Thousands of Thai protesters took to the streets of Bangkok on Wednesday night to call on King Maha Vajiralongkorn to give up control of a royal fortune valued in the tens of billions of dollars, turning their protest movement directly on the once-untouchable monarchy’s vast wealth.
The protesters have already broken a long-standing taboo by criticising the king and police summoned many of the best-known protest leaders ahead of the rally on charges of insulting the monarchy – the first time the law has been used since early 2018.
At least 8,000 demonstrators – many brandishing the yellow toy ducks that have become the latest symbol of the movement – gathered near the headquarters of the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) to protest at the secrecy surrounding the monarch’s assets.
They chose the venue after the authorities erected shipping container barricades and razor wire around…
