Bangkok sees biggest political rally in years скачать в хорошем качестве

Bangkok sees biggest political rally in years

(14 Dec 2019) Several thousand supporters of a popular Thai political party, under threat of dissolution, packed a concourse in central Bangkok on Saturday in one of the largest political demonstrations in recent years. Hundreds more spread out on the street below where the leader of the Future Forward Party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, made an impassioned speech urging them to stand up and fight for democracy. The crowd responded with chants of "Prayuth get out!", a reference to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. The Future Forward Party finished third in this year's general election, the first poll since the military staged a coup in 2014, led by Prayuth. Its progressive, anti-military agenda has needled Thailand's conservative establishment but has struck a chord with the young. But, since the election, the party has faced a string of legal challenges. Last month Thailand's Constitutional Court stripped Thanathorn of his lawmaker status and ruled he had violated media ownership regulations. Earlier in the week, the Election Commission ruled the party had broken the law by accepting an illegal loan from Thanathorn and recommended the party be dissolved. The concerted legal moves have angered Future Forward's supporters, who believe it is the victim of a conspiracy. "I think it shows that people will not tolerate dictatorship anymore," Thanathorn said of the large turn-out as he left the rally. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...