Thai protesters flood streets with rubber ducks as a symbol of resistance as fears of a coup grow

• Protesters in Thailand have flooded the streets with rubber ducks as a sign of resistance ahead of warnings of a possible coup.
• The youth-led protests call for a new constitution, a reform of the monarchy, and Prime Minister Chan-O-Cha to resign. 
• Rubber ducks have a history of being used in political protests as a sign of bravery and strength, ABC News reported.
• Protest artwork has also been posted online, with the rubber ducks being portrayed as heroes, according to Mashable.
• Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Protesters in Thailand have flooded the streets with rubber ducks as a sign of resistance ahead of warnings of a possible coup.

The youth-led protests call for a new constitution, a reform of the monarchy, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha to resign. 

The rubber ducks were initially brought out after authorities blocked access to the parliament building, The Guardian reported. Protesters had joked that the only way to reach parliament would be to send rubber ducks along the river.

The protests have been ongoing for months and the ducks have also become shields from police water cannons and tear gas.

They have become increasingly violent after six people were shot outside Bangkok’s police headquarters, according to The Telegraph.

At least 55 of the 100,000 protestors who took to the streets throwing paint and firing water guns were also injured, The Telegraph added.

Rubber ducks have a history of being used in political protests and have become a sign of bravery and strength, ABC News reported.

In 2013, giant ducks were photoshopped onto the iconic 'tank man' photograph from the Tiananmen Square massacre in China.

Subsequently, the term 'big yellow duck' was censored on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, ABC News added.

Protest artwork has also been posted online with the rubber ducks being portrayed as heroes, according to Mashable.

"This time, yellow inflatable rubber ducks have become a new symbol for the pro-democracy movement, not just because they are cute but also because they highlight the sheer absurdity and disproportionality of the situation,"  Tracy Beattie, a Thai politics researcher and specialist, told Mashable.

—bitch ❤🌑🌚💭🏁 (@wayu3738) November 17, 2020

 

—stephff cartoonist (@stephffart) November 19, 2020

 

A 'rehearsal against the coup' demonstration was held yesterday with protesters warning of a possible coup, VOA News reported.

Thailand is no stranger to coups. There have been 13 since a 1932 revolution established a constitutional monarchy, VOA News added.

Army Chief Narongphan Jittkaewtae has rejected coup rumors and said chances were "less than zero," The Guardian added. 

The call for the monarchy to be reformed has been the most controversial since it is considered untouchable and a cornerstone of Thailand's national identity, according to the Press Association. 

Protestors believe that King Maha Vajiralongkorn holds too much power and has recently made it the main campaigning point despite a possible 15 years in prison, the Press Association added. 

The royal institution is led by an army whose actions are endorsed by the ever-powerful royal palace, according to VOA News. 

Prime Minister Chan-O-Cha who came to power during the country's last coup in 2014 has played down prospects of being overthrown and a change in martial law, The Guardian added.