Page 6 - aruba-today-20201027

A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 27 OcTOber 2020
Thai protesters shun Parliament, ask Germany to probe king

By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA ers the government was
and GRANT PECK following developments in
Associated Press Thailand and was aware
BANGKOK (AP) — Pro-de- of the demonstrations
mocracy demonstrators in and “people taking to the
Thailand expanded their streets for their rights.” He
protests internationally on added that he also was
Monday, marching to the watching the king’s activi-
German Embassy to ap- ties in Germany.
peal to Angela Merkel’s “We have been examin-
government to investigate ing this not only in recent
whether Thailand’s king has weeks, but we are continu-
exercised political power ing to examine it in the long
during his extended stays in term, and if there are things
Bavaria. we feel to be unlawful,
The protesters acted while then that will have immedi-
criticizing their own Parlia- ate consequences,” Maas
ment, which began a spe- said.
cial two-day session earlier Vajiralongkorn has for years
Monday to address political spent significant time in
tensions resulting from the Germany, but it only be-
near-daily pro-democracy came an issue after the
protests demanding the death of his father, King
prime minister’s resignation, A supporter of the Thai monarchy displays images of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Bhumibol Adulyadej, in
constitutional changes and Suthida during a gathering outside German Embassy in central Bangkok, Thailand Monday, Oct. 2016.
26, 2020.
reforms to the monarchy. Associated Press Bhumibol was king for sev-
They believe the king wields en decades, and though
an inordinate amount of by an Associated Press jour- many investigate whether many, the letter provoca- he traveled extensively on
power in what is nominally nalist to number between the king “has conducted tively echoed points on state visits in the early years
a democracy under a con- 5,000 and 10,000, defied Thai politics using his royal which the protesters have of his reign — including be-
stitutional monarchy. police warnings that they prerogative from German previously criticized the ing welcomed with a ticker
The scrutiny and public constituted an illegal as- soil or not.” It said such ac- king. Germany is seen as re- tape parade in New York
criticism of the monarchy sembly and marched to tion could be considered a ceptive to their entreaties. City — he left the country
that has been displayed the embassy in an effort to violation of Germany’s terri- The German government only once after the 1960s,
by some of the protesters is bring attention to the time torial sovereignty, and sug- already brought up the and that was an overnight
unprecedented in a coun- King Maha Vajiralongkorn gested that its government issue in early October, stay in neighboring Laos.
try where the royal institu- spends in Germany. The consider the protesters’ re- when Foreign Minister Hei- Vajiralongkorn’s ability to
tion has been considered king in recent weeks has quest with the aim of bring- ko Maas, responding to a spend time abroad has
sacrosanct. It has also led been in Thailand with a ing the king back to Thai- question in Parliament, ex- been made easier by
royalists to stage their own busy schedule of ceremo- land to restore the country pressed concern over any changes his office sought
counter rallies and to de- nial events. “to the path of the truthful political activities the king and received to the cur-
nounce the protesters for A statement from the pro- constitutional monarchy.” might be conducting in the rent constitution that no
raising the issue, increasing test group said they pre- In addition to asking wheth- country. longer require him to ap-
the risk of confrontation. sented a letter to embassy er the king is carrying out his On Monday in Berlin, Maas point a regent when away
The protesters, estimated officials asking that Ger- official royal duties in Ger- spoke again, telling report- from the kingdom.q

7 held for suspected tanker hijack after UK commando raid

British naval special forces licopters onto the tanker, A 10-hour standoff ensued
stormed an oil tanker in the whose crew had locked as the tanker circled an
English Channel have been themselves in a secure area a few miles southeast
arrested on suspicion of hi- part of the ship known as of the Isle of Wight, south of
jacking, police said Mon- the citadel. Within minutes, Southampton.
day. the stowaways were in “I think this has got all the
Hampshire Police said custody. Maritime tracking hallmarks of a situation
the men, believed to be websites showed the ship where a number of stow-
from Nigeria, were being reached port in Southamp- aways are seeking political
held at several police sta- ton, on England’s south asylum, presumably in the
tions on suspicion of “seiz- coast, early Monday. U.K.,” said Bob Sanguinetti,
ing or exercising control of Police said officers were chief executive of the U.K.
a ship by use of threats or speaking to crew members Chamber of Shipping. “At
force.” They have not been to determine exactly what some stage they got ag-
charged. had happened. gressive.”
Police said the 22 crew Navios Tanker Manage- “Clearly no one knew at
members of the Nave An- ment, which operates the the time how aggressive
The Nave Andromeda oil tanker is docked next to the Queen dromeda were “safe and Liberian-registered vessel, they were, whether they
Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal in Southampton, England, Monday, well” after the raid, which said the ship’s master be- were armed or not, what
Oct. 26, 2020. unfolded after darkness fell came “concerned for the their motives were, be-
Associated Press
on Sunday. Special Boat safety of the crew due to cause there will have been
By JILL LAWLESS LONDON (AP) — Seven Service commandos were the increasingly hostile be- confusion at that stage,”
Associated Press stowaways seized when lowered by rope from he- havior of the stowaways.” he said. q