Why are young activists in Thailand protesting against the monarchy? – BBC Newsnight

A student-led protest movement in Thailand is demanding reform of the monarchy — in a country where it’s illegal to defame, insult, or threaten the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent. Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

Thailand’s lèse-majesté law, which forbids any insult to the monarchy, is among the strictest in the world.

Over the past five months a student-led protest movement has started demanding reform of the monarchy and an end to military coups, of which Thailand has had twenty in modern times.

The demonstrations sent shockwaves through a country which is taught from birth to revere and love the monarchy and fear the consequences of talking about it.

BBC South East Asia Correspondent Jonathan Head reports for Newsnight.

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