emergency measures were necessary."

Additionally, the government stated in an official document, "It is also prohibited to publish news and electronic information containing messages that create misunderstandings affecting national security or peace and order, incite fear, or intentionally distort information."

This measure came after approximately 20,000 protesters, despite the authorities' prohibition, broke through bus barricades and marched to the Prime Minister's Office the previous day.

Some of the protest leaders and participants spent the night outside the Prime Minister's Office.

Following the enforcement of the emergency decree, the Bangkok Metropolitan Police deployed six police companies around 7:30 a.m. to disperse the protesters who had stayed overnight outside the Prime Minister's Office, arresting 20 of them, according to the Bangkok Post citing police announcements.

The newspaper reported that among those arrested were four opposition leaders, including human rights lawyer Anon Nampa, who led the protests.

However, despite the government's ban on gatherings, opposition groups declared their intention to hold another rally in the afternoon in central Bangkok, where shopping malls are concentrated.

Accordingly, the police announced plans to deploy 13 companies, about 2,000 officers, near the planned protest site.

Meanwhile, in Thailand, anti-government protests demanding the prime minister's resignation and monarchy reform have been ongoing for four months.

On the 19th of last month, a rally attended by about 30,000 people was held at Sanam Luang Square next to the royal palace, marking the largest anti-government protest since the 2014 coup.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.