Arrest of anti-monarchy protesters 'direct attack on democracy': UK republican group

'Right to protest peacefully in UK no longer exists,' says Graham Smith who was among arrested in London ahead of coronation ceremony

Burak Bir |07.05.2023 

Credit: Twitter @RepublicStaff

LONDON

Arrest of anti-monarchy protesters is "a direct attack" on the UK's democracy, Britain's leading republican group said on Sunday.

"The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists. Instead we have a freedom to protest that is contingent on political decisions made by ministers and senior police officers," Graham Smith, the chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said in a statement.

Six Republic protesters, including Smith, were arrested in central London ahead of the coronation of King Charles III. Police also seized hundreds of signs reading "Not My King." They were released late on Saturday.

"Crown is one part of the country's "failing constitution" that concentrates too much power "at the expense of parliament and people," he asserted.

Reiterating their demand for "a fundamental shift" in power, Smith vowed to keep protesting the monarchy.

"We will not be deterred from further protest ... As much as possible we will continue to protest wherever Charles goes, wherever William goes," he said.

"We will continue to protest with one simple message: Charles is not our king, it is time to abolish the monarchy," added Smith.

Coronation

In the country's first coronation service in nearly 70 years, Britain's King Charles III on Saturday was crowned along with Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, the site of coronations in Britain since 1066 – nearly a millennium ago.

Following the coronation service conducted by the archbishop of Canterbury, the senior bishop of the Church of England, Charles was crowned with the historical St. Edward's Crown, while Queen Camilla wore a modified version of the Crown of Queen Mary, fashioned in 1911.

He is the 40th British monarch to take the traditional Oath of Faithful Service.

Charles ascended the throne on Sept. 8, 2022, following the death of his long-serving mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Anti-Monarchy Group Slams Coronation Arrests And Vows To Continue Protesting

"We will continue to protest with one simple message: Charles is not our king, it is time to abolish the monarchy."

Sophia Sleigh

HUFFPOST
May 7, 2023


Protesters and Graham Smith from Republic, pictured above.
GETTY

Furious republicans have told the police to “hang their heads in shame” after protesters were arrested at King Charles’ coronation.

Graham Smith, CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, said the right to protest peacefully in the UK “no longer exists.”

He blasted the Met Police for showing “no judgement, no common sense and no basic decency” after scores of demonstrators were arrested on Saturday

Smith described it as a “direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of every person in the country.”

He was arrested among 52 people during the king’s coronation on Saturday before being released after nearly 16 hours in police custody.

The Metropolitan Police Service has faced criticism after more than 50 people were arrested for alleged affray, public nuisance and breach-of-the-peace offenses.

The arrests were described by human rights organizations as a “dangerous precedent” for a democratic nation.

In a statement following his release, Smith said: “Yesterday, as we prepared for a peaceful and lawful protest, a number of Republic’s team were arrested and detained for the rest of the day.

“These arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of every person in the country.

A policeman is seen carrying a banner taken away from protesters during an Anti-monarchist protest during King Charles III's Coronation.
SOPA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES

“Each and every police officer involved on the ground should hang their heads in shame. They showed no judgement, no common sense and no basic decency.

“This was a heavy handed action which had the appearance of a pre-determined arrest that would have occurred regardless of the evidence or our actions.

“The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists. Instead we have a freedom to protest that is contingent on political decisions made by ministers and senior police officers.”

Smith said the arrests had “destroyed” whatever trust might have existed between peaceful protesters and the Met Police.

He questioned what was the point in the protesters being “open and candid with the police, working with their liaison officers and meeting senior commanders” if this is what happens.


A protester holds a placard which states 'This country is ours' during the demonstration.
SOPA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES

The campaigner insisted they would not be deterred from further protest, adding: “We will continue to protest with one simple message: Charles is not our king, it is time to abolish the monarchy.”

However, culture secretary Lucy Frazer insisted the police got the “balance right” and denied that officers had gone too far.

She told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge: “I think, overall, they managed to get that balance right.”

Home secretary Suella Braverman also praised the police for their actions, tweeting: “I’m incredibly grateful to the police for all their hard work at today’s coronation celebration to ensure it was safe and passed without incident.”

Met Police commander Karen Findlay acknowledged concerns about the arrest of protesters but defended Scotland Yard’s actions, saying: “Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner”.


Protestors from the group Republic gather in their hundreds in Trafalgar square to say 'Not My King' in central London.
ANDREW AITCHISON VIA GETTY IMAGES

She said: “We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests we made [on Saturday morning].

“Protest is lawful and it can be disruptive. We have policed numerous protests without intervention in the build-up to the coronation, and during it.

“Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation. We also have a duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption.

“This depends on the context. The coronation is a once in a generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment.

“A protest involving large numbers has gone ahead today with police knowledge and no intervention.”

The Met said it received information that protesters were “determined to disrupt” the coronation – including defacing public monuments with paint, breaching barriers and disrupting official movements.

They confirmed 52 people were arrested for affray, public order offenses, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance around the coronation.

Under the controversial new Public Order Act, protesters who have an object with the intention of using it to “lock on” are liable to a fine, with those who block roads facing 12 months in prison.

ABOLISH THE MONARCHY
More Canadians see monarchy as 'outdated' but political risks block change

:People walk by as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth appears on the 

National Arts Centre, after Queen Elizabeth's passing, in Ottaw

By Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) -A growing number of Canadians do not want a foreign monarch to represent them despite deep historical ties to Britain and affection for the queen, but risks that come with constitutional reform mean there is little political will for change.

Britain colonized Canada beginning in the late 1500s, and the country formally remained part of the British empire until 1982. Now it is a member of the Commonwealth of former empire countries that have the British monarch as head of state.

Dozens of Canadian city names, like London and Windsor, reflect the enduring ties. But according to an Angus Reid Institute poll from April, 51% of Canadians do not want the monarchy to continue as its ceremonial figurehead, up from 45% in January 2020. Only 26% of respondents said it should and 24% were unsure.

Further, according to a Leger poll published on Tuesday, some 77% of Canadians said they feel no attachment to the British monarchy.

"Canada is the only G7 country whose head of state is another country's citizen," said Flavio Volpe, president of Canada's Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association.

"I prefer someone from Windsor than from the House of Windsor" to be head of state, said Volpe, referring to the Canadian city across the river from Detroit.

"We should have serious conversations as a country about whether we can find a Canadian to fill a ceremonial post."

The death of Queen Elizabeth last week triggered a huge outpouring of affection in Canada, but most find their relationship with a foreign sovereign awkward. A ceremony was held in Ottawa on Saturday to proclaim the accession of Britain's King Charles.

"The monarchy is outdated and has no relevance in our government. I think it's time we just stood on our own," said John Nielsen, 61, a contractor in Ottawa.

Those from Quebec, the mostly French-speaking province, feel even less kinship with Britain, with 71% in the Angus Reid poll saying they no longer see a need for monarchy, and 87% saying they feel no attachment to the royal family in the Leger poll.

A fifth of Canada's population are newcomers with little connection to Britain, and indigenous peoples tend to harbor little fondness for the colonial power. In one example of their feelings, indigenous activists pulled down a statue of the queen on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature in 2021.

"Besides a whole lot of photo opportunities alongside chiefs in headdresses, the reign of Queen Elizabeth will forever be marked by inaction," Niigaan Sinclair, a professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, said in a column for the Winnipeg Free Press published after her death.

QUEBEC AND TREATIES

Pro-monarchy Canadians and analysts say the constitutional monarchy is a well-functioning democratic system, and more importantly, changing it would be both complex and politically risky.

Quebec, which has sought independence twice in referendums, has never formally approved the constitution, and most of the treaties with indigenous peoples were signed with the Crown, not the Canadian government. These treaties set up reserves, guaranteed hunting and fishing rights, and sometimes included annual payments.

Both issues would be politically thorny if Canada overhauled its constitution.

Constitutional wrangling with Quebec in the past has been political poison, with two attempts to introduce constitutional amendments in the both late 1980s and early 1990s failing, while at the same time energizing the Quebec sovereignty debate.

"The massive constitutional effort of removing the Crown would inevitably invite many other suggestions for constitutional change. Canada went down this road in the 1980s and 1990s and the country nearly collapsed from all the competing demands," said Jonathan Malloy, professor of political science at Ottawa's Carleton University.

At least seven provincial legislatures representing more than 50% of the population, plus parliament, must approve constitutional amendments.

Al Carl, 73, is an Ottawa pensioner who says the monarchy provides stability in a divided political landscape and "differentiates us from the United States". Changing the constitution would be untenable, Carl said.

"How do you do that with the divisiveness of our politics? How would you ever get Quebec to agree to anything?" he said.

'AS LONG AS THE RIVERS FLOW'

Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, when asked about his position regarding the monarchy on Tuesday, said Canada's democracy is healthy and while he is always open to "strengthening" it, "Canadians are almost entirely preoccupied with the big issues we're facing" like climate change and the economy.

Without endorsing the monarchy or closing the door to a debate, Trudeau said his government would focus on the issues important to Canadians.

Malloy said he is personally "uncomfortable" with the constitutional monarchy and "its feudal, colonial, and wildly elitist underpinnings," adding, however, that "it does basically work" and so changing it is "a low political priority".

First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald brushed off concerns about the effect of a constitutional change on treaties, though she did not endorse a constitutional overhaul.

"First Nations will always have a relationship with the Crown no matter what Canada does as a corporation," Archibald told Reuters. "As long as the sun shines, the rivers flow and the grass grows, these covenants remain in effect."

(Reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa, additional reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto and Allison Lampert in Montreal, editing by Deepa Babington)

Thai protesters call for end of monarchy on king's birthday
The king's passivity during the COVID-19 pandemic has made him the target of unprecedented criticism at home and abroad. As Thailand struggles to cope with the crisis, he is gallivanting miles away in Germany.

Thailand celebrated the 68th birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Tuesday with official religious ceremonies and public displays of loyalty throughout the country. The king himself, however, was absent from his own festivities.

As anti-government protests gain momentum and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic grip the country, the monarch and his entourage have sought refuge in a luxurious hotel in the Bavarian Alps. The Thai king is known to reside in Germany for long periods of time.

Read more: Thailand's king living in luxury quarantine while his country suffers

On the morning of the king's birthday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha led an annual oath-swearing ceremony with his cabinet members and 69 Buddhist monks in Bangkok's Sanam Luang Square — vowing to be loyal civil servants to the king, also known as Rama X.

"We solemnly swear that we will do good work and be the strength of the country. We will follow in His Majesty's footsteps to solve the problems of the nation and the people," said Prayut and his cabinet.

For Thais who revere the monarchy, Vajiralongkorn's birthday is an important time of year. For others, it is a reminder of outdated traditions and the mass inequality that exists in the country.

Vajiralongkorn's passivity during the pandemic has also made him the target of unprecedented criticism in a country where the monarchy plays an important role for many.
https://www.dw.com/en/thai-protesters-call-for-end-of-monarchy-on-kings-birthday/a-54367300
Thai elephants face starvation as tourism drops

Growing anti-monarchy sentiments

Coverage of the king's lavish life abroad circulating in foreign media outlets cannot be reported in Thailand due to its strict lese majeste law, which prohibits any disparaging statements or opinions about the king and the royal family. Failing to adhere to Article 112 is a crime punishable by three to 15 years in prison.

In June, the prime minister said the king, in his "compassion," had instructed the government not to enforce Article 112 for persecutions but warned that anyone who criticizes the monarchy risks their livelihood.

Read more: Coronavirus aggravates Thailand's plastic waste crisis

Exiled activist Junya Yimprasert told DW: "Article 112 is still a threat as long as it exists because it's used periodically and systematically."

Despite draconian laws on speaking out against the monarchy, Thais have taken to the streets and social media platforms to vocalize their frustrations. Student-led anti-government protests have been spotted, with demonstrators brandishing placards and banners with messages critical of the king. The slogans, however, were disguised with slang and sarcasm.

The Free Youth movement staged a political rally in Bangkok on July 18 to demand the dissolution of parliament and an end to crackdowns on anyone opposing the government and constitutional reforms. They carried signs reading "Lost faith is definitely not a crime" and "We didn't lose faith because we never had faith," referring to political and human rights activist Tiwagorn Withiton.

Read more: Thai king strips former PM Thaksin Shinawatra of royal honors

'I lost faith in the monarchy'

Withiton was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in early July against his will after he spoke out against the forced disappearance of Thai dissident Wanchalearm Satsaksit in Cambodia. Satsaksit had been critical of Thailand's military and monarchy.

Withiton had posted a photo on Facebook in which he was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with "I lost faith in the monarchy." Security officers paid him a visit and tried to convince him to stop wearing the T-shirt, citing that it could cause division in Thailand.

Read more: Thai activists accused of defaming king 'disappear'

After continuing to wear the T-shirt in public, the activist was taken forcibly from his home in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

"It's a medical issue," Major General Puttiphong Musikun, provincial police chief for Khon Kaen, told DW, without giving further details.

Withiton's alleged abduction sparked an online uproar, with netizens demanding answers under the hashtags #SaveWanchalearm and #Abolish112.

After two weeks in hospital, Withiton was unexpectedly freed on July 22. He said ongoing protests calling for his release were the catalyst for his freedom.

"Right now, I have to recover physically and emotionally after being admitted to the hospital," said Withiton.

Read more: Rights group slams Thailand's repressive laws to intensify crackdown on COVID-19 critics
https://www.dw.com/en/thai-protesters-call-for-end-of-monarchy-on-kings-birthday/a-54367300
Thailand: COVID-19 and tourism's collapse

Protests expand to Germany

Some 8,500 kilometers (5,300 miles) to the northwest, members of the German non-profit PixelHELPER Foundation and Thai nationals living abroad gathered to stage a protest on the king's birthday.

Led by exiled activist Junya Yimprasert, protesters gathered in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and held signs which read: "Thai king to International Criminal Court (ICC)." They also erected a makeshift guillotine with a caricature of Rama X behind bars.

"Our goal is to abolish the monarchy," said Yimprasert. The 54-year-old has been using an unconventional approach to catch the king's attention. For weeks, she and fellow protesters have used a light projector to display anti-monarchy messages on the front walls of the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where the king currently resides.

To garner more attention, the group has also projected comical illustrations featuring Rama X onto the walls of the German parliament and the home of Chancellor Angela Merkel.


The activists now intend to step up the protest. "We are searching for old fire brigade cars to drive alongside him [the king] when he goes biking. We want to end the fun of his private life and convey to him that it's not so nice that he stays in Germany," said PixelHELPER founder Oliver Bienkowski.

Speaking with DW, Bienkowski said the group is also planning to stage a 24/7 protest in front of the king's hotel and expand their efforts to other European countries, including Switzerland, where Queen Suthida is believed to be staying.

The Berlin-based organization also wants to target Thailand's tourism sector to make Germans "aware of the situation" in the Southeast Asian country.

Thailand's Royal Office did not respond to DW's requests for comments about the ongoing protests and the king's role in Thailand given his absence.



ORNATE CORONATION CEREMONIES IN THAILAND
Wearing a 200-year-old crown
In one of Saturday's ceremonies, the king put on a crown weighing 7.3 kilograms (16 pounds) and measuring 66 centimeters (26 inches) in height. It symbolizes his royal powers, which include the right to intervene in government affairs. "I shall reign in righteousness for the benefits of the kingdom and the people forever," he said in his traditional first royal command.
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https://www.dw.com/en/thai-protesters-call-for-end-of-monarchy-on-kings-birthday/a-54367300








Date 29.07.2020
Related Subjects Asia, Coronavirus
Keywords Asia, Thailand, coronavirus, Maha Vajiralongkorn, protests
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ABOLISH  Lese-majeste 

ABOLISH MONARCHY

Former Thai PM Thaksin to be Charged With Royal Defamation


The pact between Thaksin’s camp and the royalist establishment, which allowed the former leader to return from self-exile last year, may be starting to fray.

By Sebastian Strangio
May 29, 2024

A supporter waits in front of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s residence before Thaksin was released on parole, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand.Credit: AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn


Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be charged with defaming the country’s monarchy Thai prosecutors said this morning, three months after the leader was released on parole in another criminal case.

“The attorney-general has decided to indict Thaksin on all charges,” spokesperson Prayuth Bejraguna told reporters. Thaksin was absent from today’s hearing due to a COVID-19 infection, but will need to appear before court on June 18 to be formally indicted, Prayuth added.

The lese-majeste complaint was filed by royalist activists in 2016, relating to an interview that Thaksin gave the year before to South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, in which he alleged that the Privy Council had backed the May 2014 coup which ousted his sister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government.

Perceived criticisms of the Thai monarchy are harshly punished under Article 112 of Thailand’s penal code, also known as the lese-majeste law, which carries prison sentences of up to 15 years – and which government critics claim has been routinely used to hush up dissenting voices.

As Reuters notes, Thaksin’s case will be the highest-profile case among more than 270-odd Article 112 prosecutions working their way through the Thai legal system. Just this week, two separate Thai courts sentenced an opposition parliamentarian and an activist musician to prison terms for insulting the monarchy. Thaksin also faces a charge under the Computer Crime Act.

In a country where judges routinely bend with the political winds, the attorney-general’s decision to press ahead with the lese-majeste charge points to possible cracks in the political compact that has led to Thaksin’s political rehabilitation and comeback over the past nine months.

Last August, Thaksin returned from a long period of self-exile to begin serving a prison term for abuse of power dating back to his time in office. After the rapid dilution of his eight-year sentence, he was released on parole in February.

The former leader’s rehabilitation reflected a sudden détente in the two-decade-long political war between Thailand’s conservative establishment, clustered around the monarchy and armed forces, and Thaksin’s populist political machine, which carried his parties to victory in every election between 2001 and 2019.

This was made possible by the political realignment in that followed last year’s general election, which saw Pheu Thai eclipsed by a more progressive challenger, the Move Forward Party (MFP), which won the most seats of any party. In the complex political maneuverings that followed the election, the MFP was sidelined as Pheu Thai joined with a coalition of conservative and military-backed parties and formed a government under Srettha Thavisin. The former real estate developer was on confirmed as PM the very same day that Thaksin landed at Bangkok’s Don Meuang airport.

Under the terms of this political compact, Thaksin’s eight-year prison dissolved away; after receiving a royal pardon, he ended up serving barely six months, all of it in a relatively plush private suite at a prison hospital. (This former public enemy number one did not spend a single night in prison proper.) Conversely, the fact that attorney general has now decided to charge him under Article 112 suggests that this political compact between Pheu Thai and the establishment is fraying, if it hasn’t come apart entirely.

Thaksin has arguably not done his own cause any good. Since being paroled in February, the former leader has almost contemptuously asserted his influence over Thai politics. As The Diplomat’s Bangkok-based columnist Tita Sanglee noted earlier this month, the 74-year-old has “wasted no time traveling to major provinces in Thailand’s north and south. He was seen visiting development sites and mingling with political bigwigs, high-ranking local officials, and businesspeople, effectively flaunting his regained influence.” He also made an apparently stillborn attempt to establish himself as a mediator in the conflict in Myanmar, and is believed to have influenced a disruptive cabinet reshuffle earlier this month.

It is possible that the tribunes of the military-royalist establishment, including the Palace, have been angered by Thaksin’s political activities and his rapid return to active politics. It is also possible that many were never quite able to get over years of cultivated bitterness toward Thaksin and his allies.

Whether or not this marks a resumption of the war between the Shinawatras and the establishment remains to be seen – but the course of the lese-majeste case against Thaksin will likely offer a strong indication.

ABOLISH THE MONARCHY

More than half of Canadians want independence from the monarchy, survey finds


Ben Cousins
CTVNews.ca Writer
Published April 21, 2022

Canada’s support for the monarchy is waning and could reach new lows in a post Queen Elizabeth II era, a new poll found.

The poll, released Thursday from the Angus Reid Institute, found that 51 per cent of respondents are in favour of abolishing the monarchy in the generations to come, while 24 per cent of respondents are unsure.

Those in Quebec (71 per cent) and Saskatchewan (59 per cent) were most likely to call for an abolition of the monarchy, while the rest of the country hovered around 45 per cent in favour of leaving the Royal Family behind.

Additionally, 49 per cent of respondents believe the Royal Family represents outdated values and 50 per cent said the Royal Family is “no longer relevant at all” to them.

RELATED LINKS

ARI: Canadians support growing monarchy abolition movement, would pursue after Elizabeth II dies

Canada’s support for the head of state, plummets even further in the event of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, as 65 per cent of respondents oppose recognizing Prince Charles as king and Canada’s official head of state, while 76 per cent of respondents oppose recognizing Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as the queen.

Elizabeth has stated that she wants Camilla to be named “queen” one day.

The Queen celebrated her 96th birthday on Thursday and has been on the throne for 70 years.

Since October, Elizabeth has battled COVID-19, visited the hospital for an unspecified ailment, and has quipped publicly about not being able to move very much anymore.

Overall, 63 per cent of respondents had a favourable view of the Queen and 58 per cent would feel sad when she dies.

SUPPORT FOR OTHER COUNTRIES LEAVING THE MONARCHY

More countries appear willing to move on from the monarchy as well.

Barbados formally left the monarchy behind in November 2021 and Jamaica followed suit in March when Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced during a visit from Prince William and Kate that it too wants independence.

Nearly 60 per cent of Canadians feel that countries choosing to leave the monarchy are following down the right path, while just eight per cent think it’s a mistake.


In 2019, the Monarchist League of Canada, which describes itself as “Canada’s premier organization at the forefront of the promotion, education, and nonpartisan defence of the Canadian Crown,” found that Canadians payed $58.7 million in tax dollars to the Crown, a nearly six per cent decrease from the 2016 survey.

METHODOLOGY

The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from April 5-7, 2022 among a representative randomized sample of 1,607 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. The survey was self-commissioned and paid for by ARI.

Anti-establishment Thai party survives first dissolution bid

Issued on: 21/01/2020 

Bangkok (AFP)

A stridently anti-military Thai party survived a first legal attempt to disband it Tuesday over alleged sedition -- including links to the Illuminati, a secret group conspiracy theorists say is seeking global domination.

The Constitutional Court ruled Future Forward -- a pro-democracy party which vehemently opposes the army-aligned establishment -- had not shown any intent to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

Dismissing the charge, a judge on the nine-member bench said there was no sign key executives and the party "had taken actions against the constitutional monarchy".

The ruling sparked jubiliation at party headquarters, with supporters cheering "long live democracy" and "hell to dictatorship".

But FFP -- Thailand's third largest party which draws on a deep well of youth support -- still faces further threats of dissolution.

It is loathed by the pro-military establishment for its criticism of the army's role in politics and for pushing policies such as an end to conscription and a cut in defence spending.

The same court is still considering a second charge over alleged illegal loans by its charismatic billionaire founder Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who also faces a barrage of cases against him.

"We believe those cases are politically motivated," Thanathorn said to cheers at a press conference after the ruling.

He vowed to push for amendments to the 2017 army-scripted constitution, which analysts say tilted last year's election in the favour of military-backed parties.

Calling an end to the "legal war" against Future Forward, secretary general Pitabutr Saengkanokkul said dissolving parties was "not useful to Thailand's democracy".

Thailand's recent political history has been shaped by the courts, which routinely abolish parties and unseats premiers in what critics say are politically motivated cases.

The kingdom has disbanded five parties since 2007 -- a move that "kicks out political talent", analyst Thitnan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University told AFP.

The court considered allegations that speeches by senior FFP members were seditious, as well as a spurious claim the party was linked to the Illuminati, a secret society whose existence has never seriously been proven.

That part of the complaint centered on whether the party logo -- an upside-down triangle -- resembled the symbol of the alleged republican-leaning group traced back to 18th-century Europe.

Thailand's ultra-wealthy monarchy is at the apex of power and is buttressed by harsh royal defamation laws and the backing of the army.

The kingdom remains in a political quagmire with the country split over the arch-royalist government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former army chief who seized power in a 2014 coup.

Newly formed Future Forward only came onto Thailand's political scene in 2018, drawing the support of millions of mostly young Thais weary of pro-establishment forces in government.

burs-apj/dhc/fox

© 2020 AFP
Thai court acquits opposition party of attempting to overthrow monarchy

Issued on: 21/01/2020 

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (C), leader of the opposition Future Forward party, sits with party officials at their headquarters in Bangkok on January 21, 2020, to watch the ruling by Thailand's Constitutional Court on whether the party carried out "actions" against the constitutional monarchy. AFP - ROMEO GACAD

Text by:NEWS WIRES

Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday acquitted the country’s third-biggest political party of seeking the overthrow of the country’s constitutional monarchy, a case that had highlighted ongoing political divisions in the Southeast Asian nation.

The court ruled that the Future Forward Party showed no intention of committing the offense, and that the complaint had not been filed according to the correct legal procedure.

The party still faces the threat of dissolution under another pending charge of breaking election laws by taking a large loan from its leader. The party was founded in 2018 during military rule, and takes progressive positions that are anathema to Thailand’s royalist ruling elite.

The party’s surprising finish in an election last year and its popularity among young people rattled the government, which is led by the same people who staged a military coup in 2014.

The case drew special attention because the complaint had sought to link the party to the mythical conspiracy own as the Illuminati, which is alleged to be an elite organization seeking world domination.

The complaint, filed last year by lawyer Natthaporn Toprayoon, listed statements by party officials supposedly critical of Thai traditions, and pointed out that its logo is an inverted triangle, which if turned right-side up resembles the alleged symbol of the Illuminati. It claimed the Illuminati had sought to overthrow European monarchies and influence the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

The case was one of a series filed against the party and its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkrit. In November, the Constitutional Court stripped Thanathorn of his lawmaker status, ruling that he violated a regulation on media ownership.

Critical of the military

There is a widespread belief that one way or another, the party will end up being disbanded, with its leaders banned from political office for several years.

The party has taken positions explicitly critical of the military for its interference in politics. It also seeks to amend the constitution, drafted after the 2014 coup, to make it more democratic.

The party’s initial support came from youth and young professionals, but it proved to have wider appeal in many parts of the country.

The army staged coups in 2006 and 2014, allowing an election last March after five years of military rule. While in power, it amended the constitution and other laws to try to ensure that pro-democracy parties could not take power.

The military and the courts are the two main pillars of the Thai establishment, and have consistently acted to curb threats to the status quo.

The court’s ruling on Tuesday ordered Future Forward to revise its regulations to be clearer in order to comply with the constitution’s stating that any political party must not oppose the constitutional monarchy.

The opposition party’s popularity was underlined last month when several thousand of its supporters rallied in Bangkok, the nation’s capital, in one of the largest political demonstrations since the 2014 coup.

“I think it shows that people will not tolerate dictatorship anymore,” Thanathorn said at the time of the large turnout.

(AP)

Thai court acquits opposition party of opposing monarchy

The ruling means major Thai opposition Future Forward Party will not be banned on charges of sedition. However, the party still faces several more legal challenges that could yet see it dissolved.

THE KING IS WEARING A COWBOY HAT OZZIE STYLE

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday found the opposition Future Forward Party not guilty of seeking to overthrow the monarchy.

The party, led by Thanathon Juangroongruangkrit, showed no intention of committing the offense, the court ruled.

The court did find that the party should revise the wording in its constitution so it clearly states it does not oppose the constitutional monarchy.

"This should not have been a case in the first place. I would like to stress that neither Thanathorn, myself, nor the party, want to undermine the constitutional monarchy," said Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, the party's secretary-general.

Lawyer alleged Future Forward violated the constitution

The case was brought by lawyer Natthaporn Toprayoon who charged the leaders of the party in July 2019 with violating section 49 of the constitution. This section forbids actions seeking to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

He also charged that the party had links to the Illuminati due to a symbol in its logo.

"I have no intention of wanting to see the party disbanded," said Natthaporn before the court ruling.

"I want people to recognize that we are all Thais and we should protect the monarchy because we are able to live today because of the monarchy" he added.

However, the party could still be banned under another pending charge of breaking election laws by taking a loan from its leader.

Read more: Opinion: Thailand's democratic dictatorship

What is the Future Foward Party?

The progressive party was formed in 2018 on a platform calling for an end to the military's influence on Thai politics, including seeking to reform the constitution which was drafted after a military coup in 2014. Future Forward came third in national elections last year, winning 6.2 million votes from a mainly younger electorate.

Its leader, the auto-parts billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkrit is facing a number of allegations, including that Future Forward Party accepted loans from Thanathorn, breaking electoral laws governing party funding.

The Constitutional Court also disqualified Thanathorn from acting as lawmaker last year, ruling he violated a regulation on media ownership.

Read more: Thailand election highlights a divided society

kmm/rt (Reuters, dpa, AP)

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Keywords Thailand, Future Forward Party, constitutional monarchy

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UK republicans eye coronation to rally support

By AFP
April 30, 2023

Pressure group Republic, which wants an elected British head of state, plans to protest at the coronation 

- Copyright AFP Paul ELLIS

Valentine GRAVELEAU, Joe JACKSON

Despite his surname, Ryan King will not be among those waving Union Jack flags at the coronation of King Charles III next week.

Instead, he plans to protest on the historic royal occasion, dressed in a yellow T-shirt with the provocative slogan: “Abolish the monarchy.”

“The monarchy has no place in modern society given how outdated and undemocratic it is,” King, 40, told AFP.

He aims to join other protesters rallied by the pressure group Republic, which wants the monarch replaced by an elected head of state.

Republicans have long been a fringe group in Britain. But their voices have been getting louder since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year.

Charles, who inherited the crown automatically, has been trailed by protesters holding up signs proclaiming: “Not my king!”

Republic’s chief executive Graham Smith sees the spectacle of dazzling jewels and golden carriages as a chance to make their case, particularly as Britons struggle with the rising cost of living.

That makes it “more fertile ground” for recruitment. “People are far more willing to listen and engage,” he added.

Times have also changed since Britons gave deference to those deemed their social superiors.

“People are far more critical generally of our political system, which comes into this whole debate not just about the royals but about the constitution and the government and parliament,” Smith said.

“And they are far less interested in the royals.”

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams agreed that for the first time, the republican movement was “showing its teeth”.

But he said it still failed to have major political support.

– ‘Tepid’ –

To get its point across, Republic has become more active than ever on social media, to try to mobilise its 130,000-strong base and expand its numbers.

It sends out regular emails about upcoming protests, including last week for a visit by the king and queen to Liverpool, in northwest England.

“Not my king” placards have as a result become more visible. Such protests were virtually unthinkable during Elizabeth’s reign.

A recent YouGov poll indicated that most Britons (58 percent) still support the monarchy. But Smith still sees that as at most “tepid”.

“You’re still going to get a good crowd in London (on coronation day),” he added.

“A lot of people will go because they want to see something which is historic… it doesn’t necessarily translate into royalism.”

Republicans prefer instead to concentrate on levels of support among younger people.

The YouGov poll indicated that 32 percent of those aged 18-24 supported the monarchy, against 38 percent who wanted an elected head of state.

“Polling that shows attitudes towards the monarchy are changing as the younger generation comes to the fore and quite rightly asks themselves, what’s the point of the monarchy?” said King.

But Sean Lang, a history professor at Anglia Ruskin University, disagrees: young people have never been enthusiastic about the monarchy, he said.

“I think republicans who see the polling as evidence that the end of the monarchy is round the corner are indulging in wishful thinking,” he added.

– Democratic –

Unlike the revolutionaries of old, who brought down foreign kings and queen with violence, Smith does not see the current crop of republicans as radicals.

“What we’re proposing isn’t particularly radical, it’s democratic,” he argued.

Instead of the hereditary principle of monarchy, they want a fully elected parliament and elected head of state, plus a written constitution that clearly separates powers.

“Our focus is getting the public on board and to push for a referendum,” he said.

Unlike recent direct action protests in London by environmental groups, Smith says they have “no plans to disrupt the actual procession”.

They are expecting supporters to be spread out along the route with about 1,000 at Trafalgar Square to chant “Not my king” as Charles passes by.

“There are huge swathes of society in desperate need of help and those are all far worthier causes for where our money should be spent,” said King.

“Parading a gold carriage through the capital isn’t going to solve any of these problems.

TYRANNY!

'Incredibly Alarming': Peaceful Protests Not Fit For a King

'We're now living in a dystopian nightmare'

Protesters from climate protest group 'Just Stop Oil' are arrested by police officers close to where Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort were crowned at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023.

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

COMMON DREAMS STAFF
May 06, 2023

Thousands of King Charles III's subjects protested against the monarchy Saturday in London — and heavy-handed police detained many of them for "suspicion of breaching the peace."

Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Police tweeted that they would have an “extremely low tolerance” of those seeking to “undermine” King Charles III's coronation day.

“A significant police operation is underway in central London,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement Saturday. “The individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace.”

At around 7 a.m. police stopped six of the anti-monarchy group Republic’s organizers and told them they were detaining and searching them, Republic director Harry Stratton told CNN at the protest. The group had been walking behind a rental van containing hundreds of placards. “They didn’t say why they were arresting them. They didn’t tell them or us where they were taking them. It really is like something out of a police state,” Stratton said.

Among those arrested ahead of a protest in London’s Trafalgar Square was Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic.

“This morning, Graham Smith and five members of our team were arrested. Hundreds of placards were seized,” Republic tweeted. “Is this democracy?”

Protesters say police warned them not to chant ‘anything that may be deemed offensive.’

The Metropolitan Police said those arrested were being “held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.”

Just Stop Oil reported that around 20 of its climate demonstrators had been arrested, with photos showing a man wearing a T-shirt with the group’s name being detained in Whitehall. “He was arrested along with 20 others,” Just Stop Oil tweeted. “Free speech is a core British value – and we have just lost it. No supporters of Just Stop Oil arrested in the crowd had glue, paint or any plans to disrupt the coronation. We are living in a dystopian nightmare.”



Human Rights Watch's UK director Yasmine Ahmed said in a statement: "The reports of people being arrested for peacefully protesting the coronation are incredibly alarming. This is something you would expect to see in Moscow not London.

"Peaceful protests allow individuals to hold those in power to account, something the UK government seems increasingly averse to.”

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s chief executive, said: “We need to see what details emerge around these incidents but merely being in possession of a megaphone or carrying placards should never be grounds for a police arrest.

“Peaceful protest is clearly protected under international human rights law and it’s been worrying to see the police this week making numerous statements about their ‘low tolerance’ for disruption at the coronation. The coronation shouldn’t become yet another excuse for undermining people’s basic human rights in this country and we’re awaiting more details over these concerning reports of arrests.”

“We’ve recently had the introduction of extremely draconian legislation outlawing ‘disruptive’ or ‘noisy’ protests, which has given the police excessive – and highly subjective – powers and seriously damaged people’s right of free speech and public assembly.

“The coronation shouldn’t become yet another excuse for undermining people’s basic human rights in this country.”

 

 

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). 

Feel free to republish and share widely.

‘Something out of a police state’: Anti-monarchy protesters arrested ahead of King Charles’ coronation

By Christian Edwards, Lindsay Isaac and Allegra Goodwin, CNN
Sat May 6, 2023

The Metropolitan Police said "a number of arrests" were made Saturday morning.Yara Nardi/Pool/Reuters
LondonCNN —

Several anti-monarchy protesters were arrested in central London ahead of the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, their group has said, as the Metropolitan Police force faces scrutiny for its approach toward demonstrators at the historic event.

Thousands gathered in central London on Saturday to celebrate the once-in-a-generation event. But it also drew demonstrators, with protesters wearing yellow T-shirts booing and shouting “Not My King” throughout the morning.

Republic, Britain’s largest anti-monarchy group, told CNN that police – without providing any reason – arrested organizers of the anti-monarchy protest.

At around 7 a.m. (2 a.m. ET) police stopped six of Republic’s organizers and told them they were detaining and searching them, Republic director Harry Stratton told CNN at the protest.

Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic, was among those detained, according to a video shared by the Alliance of European Republican Movements.

Protesters hold signs reading "Not My King" and "Abolish the Monarchy" close to the procession.Piroschka Van De Wouw/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Stratton said that when the organizers asked police why they were being detained, they were told officers “would figure it out” after they had searched the anti-monarchy protesters. After searching them, police told the six organizers they were arresting and seizing hundreds of their placards carrying the slogan “Not My King.”

“They didn’t say why they were arresting them. They didn’t tell them or us where they were taking them. It really is like something out of a police state,” Stratton said.

“I think people are quite perturbed by the police reaction. But the crowd reaction to us has been overwhelmingly friendly,” he added.

The group posted on Twitter Saturday, commenting: “So much for the right to peaceful protest.”

Members of environmental activist group Just Stop Oil also appeared to have been arrested on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, the UK’s PA Media news agency reported, adding that a large group of the protesters were seen in handcuffs.

A Just Stop Oil member was arrested and carried away by police.Yara Nardi/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Metropolitan Police confirmed several arrests had been made in central London.

“Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane. They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance,” the force tweeted.

“We have made a number of arrests in the area of Carlton House Terrace. The individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace,” the Met continued. “A further three people were arrested in the area of Wellington Arch. They were held on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage.”

Human Rights Watch, a non-profit campaign group, said the coronation arrests were “something you would expect to see in Moscow not London,” according to a statement obtained by PA Media..

Anti-monarchy groups have expressed concern over the treatment of protesters.Chris Ratcliff/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Republic claimed it was expecting between 1,500 and 2,000 people to join the group at its protest in Trafalgar Square, just south of the royal procession route.

“Instead of a coronation we want an election. Instead of Charles we want a choice. It’s that simple,” the group tweeted on Saturday.
Growing police powers

The Metropolitan Police, the UK’s largest police force, has been scrutinized for its tough approach toward protests around the coronation.

“Our tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low,” the force wrote on Twitter this week. “We will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining this celebration.”

Ahead of the event, the Met said that morpe than 11,500 police officers would be deployed in London on Saturday, making the coronation the largest one-day deployment in decades.

The operation – labeled Golden Orb – saw officers line the processional route, manage crowds and road closures, protect high-profile individuals and carry out searches with specialist teams.

There are also plans for facial recognition technology to be used in central London, which has sparked criticism from human rights groups.

Demonstrators gathered in central London on Saturday.Susannah Ireland/AFP/Getty Images

“We all have the right to go about our lives without being watched and monitored, but everyone at the coronation is at risk of having their faces scanned by oppressive facial recognition technology,” Emmanuelle Andrews of human rights group Liberty, said on Twitter.

The operation comes amid growing concern over the increase in the police’s power to stifle dissent in Britain, following the recent introduction of controversial pieces of legislation.

Last year, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 significantly “broaden[ed] the range of circumstances in which police may impose conditions on a protest.” Under the new Act, it is an offense for protesters to “intentionally or recklessly caus[e] public nuisance” – including causing “serious annoyance.”

In a statement to CNN, Liberty said this Act “has made it much harder for people to stand up for what they believe without facing the risk of criminalization.”

Parts of a controversial anti-protest law come into force ahead of King Charles' coronation

On Tuesday, a new law called the Public Order Act received royal assent from King Charles, which is a formality and the final hurdle before a bill becomes law.

It will “give police the powers to prevent disruption at major sporting and cultural events taking place this summer in England and Wales,” the UK Home Office said in a statement.

Specific measures in the Act were introduced from Wednesday.

Under this law, long-standing protest tactics such as locking on – where protesters physically attach themselves to things like buildings – could lead to a six-month prison sentence or “unlimited fine,” said the Home Office.

'A Human-Rights Nightmare.' Anti-Monarchy Protesters Have Already Been Arrested at King Charles III's Coronation

Members of the anti-monarchist group Republic stage a protest close to where Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in central London, on May 6, 2023.
Sebastien Bozon—Pool/AFP/Getty Images

BY YASMEEN SERHAN / LONDON
UPDATED: MAY 6, 2023 

Graham Smith, the head of the U.K.’s leading anti-monarchy movement, was planning to lead thousands of fellow republicans in protest of King Charles III’s coronation. In the end, he didn’t get the chance. Smith and five others were arrested on Saturday morning in Central London, according to the group.

The reason for the arrest remains unclear. At approximately 7:30 a.m. local time, Smith and his fellow protesters were collecting drinks and placards for attendees when, according to The Guardian, they were stopped by the police. A spokesperson for Republic told the newspaper that the police would not provide a reason for the arrest. In photos of the arrest posted to Twitter by the campaign group, Smith can be seen sitting on the ground surrounded by police officers. In a video, one officer can be heard saying: “They’re under arrest—end of.”

The Metropolitan Police, which has deployed 11,500 officers for the coronation, subsequently tweeted that they had made “a number of arrests” in the area, adding that “the individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace.”

Graham Smith of the campaigning group Republic speaks during an interview in London, on April 27, 2023.
Kin Cheung—AP

Smith, who widely publicized the demonstration plans, told TIME in the run up to the coronation that he expected as many as 1,700 people to join Republic on Trafalgar Square, a historically popular site for protest in Britain. In addition to chants of “not my king,” Smith said the protest would also feature speeches from lawmakers, activists, and even representatives of other republican movements. Their principle argument, Smith says, is that monarchy is inherently anti-democratic and that Britain should have an elected head of state instead.

By arresting the protesters and preventing them from peacefully protesting, the British authorities may have inadvertently bolstered the anti-monarchists’ stance. Just days before the coronation, the British government passed into law the Public Order Bill, which gives the police greater powers to crack down on those engaging in popular protest tactics. Strategies like “locking on,” in which a protester attaches themselves to an object, infrastructure, or other people to make them difficult to remove, are now punishable by up to six months in prison. According to the Metropolitan Police, four people were arrested today with lock-on devices on “on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.”

Jodie Beck, a policy and campaigns officer at the civil-liberties organization Liberty, tells TIME that the anti-protest legislation appeared to be rushed through last week—having only received royal assent from King Charles on Tuesday—in preparation for use at the coronation. “Protest is not a gift from the state—it is our fundamental right,” says Beck. “It’s deeply concerning to see protesters being arrested today and just shows that, as many of us predicted, the policing of the coronation is turning out to be a human-rights nightmare.”

While some British lawmakers condemned the arrest as “shocking,” others appeared to support the police’s actions. “If you do not wish to live in a country that has a monarchy the solution is not to turn up with your silly boards,” tweeted Lee Anderson, a Conservative lawmaker and deputy chairman of the ruling party. “The solution is to emigrate.”

Crowd boos, flips bird as Charles’ coronation procession goes by: ‘Not my king!’

By Brooke Kato
May 6, 2023 

Amid the sea of Union Jacks, demonstrators filled the air with a chorus of boos Saturday at King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s coronation.

The elaborate royal procession was heckled by anti-monarch protestors who joined the crowd of onlookers watching the parade on Saturday.

“Down with the crown!” many among the masses shouted as the carriage rolled past, armed with blinding yellow signs and shirts.

“Not my King!” they yelled, stationed among the hoards of Brits lining the central London streets.

Several protestors were arrested before the ceremony this morning, but members of the group told CNN that the Metropolitan Police did not cite reasons why.

At 7 a.m. local time, officers detained and searched six demonstrators who are members of Republic – a group aimed at abolishing the monarchy – the organization’s director Harry Stratton told CNN.

Among the small group detained was Republic’s chief executive Graham Smith, according to footage shared on Twitter by the Alliance of European Republican Movements.

“They’re under arrest, end of, OK?” an officer said in the video that has since received 3.4 million views online.

Protestors lined the streets sporting bring yellow tees and matching signs that read, “Not My King.”

As the royal parade rolled past, demonstrators shouted, “Down with the crown.”Getty Images

Stratton told the outlet that officers who were asked why the group was being detained allegedly said police would “figure it out” after they were searched.

“They didn’t say why they were arresting them. They didn’t tell them or us where they were taking them. It really is like something out of a police state,” Stratton said.

“I think people are quite perturbed by the police reaction. But the crowd reaction to us has been overwhelmingly friendly,” he continued.

King Charles III was coronated Saturday morning.REUTERS

Royals fans flying union jacks head towards the palace following the ceremony, as others lined the streets to watch the royal procession.

Law enforcement officers reportedly seized the group’s bright yellow posters baring the slogan “Not My King.”

“So much for the right to peaceful protest,” Republic, which had planned an organized demonstration on Trafalgar Square, posted on Twitter. In a subsequent post, the group accused law enforcement of barring protestors from joining the demonstration.


SEE ALSO

CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III
Coronation live updates: King Charles, Queen Camilla wave from Buckingham Palace balcony without Harry, Andrew

Saturday morning, the Metropolitan Police took to Twitter to announce a number of arrests that took place in various locations.

The force listed “suspicion of breaching the peace,” “suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance” and “suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage” as reasons for the arrests.

Earlier this week, a controversial public order bill came into effect just in time for the coronation, allowing police “to take stronger action” against protestors, according to CNN.

On Tuesday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman condemned protests by the “selfish minority,” arguing that their actions ruin the public’s lives.

“The public shouldn’t have their daily lives ruined by so called ‘eco-warriors’ causing disruption and wasting millions of pounds of taxpayer money,” she said in a statement.

“The selfish minority must not be allowed to get away with this. We are giving our police and courts the tools they need to stop this chaos and I back them in making full use of these powers.”

The King’s coronation cost an estimated $63 million to $125 million – millions more than Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953.

The day’s festivities include the “king’s procession” and a Windsor Castle concert by Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, while upped security is believed to be one of the reasons behind the hefty price tag. The royal extravaganza has been described as “scaled back,” due to its “shorter,” “smaller, less expensive and more representative” ceremony.

But some Brits argue that taxpayers shouldn’t be the steamrollers for the historical event, citing the current cost-of-living crisis across the UK.

IN PICTURES | 'Not my king': Police arrest antimonarchy protesters as Charles' coronation gets under way

Some antimonarchy protesters had held up signs saying 'privatise them' and 'abolish the monarchy, not the right to protest' and 'Not My King'.

06 May 2023 -

BY ANDREW MACASKILL

Protesters gather amongst well-wishers ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.
Image: Sebastien Bozon - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Police arrested the leader of the antimonarchy group Republic hours before King Charles' coronation on Saturday and a number of other protesters who had gathered among the crowds lining the procession route in central London.

Republic had earlier said it would mount the biggest protest against a British monarch in modern history. But London police chief Mark Rowley warned on Friday police would take action if protesters tried to “obstruct the enjoyment and celebration” of people.

Protesters, dressed in yellow T-shirts to make themselves stand out, were demanding an elected head of state and say the royal family has no place in a modern constitutional democracy and is staggeringly expensive to maintain.

A spokesperson for the group said police had arrested its leader Graham Smith on Saturday morning. A photo posted on Twitter showed Smith sitting on the ground surrounded by police officers.

Police did not confirm Smith's arrest but said they had arrested four people on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and three people on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage in what they called a “significant police operation”.

Protesters in Trafalgar Square ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Saturday May 6, 2023.
Image: Gareth Fuller/Pool via REUTERS

An officer at the scene near Trafalgar Square said three republican protesters had been arrested for carrying paint.

Republic said five of its supporters had been arrested and hundreds of its placards seized. A Reuters photographer said a number of Just Stop Oil protesters were also arrested.

Kevin John, 57, a salesperson from Devon who was among the protesters, said of the arrests: “It is disgusting and massively over the top.

“It is also hugely counterproductive by the police because all it has done is create a massive amount of publicity for us. It is completely crazy.”

“NOT MY KING”

Some antimonarchy protesters had held up signs saying “privatise them” and “abolish the monarchy, not the right to protest” and “Not My King”.

Protesters in Trafalgar Square ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, London.
Image: Gareth Fuller/Pool via REUTERS

Other signs featured a picture of Meghan, the wife of Charles' son Prince Harry, with the words “the people's princess”, and “God Save the King” with a picture of the late soccer great Pele.

Most of the antimonarchy protesters on Saturday had congregated in Trafalgar Square next to the bronze statue of King Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649, leading to a short-lived republic.

Though they were in a minority compared with the tens of thousands gathered on London’s streets to support the king, polls suggest support for the monarchy is declining and is weakest among young people.

With the crown passing from Queen Elizabeth to her less popular son, republican activists hope Charles will be the last British monarch to be crowned.

Protesters from climate protest group 'Just Stop Oil' are apprehended by police officers in the crowd close to where Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort will be crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.
Image: Justin Tallis - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Since Charles became king last September, there have been protests at royal events. He was heckled at a Commonwealth Day event at Westminster Abbey in March and targeted with eggs in York in November.

The death of the queen has also reignited debate in other parts of the world, such as Australia and Jamaica, about the need to retain Charles as their head of state.

While many other European monarchies have come and gone, or are far diminished in scale and importance, the British royal family has remained remarkably resilient.

Protesters gather amongst well-wishers in Trafalgar Square ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.
Image: Sebastien Bozon - WPA Pool/Getty Images


In Britain, polls show the majority of the population still want the royal family, but there is a long-term trend of declining support.

A poll by YouGov last month found 64% of people in Britain said they had little or no interest in the coronation. Among those aged 18 to 24, the number voicing little or no interest rose to 75%.

More than 11,000 police officers are on patrol for the coronation, the biggest ceremonial event staged in the British capital for 70 years.

Reuters

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Protesters and well-wishers gather as they wait to watch the procession ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.
Image: Piroschka van de Wouw - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Protesters hold up placards saying 'Not My King' in Trafalgar Square close to where Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023. - The set-piece coronation is the first in Britain in 70 years, and only the second in history to be televised. Charles will be the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at the central London church since King William I in 1066. Republican opponents who want an elected head of state plan to protest on the day with signs declaring "Not my king".
Image: SEBASTIEN BOZON/Pool via REUTERS

‘Not My King’ protesters detained by London police amid coronation


By Annabelle Timsit

 Washington Post
Updated May 6, 2023 

British police arrested Graham Smith, leader of anti-monarchy group Republic, and a number of other individuals ahead of King Charles III’s May 6 coronation. (Video: Reuters)

LONDON — Just a mile away from London’s Westminster Abbey where King Charles III was crowned, thousands of his subjects protested against the monarchy — and at least seven people were detained by police.

“A significant police operation is underway in central London,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement early Saturday. “The individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace.”

Among those reportedly detained was Graham Smith, leader of the anti-monarchy group Republic, ahead of a protest at London’s Trafalgar Square. London’s Metropolitan Police would not confirm his detention but images on Twitter showed Smith being led to a police van.

Ahead of his detention Smith told The Washington Post in an interview that for many Britons, Queen Elizabeth II “was the monarchy and the monarchy was the queen.” But Charles, he added, “hasn’t inherited any of that” — and his accession to the throne could mark a turning point for the anti-monarchy movement.

“Things are changing already,” Smith said. “People are no longer worried about criticizing, challenging and speaking up about being a republican.”

Live updates: Britain to crown King Charles III and Queen Camilla

As the rain drizzled in central London, protesters — many chanting “Not My King” — were met with monarchists trying to drown them out with cries of “That’s My King.”

Tom Andrews, 36, a university lecturer from Nottingham, was among those booing the coronation protesters. He believes “the monarchy is great for the U.K.” because it attracts tourism and provides “some kinds of checks and balances” on politicians.

But Andrew Woodcock, 63, from South Dorset, is in favor of an elected head of state. He said the Windsors “have been plagued by scandal” and are not “a very good example of the best of Great Britain.”

“I am sure there are people who could do a better job of keeping an eye on the political situation in the U.K., who would help to keep an eye on the politicians as well as provide a figurehead,” he said.

Charles has faced many protesters at his public engagements. Hecklers disrupted public events organized for the proclamation of his accession to the throne and last year he had eggs thrown at him not once but twice, in York and in Luton.

The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on how many officers it mobilized in response to the protest, but it said in a statement that it had put “a proportionate policing plan” in place for the coronation.

‘Not My King’ protests are now the norm at King Charles III’s events

Police confirmed that they arrested four people near Trafalgar Square and held them “on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance” after officers “seized lock-on devices.”

Police also detained three people near Wellington Arch, across from Buckingham Palace on the other side of Constitution Hill. The individuals “were held on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage,” police said.

Clive Lewis, a Labour Party member of Parliament for Norwich South, said the detention of protesters and seizure of materials were signs of the U.K.'s “gilded veneer of a democracy, on show for all the world to see.”

Polls show Charles is less popular than this mother or even his sister, Princess Anne, his elder son, Prince William, or his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales. His wife Camilla is even less popular — many Britons blame her for breaking up Charles’s previous marriage with the widely beloved Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

The British public has had plenty of time to get used to the idea of Charles as their king: At 74, the eldest son of the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch, himself the longest-serving Prince of Wales, has been preparing for the job for decades. But just because he has been waiting in the wings a long time does not mean he has been welcomed with open arms since the death of his mother.

Republic’s goal is to abolish the monarchy, replacing the hereditary position of king and queen with an elected head of state. That head of state would be empowered to get more involved in the country’s political life. Under Britain’s constitution, the monarch must act apolitically — by convention, they don’t vote — and is bound to follow the government’s advice. The monarch performs certain political acts, like appointing or dismissing a prime minister, but in effect they choose the candidate recommended by political parties.

Under the model advocated by Republic, an elected head of state would “be free to speak out on important issues of the day,” though they would have to remain independent of party politics. They would be able to “stop the politicians from doing something if they are breaking the rules.” And they would be accountable in the same way as any political figure, subject to being removed by parliament if they step out of line. Republic points to other countries with elected heads of state, including Ireland and Italy, as examples.

A police officer monitors members of the anti-monarchy group Republic protesting on the day of the coronation of King Charles III in London on Saturday. (Cathal McNaughton/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

But the new king faces an arguably bigger challenge than unpopularity: irrelevance.

In April, YouGov asked over 3,000 U.K. adults how much they cared about Charles’s forthcoming coronation. Only 9 percent said they cared “a great deal,” and 24 percent said they cared “a fair amount.” Sixty-four percent said they cared “not very much” or “not at all.”

How rich is King Charles? Coronation prompts scrutiny of royal wealth.

Experts say it’s an awkward time for the British monarchy to have a less popular or less relevant leader. Republican sentiment in the United Kingdom is gaining ground among young people in particular, though it remains a minority view in the country. The ceremony and pageantry around an event like a coronation can fuel criticism of the monarchy as an out-of-touch institution, particularly when ordinary Britons are facing sky-high inflation. Most say the coronation shouldn’t be publicly funded.

Eleanor Alexander, 23, said at Saturday’s protest that it was “appalling” to put on such an expensive coronation ceremony amid a cost-of-living crisis.

“It’s a waste of public funds and it’s an insult to the people,” said Alexander, who works for England’s National Health Service and lives in London. She stood out among the protesters in the crowd because of her sign — a glittery placard with a photo of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on it that read, “The People’s Princess” and “Not My King.”

The way Meghan was treated in the United Kingdom shows “how deeply entrenched colonialism, racism, imperialism is into the royal family,” Alexander said.

Eleanor Alexander, left, attends a protest during King Charles III’s coronation in London. (Annabelle Timsit/TWP)

How to watch King Charles III’s coronation: A guide to the key moments

Family scandals — particularly the allegations of racism from Prince Harry and Meghan — haven’t helped matters for the Windsors.

There is nothing in the British constitution that would prevent the switch to an elected head of state, according to Bob Morris, honorary senior research associate at the Constitution Unit of University College London. England was briefly a republic from 1649 to 1660 after King Charles I was executed for treason following military victories by the parliamentarian army led by Oliver Cromwell. But after Cromwell died in 1658, the monarchy was restored with Charles I’s son at its head.

“One shouldn’t argue that elected presidents don’t work, because they obviously do,” said Morris. “Therefore, the arguments are really about what one brings that the other doesn’t.”

Adela Suliman contributed to this report.

By Annabelle Timsit

Annabelle Timsit is a breaking news reporter for The Washington Post's London hub, covering news as it unfolds in the United States and around the world during the early morning hours in Washington. Twitter

 

Police arrest republican leader ahead of King Charles' coronation

By Reuters Staff

 Graham Smith, a member of a Republic and the author of the book 'Abolish the Monarchy', attends a anti-monarchy protest prior to the Commonwealth Service, outside Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, March 13, 2023. REUTERS/May James/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - British police arrested Graham Smith, leader of anti-monarchy group Republic, and a number of other individuals as part of what they called “a significant police operation” ahead of King Charles’ coronation on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people have gathered to cheer the royal procession and military parade for King Charles’ coronation at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday, the biggest ceremonial event staged in the British capital for 70 years.

London police chief Mark Rowley had warned on Friday that there would be a “very low tolerance for disruption”. There are more than 11,000 police officers on patrol in central London.

Police did not confirm the arrest of Smith, but said on Twitter they had arrested four people on suspicion of causing a public nuisance, and three people on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage.

Republic said five of its supporters had been arrested and hundreds of its placards seized.

A photo posted on Twitter showed Smith sitting on the ground surrounded by a group of police officers. An officer at the scene near Trafalgar Square said three republican protesters had been arrested for carrying paint.


A Reuters photographer said a number of protesters from the Just Stop Oil environmental group were also arrested.

Rowley had said police would take action if protesters tried to “obstruct the enjoyment and celebration” of a significant number of people.

Police arrest anti-monarchy protesters ahead of King Charles' coronation


By Andrew MacAskill


LONDON (Reuters) - Police arrested the leader of the anti-monarchy group Republic hours before King Charles’ coronation on Saturday and a number of other protesters who had gathered among the crowds lining the procession route in central London.

Republic had earlier said it would mount the biggest protest against a British monarch in modern history. But London police chief Mark Rowley warned on Friday that police would take action if protesters tried to “obstruct the enjoyment and celebration” of people.

Protesters, dressed in yellow t-shirts to make themselves stand out, were demanding an elected head of state and say that the royal family has no place in a modern constitutional democracy and is staggeringly expensive to maintain.

A spokesperson for the group said police had arrested its leader Graham Smith on Saturday morning. A photo posted on Twitter showed Smith sitting on the ground surrounded by police officers.

Police did not confirm Smith’s arrest but said they had arrested four people on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and three people on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage in what they called a “significant police operation”.

An officer at the scene near Trafalgar Square said three republican protesters had been arrested for carrying paint.

Republic said five of its supporters had been arrested and hundreds of its placards seized. A Reuters photographer said a number of Just Stop Oil protesters were also arrested.

Kevin John, 57, a salesman from Devon who was among the protesters, said of the arrests: “It is disgusting and massively over the top.”

“It is also hugely counterproductive by the police because all it has done is create a massive amount of publicity for us. It is completely crazy.”

“NOT MY KING”

Some anti-monarchy protesters had held up signs saying “privatise them” and “abolish the monarchy, not the right to protest”, and “Not My King”.

Others signs featured a picture of Meghan, the wife of Charles’ son Prince Harry, with the words “the people’s princess”, and “God Save the King” with a picture of the late soccer great Pele.

Most of the anti-monarchy protesters on Saturday had congregated in Trafalgar Square next to the bronze statue of King Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649, leading to a short-lived republic.

Although they were in a minority compared with the tens of thousands gathered on London’s streets to support the king, polls suggest support for the monarchy is declining and is weakest among young people.

With the crown passing from Queen Elizabeth to her less popular son, republican activists hope Charles will be the last British monarch to be crowned.

Since Charles became king last September, there have been protests at royal events. He was heckled at a Commonwealth Day event at Westminster Abbey in March and targeted with eggs in York in November.

The death of the queen has also reignited debate in other parts of the world, such as Australia and Jamaica, about the need to retain Charles as their head of state.

While many other European monarchies have come and gone, or are far diminished in scale and importance, the British royal family has remained remarkably resilient.

In Britain, polls show the majority of the population still want the royal family, but there is a long-term trend of declining support.

A poll by YouGov last month found 64% of people in Britain said they had little or no interest in the coronation. Among those aged 18 to 24, the number voicing little or no interest rose to 75%.

More than 11,000 police officers are on patrol for the coronation, the biggest ceremonial event staged in the British capital for 70 years.


Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Editing by Angus MacSwan, Alexandra Hudson

Anti-monarchy group Republic's chief arrested at Coronation protest

Watch: Anti-monarchy protester Matt Turnbull being arrested near Trafalgar Square

By Adam Durbin & Daniel Sandford

BBC News

The head of anti-monarchist campaign group Republic has been arrested at a protest in Trafalgar Square ahead of the Coronation.

Footage shows protesters in "Not My King" t-shirts being detained, including Republic's CEO Graham Smith.

Six demonstrators, including Mr Smith, were arrested by police while unloading placards near the Coronation procession route, the group said.

Republic posted photos of officers taking details from them on Twitter.

"So much for the right to peaceful protest," the group said, adding the officers would not give the reasons for their arrest and confirmed their CEO was among them.

Matt Turnbull, one of those arrested, said the straps holding the placards had been "misconstrued" as something that could be used for locking on.

"To be honest we were never going to be allowed to be a visible force here - they knew we were coming, and they were going to find a way to stop this," he told the BBC.

The BBC later saw Mr Turnbull being led away in handcuffs.

IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS

Image caption,

Graham Smith at a protest in March

New legislation passed this week made it illegal to prepare to lock-on to things like street furniture.

The Metropolitan Police has not confirmed the exact number of people detained, but did say a number of arrests had been made near the Coronation parade route:

• several people have been detained on suspicion of breaching the peace on Carlton House Terrace, near St James' Park
• four have been held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance in the area of St Martin's Lane, by Trafalgar Square, with lock-on devices seized
• three more held on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage near Wellington Arch.

On Wednesday, the force said they would have an "extremely low threshold" for protests during coronation celebrations, adding that demonstrators should expect "swift action".

IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA

But on Friday, Mr Smith said he had been speaking with the Met to organise the protest since January and he was not concerned he would be arrested, as the new laws would not apply to their plans.

He told BBC Radio Leeds that Republic "certainly have no intention of actually disrupting" the proceedings.

"We will be very visible, we will be loud, we will be hard to miss, but the procession and the plans for the coronation will go ahead uninterrupted by us".

Republic said on Saturday morning that hundreds of their placards had been seized and questioned: "Is this democracy?"

"Some ask why we're protesting. It's because we want to use the coronation to change the debate about the monarchy and show that we're not a nation of royalists," the campaign group wrote.

IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

The anti-monarchy protest was organised near Trafalgar Square in central London, with crowds wearing yellow bursting into chants of "Not my King" and "Free Graham Smith".

Thousands of people gathered to watch the Coronation procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey ahead of the ceremony.

During the Coronation ceremony, which was being broadcast in Trafalgar Square over loud speakers, hundreds of protesters booed the declarations of "God Save the King".

Around 300 people gathered for a protest organised by Republic Cymru in Cardiff City Centre.

In Scotland, supporters of Scottish independence chanted anti-monarchy slogans on a march in Glasgow city centre, while a separate rally is being held by the group Our Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state.

IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS

Image caption,

Police officers detain a man believed to be a member of the "Just Stop Oil" movement

Around 13 Just Stop Oil protesters have been been arrested on the Mall in London, with a large group from the climate change campaign group seen in handcuffs.

Just Stop Oil has said five demonstrators were also arrested at Downing Street.

A spokeswoman for the group said their plan was "only to display T-shirts and flags", adding: "This is a dystopian nightmare."

Non-profit campaign group Human Rights Watch said the arrests were "something you would expect to see in Moscow not London".

"The reports of people being arrested for peacefully protesting the coronation are incredibly alarming", its UK director Yasmine Ahmed said in a statement.

Shocking moment Just Stop Oil eco-protesters removed from The Mall during the coronation

Daily Mail

 May 6, 2023  BUCKINGHAM PALACE

It estimated that some 11,000 police officers are in place to form a ring of steel around today's proceedings. The security effort's code name is Operation Golden Orb, and police snipers have already been spotted on the rooftop of Buckingham Palace. As well as that, tactical firearms units with Koch MP5 machine-guns and Glock 17 pistols will be on patrol. Armed response vehicles are also said to be on standby. It is even expected that senior police officers will use facial recognition technology for the first time ever to identify potential suspects in the crowds. Much of the security work leading up to today's major event - which is the biggest ceremony staged in the British capital for 70 years - has been done in the prior weeks.

WATCH: Police arrest protesters ahead of coronation procession in central London

06/05/2023 

London police have been accused of stifling free speech after they arrested more than a dozen environmental activists and six anti-monarchy protesters ahead of the coronation procession in central London on Saturday.

Police detained at least 19 environmentalists as they shouted messages about climate change. Some were wearing T-shirts reading 'Just stop oil'.

Anti-monarchy group Republic said several of its members were stopped near Trafalgar Square and led to police vans.

Hundreds of the yellow "Not my King" signs were also seized, the organisation said with photos.

"This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not in London," Human Rights Watch said.

The police confirmed that they had made several arrests on suspicion of disturbing the peace in several places.