Anti-government Ratsadon group announces to march to APEC summit venue in Bangkok, despite protest bans

Thursday, 17 November 2022, 17:33

National —

The youth-led, anti-government group, Ratsadon, announced on Wednesday that they would march from Bangkok’s City Hall to the APEC summit venue on the morning of November 18th to protest the meeting.

The group that is currently camping at Lan Khon Muang in front of Bangkok’s City Hall said yesterday, November 17th, that the government was not suitable to host the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, according to Thai media.

Somboon Khamhaeng, one of Ratsadon’s leading members, said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha tried to use the summit as a stage to whitewash himself, which was the reason he tried to stay in power for so long.

The meeting of 21 APEC members would have a long-term impact on Thai citizens, continued Somboon, citing his concerns that the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment might allow rich people to take benefits from 1.3 million rais of mangrove forests in exchange for their cooperation with the Carbon Loan scheme.

The group insisted they would march 8 kilometers from Bangkok’s City Hall to Queen Sirikit National Convention Center where the APEC summit was held to inform world leaders of their demands.

Demands included Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s immediate resignation.

Meanwhile, Thai law enforcement has issued protest bans at multiple sites in Bangkok, including at the APEC convention center, and have continually warned protesters any attempt to approach the convention center will not be tolerated under the Public Assembly Act.
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