[dropcap font=”” size=”100″ background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ transparent=”0″]T[/dropcap]housands of pro-democracy protesters gathered at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Sunday, August 16, to demand radical changes from the Thai government and challenge the monarchy.
Attended by at least 10,000 people, the demonstration reiterated earlier calls to dissolve Parliament and conduct new elections, end judicial harassment of pro-democracy activists, and rewrite the Constitution.
Reports note that the event was by far the biggest anti-government demonstration since the 2014 coup and since Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed.
Student activist Jirat Woraratanawong shares some photos from the protest.
Protesters do a performance art harking
Protesters do a performance art harking back to the 2010 Red Shirt Protests and the ensuing crackdown that killed dozens of civilians.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin Chachavalpongpun in a golden frame.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
A Thai protester offers drinking water to a police officer.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
Police stand guard before Thai protesters.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
A huge crowd gathers in front of the Democracy Monument in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
Thai protesters on standby as organizers were setting up the stage for the rally.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
Thai protesters hold masks showing the faces of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his allies.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
A Thai protester holds up a sign that reads, “Where is democracy?”
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
A protester stands beside an effigy of a red bull to symbolize public anger over the controversial dropping of charges against Vorayuth Yoovidhaya, grandson of the maker of an eponymous energy drink, in relation to a hit-and-run case that led to the killing of a police officer.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A protester raises a photo of Thai dissident Pavin
A protester dressed as an effigy in flashy clothing as though mocking the Thai elite.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
Student leaders Panusaya "Rung"
Student leaders Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul and Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak read a 10-point manifesto.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
Pro-democracy protesters express their thoughts
Pro-democracy protesters pen down their thoughts and feelings about the government on a large sheet of paper.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A Thai protester wears a Superman costume during the demonstration
A Thai protester wears a Superman costume during the demonstration.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
A Thai protester wears a Superman costume during the demonstration
Thai protesters doing the wave together.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
Thai protesters lighting up the road.
As dusk falls, Thai protesters raise their mobile phones with their flashlights on in a symbolic gesture.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
Popular student activist Parit "Penguin"
Popular student activist Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, 22, walks past some of his fellow anti-government protesters. He was arrested on Friday, August 14, for helping organize a rally on July 18.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
Thai protesters assemble at the Democracy Monument
Thai protesters assemble at the Democracy Monument to demand reforms.
Photo by Jirat Worrarattanawong
Jirat Worrarattanawong is a first-year student at Rangsit University, where he’s taking up Bachelor of Fine Arts (Photography and Visual Media). He’s actively involved in the student protest movement in Bangkok.
