Thai pro-government rally raises risk of new confrontations

Dozens of Thai demonstrators singing patriotic songs and shouting "long live the king" rallied in the capital on Thursday in response to a series of anti-government protests led by student groups in recent weeks. The crowd, a mix mainly of the retired and some vocational students gathered at Bangkok's Democracy Monument to show support for the monarchy and the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the royalist former army chief who ousted an elected administration six years ago.

Dozens of Thai demonstrators singing patriotic songs and shouting "long live the king" rallied in the capital on Thursday in response to a series of anti-government protests led by student groups in recent weeks.

The crowd, a mix mainly of the retired and some vocational students gathered at Bangkok's Democracy Monument to show support for the monarchy and the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the royalist former army chief who ousted an elected administration six years ago. Some recent protests against Prayuth have seen veiled negative references to the powerful monarchy, despite a law forbidding criticism of the king. Such references would once have been unthinkable.

"Many Thais have been concerned about offensive things against the monarchy, especially on social media, and no group has come out to defend (the monarchy)," said Totsapol Manoonyarat, a representative of the Vocational Students for the Nation, a group backing the rally. Many protesters wore yellow, a colour associated with the royal family.

Prayuth's party campaigned in last year's election on a vision of traditional Thai culture and loyalty to King Maha Vajiralongkorn. But public opposition to Prayuth has grown in recent months.

University and high school students have rallied to demand the dissolution of parliament, an end to harassment of government critics, and amendments to the military-written constitution that critics say virtually guaranteed victory for Prayuth's party last year. Four anti-government protests were expected to take place around Bangkok later on Thursday.

If the pro-establishment rally marks the start of further counter demonstrations, it could raise the risk of confrontations between pro-democracy and conservative movements. Since a 2006 coup ousted populist billionaire premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand has seen periodic confrontations between his "Red Shirt" supporters, largely from among the rural poor and urban working classes, and royalist, pro-establishment "Yellow Shirts", which draw support from Bangkok's middle class.

Prayuth on Wednesday warned against any violence. "I am not stopping these protests but people need to apply for permission based on the law and they should not break the law," he told reporters. (Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Martin Petty)

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