Thai Protesters Claim 'Change of Heart' as They Take to Streets to Reject PM Prayuth

A loud convoy of luxury cars cruised through Bangkok’s richest neighborhood Sunday calling for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to resign, as Thailand’s pro-democracy protesters are boosted by old political foes who have switched sides.

Thailand’s government is contending with the dual crisis of a raging pandemic and political protests. In defiance of an emergency order banning crowds, thousands of young protesters angry at the government’s sluggish vaccine rollout — just 6% of Thais have been fully vaccinated — clashed Saturday with police who fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets at them. Sunday, former royalist hardliner Tanat Thanakitamnuay, led a “car mob” rally through Bangkok’s Thong Lor district, home to the city’s rich. In the past, residents of this neighborhood were reliable political allies of Prayuth’s conservative establishment.