View source for Thai Protesters March To Barracks Against King apos;s Military Power

<br>By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Jiraporn Kuhakan<br> <br>BANGKOK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-government Thai protesters marched to an army barracks on Sunday to challenge King Maha Vajiralongkorn's personal control over some army units.<br> <br>It was the latest act of defiance against the king by protesters who have broken taboos by criticising the monarchy.<br><br>The Thai constitution says the monarchy must be revered and laws ban insulting the institution.<br> <br>Protesters, many carrying inflatable ducks which have become a protest mascot, stopped at the gates of the 11th Infantry Regiment, part of the King's Guard that played a role in the suppression of anti-establishment protests in 2010.<br> <br>Lines of riot police blocked protesters at the gate.<br> <br>"No democratic country sees a king control an army. In any democratic country with a king as head of state, armed forces report to the government," said Arnon Nampa, a rights lawyer and protest leader who has been a frequent critic of the monarchy.<br> <br>"We've been seeing the monarchy expanding its powers. That´s why we're here today."<br> <br>The Royal Palace has made no comment since protests began, but the king hmself said recently that protesters are loved "all the same" despite their actions.<br> <br>Protesters accuse the monarchy of enabling decades of military domination. There have been 13 successful coups since 1932,  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-thai-lan-bangkok-pattaya-5-ngay.html tour thái lan giá rẻ] when absolute rule by the monarch came to an end.<br> <br>[http://data.gov.uk/data/search?q=Protests Protests] began in July and initially demanded the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader,  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-thai-lan-bangkok-pattaya-5-ngay.html tour đi thái lan] and  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-thai-lan-bangkok-pattaya-5-ngay.html tour thái lan] a new constitution. Demonstrators have expanded their [http://photobucket.com/images/demands demands] since then to include curbs on the powers of the king.<br> <br>Arnon is among several protest leaders facing charges under lese majeste laws against insulting the monarchy after speeches he made at previous rallies.<br> <br>The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Thailand adhered to the rule of law and the right to freedom of speech must stay within those boundaries.<br> <br>"In every case where the law is violated, officials take action with strict adherence to the appropriate legal processes without discrimination," the ministry said.<br> <br>The prime minister has dismissed demands that he quit and rejected accusations that he engineered last year's election to retain power after taking office in 2014.<br> <br>Video shared on social media showed soldiers taking down a giant picture of the king and queen at the entrance to the barracks before the protest.<br> <br>(Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Robert Birsel)<br>