Thousands join Thai anti-government run as political climate simmers

ThousandsofThais participated on Sunday in arunbilled as ananti-governmentprotest, in what appeared to be the biggest show of dissent against thegovernmentof former junta leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha.

Thousandsofrunners showed up at a public park in Bangkok in athletic outfits and colourful shoes starting before sunrise tojointhe "RunAgainst Dictatorship" event. Organizers said more than 10,000 people registered to attend.

Many shouted, "Prayuth, get out!" or "Long live democracy!" whilerunning the 2.6-km (1.6-mile) course amid a light presence of security forces. Some also gave a three-finger salute of resistance to the former junta, a gesture drawn from the film "The Hunger Games."

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[ Runners flash three finger salute as they attend a "RunAgainst Dictatorship" event at a public park in Bangkok,Thailand (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

Therunfollowed apoliticalrally last month staged by prominent opposition figure Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the largest since a 2014 coup when then-army chief Prayuth seized power from a civiliangovernment.

Tanawat Wongchai, who organized Sunday's event, said it was aimed at opening public space for dissent to push back againstpoliticalsuppression that started after Prayuth's coup and now continued under his civiliangovernment.

Watch:Anti-governmentprotests erupt in Thailand

"We want people to feel that to come out and demand our rights and express ourselves is something that can be done," he said.

He dismissed concerns that theruncould spark violent protests like those that have roiled theThaicapital periodically and culminated in 2006 and 2014 coups.

Thegovernmentsaid it would allow Sunday's event to go ahead but warned participants not to break the law.

[ Runners warm up as they attend the "RunAgainst Dictatorship" event at a Public park in Bangkok,Thailand (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

During the December rally, Thanathorn publicly endorsed and urged supporters tojoinSunday's event, originally called "Wing Lai Loong" inThai, which translates as "Runto Oust the Uncle", an apparent reference to Prayuth whomThais have nicknamed "Uncle Tu."

Thanathorn, a 41-year-old billionaire, has emerged as the most outspoken opponent of the new civiliangovernmentheaded by Prayuth, 65, since an election in March 2019 that the opposition said was manipulated to favour Prayuth's pro-army party.

Thanathorn was charged on Friday with breaching a law on public assembly with the December rally, and Future Forward, thepoliticalparty founded by Thanathorn, faces dissolution later this month by the constitutional court.

A rival event to therunwas due to take place in another public park some 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) away.

About 3,000 people registered tojointhe "Walk to Cheer Uncle" event to show support for thegovernmentand Prayuth, according to the organizers.