1008, and 5 zeros, 2018. so did he look, he is not optimistic that 6 will do the trick. when i look at it, this is going to become what it's already become. as all the counties here have become, they have all become with us. saw that is willa has been experiencing its worst economic crisis in history, reducing bills to single double or triple digit denominations, rather than millions will certainly make prices easier to calculate. but unfortunately, it won't make the embattled believer more valuable. she and human al jazeera ah, updating your top story. so fall here on out to 0. the taliban says it's capture the 2nd provincial capital. after weeks of fighting and show begun, the government sending reinforcements and conducting strikes to try to re take control. the funeral of the afghan government self meteor offices being held down

con monopoly was assassinated by the taliban. on friday, president, i should have gone. he says his killers will be punished. doing that, but the enemies of f gunston can not arise the history of his gun stone and they can not take our honors away from us. and clearly my promises that we will find the killers and god willing, we will punish them. poor. everyone should know that we are standing in place like a mountain. their waists will be broken because they have no message other than evil. they fill coffins with young people and send them like savages. this is not humanity. we stand for the humanity, life and dignity of afghanistan, and this is our volition to calling police so fire water, cannon, t, a gas and rubber bullets that anti government protest is in bangkok, crowds march towards an army base were sold to the prime ministers residence. they want him to resign. what they say is, his failure to handle the pandemic,

tens of thousands of people in front of joint protests against the new code that 19 health passed from monday. phil need the past to get into cinema's, restaurant bars and other public places opponent say, infringes on the civil liberties. wildfires burning north of the great capital of force, thousands of people to flee their homes. vast areas of pine forest are burning as the fires move closer to residential areas. several people have now been arrested for awesome. in turkey, tens of thousands of factors. forest have now been destroyed and wildfires. they've been described as the worst in decades, at least 36000 people have been displaced in their homes and the southern province of nuclear, where there are tourist resorts. ready those are your headlines so far today. up next here on al jazeera is inside story from 18 g. i'll have the news for you. 60 minutes of news and comment of you that ah, ah,

ah, ah, ah, the challenging the monarchy in thailand processes are breaking a long standing bu by calling for reform or what spock this latest anger against the ty, king and government. and how will they respond? this is inside sought ah, ah, hello, welcome to the program on has i'm seeking for the past year. thousands of people in thailand have been holding protests. they been angry at their government and the

royal family in particular. but a worsening covered 19 crisis has once again renewed that anger and led to mass protests on the streets of bangkok. many se officials are not doing enough to keep them safe. protesters are demanding a change of the entire political system. they want reforms to vague laws that could see a person jail for up to 15 years. for publicly criticizing the monarchy. on the one year anniversary of their rallies, protests lead to say they're working on new strategies and will try to introduce new legislation. i. this year shall be the last year that we will discuss monica reform. after this, whatever will happen will happen. you can't stop the sun rising. you can control what people believe in. we are here to fight to build a better future together. this year we will fight with strategies. we will fight with goals. not only will be $53.00 protests to bring pressure. we will also fight to propose laws in parliament. will bring in our guess shortly. but 1st,

let's take a closer look at what the protesters are demanding. on the top of their list is the resignation of prime minister prices. john ok, he's a former army general who came to power in a crew in 2014 and want to disputed election in 2019 demonstrators. also one reforms that will limit the powers of the king that includes reversing changes that give him personal control over a vast royal fortune worth tens of billions of dollars. they won parliament dissolved and new elections held, as well as the rewriting of the constitution, which was drafted by the military. and they're calling on the government to end its intimidation of dissidence. ah, all right, well let's bring in our guess. now they all joining us from thailand in bangkok, jade donna vondik, chairman of the faculty of law at the college of asian scholars. he's also

a former advisor to thailand's constitution drafting committee. in con ken david stretch was historian and author of truth on trial in thailand, defamation treason, and less majestic. and also in bangkok we have private rajan for the writer and columnist for the english news publication, hostile dot com. all right, welcome to all of you. so if i could start with you private or john for just just tell us what's what the situation is right now there, particularly in, in the, in the capital bank caulk and where things stand right now with these protests which as we said, began, as, as, as a protest against the government's handling of cobit 19 in particular, the prime minister? well, i'm currently at 25 minutes before 9 pm bank of time, and because few is 9 pm. this is the coven. 19

a few from 9 pm to 4 pm in order to minimize the possible infections. and as we speak, the riot police are mopping up the area where the traitor has retreated. that's around the area called victory monona. i think we expect some continued confrontation to go on, at least for the next hour or 2 by a few remnants of the demonstrators who will refuse to just go home. so that's the situation, but tomorrow there's also another protest by a different group that will also call for the resignation of the prime minister general. for you, john. oh, sure. so this pie cobit 19, particularly the delta varian, while thailand is now seeing an unprecedented number of daily new infection at the

range of about $20000.00 class per day. today, it went beyond 21000 and the best today. for the 1st time above the number of the finger of 200 still, the demonstrator have decided that there will convert and they did. and they have refused to simply just go home without making the message clear. for the police, a lot of gas have been used, including rubber bullets as well as water can on lace the chemical that would cost your skins to irritate. so the police are using heavy tactics and one. on the other hand, a police wine has been burned down to late this afternoon. so that's the situation . and we do not expect the demonstration to cease in the foreseeable future. so

this could become a weekly, thanks to this pie, the widespread outbreak of the delta barrier of cobra. indeed, and i suppose this is, it gives you an idea of the level of anger, of people out there that these, that there is no, no sign of these protests. bating, despite the, the pandemic going on and the rising number of, of infections. so david strikes us, if i could ask you, then, is, is, is that adding to the, the long term grievances that people have about the system in, in thailand and particularly in particular the role of the monarchy. i think they have to go back maybe even a few decades, maybe a decade and a half and look at the 2007 coolie against the democratically elected government. and the one that removed tax in

china was from, from 2006 and, and then the new constitution was, was made. and the toxin cited forces still won the election. and then there was some back room deals done by the military. and then there were protests against that government and call for new elections that lead to the 2000 and cracked out. what happened during this time actually from 2008 or 9 until 2014 was a real opening of ty, society in a way that never had done before. people had access to information and there was a bit more freedom to get to talk about the role of the monarchy. and that all ended in 2014. and this new with a could

a char and the new constitution which is very and democratic almost impossible to change under current conditions. and that led to new elections, which have been, as you said in your introduction, were contested. and then one of the parties that was most popular among the younger generation was dissolved in february after was dissolved the kobe crisis. and, and protest sort of disappeared for a while. but there was a real reopening of internet space and discussion about the monarchy that that thailand has never seen before. that led up to this now one year anniversary of demands made about the monarchy not to overthrow a good one. by to reform the monarchy and make it a truly constitutional monarchy as envisioned back in 1932

ad j donavon. the fact that there is even a discussion going on right now in thailand, about the role of the, of the monarchy. is that in itself, perhaps a sign of progress? i mean this, this would have been unthinkable. wouldn't it more than a year ago? well, let's say this is a discussion or even at the moment, the criticism on the monarchy, i think that can be said partially as having some progress in having some sort of reform to democracy with the king as a under the constitution that can be accepted. if it's a discussion or if it's a criticism at the most, when what is witness in this country? it's not a discussion. it's not a credit. but it's a big valley. it's jamie,

all these are not acceptable. if you are calling for reform, monarchy, then the society, all, we'll have to discuss this issue together. and you will have to listen to the polarization of the society. so side ideas of what the want to means to the country as a whole. not only to those people who call themselves a marketing, not to those people who call themselves a new generation. not be those people who don't want it. but the whole country and not only within the country, you will have to open eyes to what the or at don't. not only what has been done in france, what people in france, what some people were saying. and this is just one issue. you have to separate the

issue of monarchy, reform, or reform to the constitution when whether to oust general whether have tennessee could be the prime ministers with all the people. i mean, the country has legitimacy to administer the country. the 3rd one is that what is happening with the cobra? 1900, they built a barrier and whatever where and then we have a situation of the week 19. do we have to do something with it? and do we have to find a way which is better than the present government will be doing oil has been doing and will i live people who do it better than i do? i think these 3 issues will have to put in 3 will have to be put in 3 prongs and we'll have to be buying it. and we'll have to be separate and hot separately. and i

don't think that a content demonstration point which is becoming a riot, will issues. and did it coming back to the question is asking whether or not this is a progress i this is i think this is not a progress. and this is, i'm the developing the country. so it's not progress to, to, to even debate the role of the monarchy. i mean, i'm not, not, not, not defaming the monarchy, not calling for their removal, but just simply having a debate at this point. as i see, it's not a discussion. it's not a big baby. it's not even a criticism, but it's the payment evaluate demonica. so i think it has gone out of the level out of what can be called david strictly what's your, how would you respond to that? well, i mean there's been a law in place since early 1900 century,

but strengthened after 2 in 1976. that makes the penalty very high for any discussion or mention of the monarchy. so talking about let really know. yeah, the last man, just a law and they the, the discussion of the king and the monarchy and the royal family have all been completed. so it's, it's really quite impossible to have any sort of debate in thailand under this law where all segments of society and all the country can talk about this law and what they want to do with the institution of the monarchy since november of last year. there been more than 100 cases taken against this, the student protesters and they captivate the soft possible debate under the present

parliamentary system. there is no way for them to, to bring a debate into, into parliament. and there is no so they, they really don't have any other than the internet and protest. and it would be great if there could be a country wide discussion about what to do about this law. what to do about the monarchy. but that's not possible under current conditions. probably. well, john, for what, what specifically are people calling for in terms of, in terms of reforms of the system? obviously there's, there's a lot of anger right now about covered 19 in the way the government in particular prime minister. they want him removed. but what, what else are they calling for to, to address their grievances and, and will that be enough? well, for example, the sol factory,

a company which produce the vector vaccine astrazeneca is actually owned by the crown here in thailand, so it's owned by the brow. and unfortunately, this company, which is called sam bio signs, have failed to manufacture the target amount of vaccines in which we have originally anticipated. so this leads to a very slow roll out of vaccine. currently, only 6 percent of the population have been fully vaccinated. and now, simply because the company is owned by the crown of the king, the press are very reluctant to be very critical towards the company. so this is one of the example which made it clear why the younger

generations really won a more transparent and accountable monarchy institution. not unlike the say of the united kingdom or even japan. and they feel that without that space too freely discussed in a critical way on a, you know, mainstream public platform without the risk of going to prison. and then that is very little that we can do to improve the situation as far as it's, you know, as far as the monitoring institution is concerned. so they want, well, what they want as simple, you know, in the united kingdom, you can mark the queen. some british people may disapprove that, but that's part of the region. while in thailand, actually the ty press cannot write negative names about the monarchy this you know, self, censorship is prevalent and this is more unfortunate. so what's happening is that

the younger generation pushed the debate onto social media. and jade said, you know, they defamation, you know, that from atari remark expressed to being used. i saw, you know, terrible graph at the attacking the king. but partly that's because these younger people feel that there's no freedom to, you know, discussion about the role off the high monarchy in common, simple and straightforward manner. it's not really possible, unfortunately. so this is one of the area where they want to see it change. and of course the last and majestic is one of them. and people like i know whom new sites, you know, some of the protest leader. i think if there is no room for reform of the monitoring situations, more and more people among the younger generation will be attracted by the idea of

a one thing to try and pylon into a republic. so i give or take, you know, are we going to deal with the institution yield itself and reformed itself to a point where more people would be satisfied or will it continue to stifle critical debate? and of course, including definitely already remarked as well. so this is an area that has to be address. however, the elite has always been very dependent on the prowl when this a cool, one of the most often cited pretext or justification for the qu, including the one stage by pre, you'd back in 2000. and 14 is to protect the monarchy institutions. so you see the military and a circle of leads who are really collapsing around the pallet and put them any

meaningful change that would make the palace more transparent, may not be to back to that interest. they want to maintain the status quo, unfortunately. well, let, let's put some of that to j. donavon and then what about this argument better? hold on 2nd. let me just put the question to you 1st. this, this argument that this, this should be seen as an opportunity for the establishment and them on a key to, to, to address people's grievances and look at, look at some reforms. because if they don't, and they simply respond with, with more force, they risk alienating more of the population and, and that in turn may be a threat to their very survival. well, i think it can be an opportunity to discuss. but as i said, it will have to be in a reasonably rational wave of discussion. or if you want to ask for the aid,

then it has to be a debate. but what happened now and what is seen throughout this country at this moment and for quite some time, especially as they put it a little bit before. busy the call we operate, that was not a reasonably rational discussion that is arbitrary on the way in which as we put it, that the young generation were called him. so the young generated want it. if i'm a terry for what they want. as i said, it's not going to supply d as a whole, and then what we would say is quite of a threat that said in the morning, he is not listening is not willing to talk. or if this whole country is not ready to be re as it is

a democracy with the king as it might be transformed into republic. well, cooper. when i was talking about england, i would want to use the world to operate one of the where the king said i can find, like you've never bought before. because that is on a monitor. people who want to want you to stay when they want the republic, they will fight like they're never part of all. it's not only the new generation and only the people who would want to demolish the monarchy. you can bite other people can do also. so i don't think this is simple and i won't be dis, bellamy, and this is progress in this country. so don't talk in a good way. and when kimberly was saying about the fan, bio lions and linked to them want to get it might be a crown company, but that's it has something to do with the outbreak of 19 and really it something

to do with the way in which a ration has been that ministry the call with 900 situation so badly. what is the administration problem or if you're going to follow it, have anything to do with call me back seen if the company belongs to the crowd. and if there is no actual background, i can prove no actual evidence raising the issue this way. it's very unfair because it can okay, very, very well. and so i don't think you put together this way. i think you have to divide the issue. all right, each other private responses, some of that briefly. ok to bring you. well, no, i just, let's just, let's just, let's talk speak 1st thing. pulse. yes, i mean gated j as right. you know, to acknowledge that actually we do have

a deep this agreement in ty society. now, what kind of platform, what kind of wayne, you can, people of different political ideology could meet and talk. that there's a very few and that's more unfortunate and probably because even the, the press the media which should act as a public forum for the exchanges that cannot function normally or in a normal way simply because there's no really no room to be really critical off the monetary and this is most unfortunate. i think i totally agree we need to talk. and the disagreement and the royalists, the old pro royalists, will defend the crown with their live. there is no doubt about that. okay. but you have to acknowledge that they also people who want now to turn thailand into a republic and then not just one thing to see a reform. so pilot has gone that fine. that's why you're seeing these people on the street solving its close explosives against the king. you know, i mean,

you have to sense i as a journalist, i just posted a, a photo on twitter early. i just afternoon and i have to be phase. some of the messages are graphically painted on the containers that have been used as an obstacle to block the demonstrator from a bouncing who, the office of the prime minister. you know, i can leave whatever they want to say about you. so i left that, that you know, explicit again for you. but under the law, i have no tries but to the face. those words. and if i'm like in the united kingdom again, if you you could say you're not to hell with the queen and you dont need to out of prison. ok, there are programs mocking the queens. i think it's called the prince right as this that's not possible then. so that's, that's, that's the problem. we're gonna, we're gonna have to leave it there. a good discussion. now gentlemen,

thanks so much for being with us. jade donavon and david stress was and private, roger in for thanks very much for being on inside story. and thank you. as always for watching, remember, you can see this program again any time by visiting our website edge 0 dot com. and for further discussion, you can go to our facebook page, that's facebook dot com, forward slash a j inside store. you can also join the conversation on twitter handle. there is a j inside the story for me hasn't speaker, and the entire team here. ah ah, ah

ah gotcha one of the fastest growing nations in the world. i want a contract needed to open and develop into national shipping company to become a team, middle east, and or trade and money skill filling us out. 3 key areas of develop, filling up from the connecting the world, connecting the future on the cut, cut to gateway to whoa trade. welcome for iran, 80 president elect in his home town of mesh at the embers a shrine crowd had gathered to hear what their newly elected leader abraham, right. you have to say on the issues that affect the job, shut off in domestic politics, domestic policy, and foreign policy. the focus should be on the dignity of this nation. and the focus should be on the fact that in any negotiation, the dignity of this nation should not be heard is already made large with promises

including fighting corruption, improving the country's economy and maintaining your own best interest in negotiations. but it's not clear yet if you will be able to deliver on his promises . ah, this is al jazeera ah, hello and welcome i and peter w are watching the news live from coming up in the next 60 minutes. the kind of been says it's captured another afghan provincial capital is government forces fight defensive battles across the country. the protest across from against a corona virus.