Thousands pack Ratchaprasong to call for Prayut to quit
published : 26 Oct 2020 at 00:32
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Online Reporters
Thousands of anti-government protesters filled Bangkok's Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday, calling for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down.
The shopping area was transformed once again into a rally site by student-led protesters seeking to end the military’s longstanding control of Thai politics.
The rally started slowly, but gathered pace as a second stage was set up.
Jatupat Boonpattararaksa of the Dao Din group said the Ratchaprasong rally was to send a clear signal that Prayut’s time as leader of Thailand was over.
The rally came after the prime minister refused to heed the protesters’ Saturday deadline to quit before Parliament holds a special session on Monday and Tuesday to find a way out of the political conflict.
Mr Jatupat said he had little hope that the crisis could be resolved in Parliament, and protesters would continue their peaceful demonstrations.
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Vocabulary
- conflict: an angry disagreement between people or groups - ความขัดแย้ง
- crisis: a situation that has reached and extremely difficult or dangerous point - ช่วงวิกฤต
- heed: to pay careful attention to - เอาใจใส่, ระมัดระวัง
- longstanding (adj): that has existed or lasted for a long time - นาน, ยาวนาน
- pace: the speed at which something happens or is done - อัตรา
- parliament: the group of people who are elected to make and change the laws of a country; the building where members of parliament meet. - รัฐสภา
- protester: someone who shows that they disagree with something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc - ผู้ต่อต้าน, ผู้ประท้วง
- quit (verb): to stop doing something - หยุด, เลิก
- rally: a large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something - การชุมนุม
- signal: to be a sign that something exists or is likely to happen - ส่งสัญญาณ
- step down: resign or leave from a high position or job - ลาออก, ลาออกจากตำแหน่ง
- transform: to change from one form into another - เปลี่ยนไปสู่อีกสิ่งหนึ่ง
