Thai protesters shun Parliament, ask Germany to probe king

27/10/2020 13:01

        Pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand have expanded their protests internationally, marching to the German Embassy to appeal to Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to investigate whether Thailand's king has exercised political power during his extended stays in Bavaria.
        
        The protesters acted while criticizing their own Parliament, which began a special two-day session earlier Monday to address political tensions resulting from the near-daily pro-democracy protests demanding the prime minister's resignation, constitutional changes and reforms to the monarchy.
        
        They believe the king wields an inordinate amount of power in what is nominally a democracy under a constitutional monarchy.
        
        The scrutiny and public criticism of the monarchy displayed by some of the protesters is unprecedented in a country where the royal institution has been considered sacrosanct. It has also led royalists to stage counter-rallies and to denounce the protesters for raising the issue, increasing the risk of confrontation.