Thai protests: Thousands gather in Bangkok as king returns to country

Anti-government protesters in Thailand have staged a rally in Bangkok ahead of an expected motorcade carrying King Maha Vajiralongkorn, following months of escalating tension in the country.

The protesters are calling for political reforms including curbs on the powers of king, who spends most of his time outside Thailand.

They have also demanded the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Supporters of the monarchy staged rival protests in the capital on Wednesday.

The two sides gathered separately along Ratchadamnoen Avenue, with many of the monarchists wearing t-shirts in the royal yellow colour. They were largely kept apart, save for a brief fistfight. The anti-government protesters were prevented from reaching the office of the prime minister.

The king, who has returned from Germany, was due to travel down Ratchadamnoen Avenue in his motorcade later on Wednesday to attend a Buddhist ceremony.

The growing student-led protest movement, which began in July, has become the greatest challenge in years to Thailand’s ruling establishment. Protests over the weekend in the capital were some of the largest in years, with thousands defying authorities to gather and demand change.

Authorities say 18,000 people joined Saturday’s demonstration, although others gave higher figures. Many stayed to continue the protest into Sunday before dispersing.

The protesters’ calls for royal reform are particularly sensitive in Thailand, where criticism of the monarchy is punishable by long prison sentences.

Ratchadamnoen Avenue – literally the King’s Walk – has been the scene of many of Thailand’s political battles. This afternoon, the student-led anti-government movement managed to occupy Democracy Monument, the Art Deco sculpture which symbolises the end of the absolute monarchy 88 years ago.

But this time large numbers of royalist demonstrators in yellow t-shirts lined the boulevard, with members of the security forces conspicuous among them. For the first time since these protests began in July, King Vajiralongkorn is in Bangkok at the same time, and his motorcade was due to travel down Ratchadamnoen.

The potential for violence was real; police sources said they were at their highest threat level. A few flowerpots were thrown in some brief skirmishes around the monument, but for the most part both sides showed great restraint, and the anti-government side was allowed to march unchallenged.

They chanted reformist mantras and revolutionary slogans on their way to the office of the prime minister – by now thoroughly barricaded by concrete and razor wire – and the risk of a clash and a royal embarrassment was averted.

But the demands of younger protesters in particular, that the monarchy be made accountable to elected institutions, are undiluted, and expressed with breath-taking frankness when you consider the price paid by royal critics in the past. This constitution, like all its predecessors, states at the top that the king must be held in a position of revered worship.

These protesters are adamant this must change, that such a wealthy, powerful and expensive institution must be accountable. The government is equally adamant that the monarchy cannot be discussed. At some point, something will have to crack.