now the national stadium inside the flag bearers are in the ceremony, has begun the very different ceremony. obviously, then we would usually have a lot fewer people there. no one in the stands, but this is their feeling picks line, the hydrogen powered olympic time to clean a still pick flame ever we were told been moved back into the stadium for the closing ceremony. tokyo 2020 in 2021. coming to its conclusion. ah ad how poppy i'll be the headline. the downtown a band has captured the northern provincial capital. i couldn't do it in another significant defeat for the government. taliban fighters attacked early on sunday, passing street by street during hours of intense fighting. charlotte bellis has moved from cobbled condos, is incredibly significant for it to fall. this morning is, is terrible news for the afghan government and

a major burst for the telephone. the telephone put out a statement earlier this morning saying they had taken, sorry, paul and conduce provinces. we managed to get through the resident phone lines had been down for some time and they concern to us that the taliban were on the streets that they had taken over most government buildings in condos, especially that they were in the police chiefs office. they were in the governors compound intelligence offices that they took over the prison and released prisoners . and right in the center of condos, they raised the taliban flag to show that the city was now b is that a headlines for major was 5 now burning across greece. people have been evacuated from the 2nd largest island of via thousands more have played other regions burning just north of athens. the capital city itself is on the threats. but heavy rain is actually built some relief for emergency crews battling. wildfires and southern turkey have been burning through vast areas of forest across the region for 12 days . tens of thousands of people have fled their hands. the has been leader has on the

throttle, has warned. the lebanese will retaliate against any future strikes by israel. comments follow an exchange of fire between has below and these ready army does these and strike for the 1st targeting lebanese villages. since 2006, you stopped to say to delta variance of corona viruses spreading in their woods like wildfire in states with lower vaccination. right? florida has now reached 3 records for daily infections just this week. and football superstar leon massey is confirmed, he's been told the power sent your man. and the last hour he was saying good bye to the boss and club. very emotional about that. the 1st time met the had spoken since his departure with announced. and he broke down into the mystery, agreed to take a take out, the loan was still unable to honor the new d. that's all for me for today. thanks. b company came, we'll take you through the next few hours on al jazeera. next, it's inside story. ah,

ah ah ah, the challenging the monarchy in thailand processes are breaking a long standing sebu by calling for reforms. what spock the latest anger against the ty, king and government, and how will they respond? this is inside school. 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 in 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 with a fight with goals. not only will be $53.00 protests to bring pressure will also fight to propose laws and parliament. we'll 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 qu, 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 want parliament dissolved and new elections held, as well as the rewriting of the constitution, which was drafted by the military and their calling on the government to end its intimidation of dissidence. ah, all right, let's bring in our guests. 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 a 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 profit 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 demand trader 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 pipe cobit 19, particularly the delta varian, where 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, till 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 with 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 corporate. indeed, and i suppose this is, it gives you an idea of the level of anger, of, 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 infections. so david strikes, 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 we 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

general 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 2010 track down. 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 colby's 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 is never seen before. that led up to this now one year anniversary of demand is made about the monarchy not to over throw a good one. but to reform the monarchy and make 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

a fame. me. all these are not acceptable. if you are calling for reform, monarchy, then the society of 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 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 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 out general for you. whether it has to be could be the prime minister with all the people. why metering the country and legitimacy to administer the country? the 3rd one is that what is happening with the cobra? 1900 built a barrier. what everywhere. and then we have a situation of 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 let people do it better than i think these 3 issues will have to put in 3 will have to be put in 3 problems and will have to be buying it and will have to be separate and separately. and i don't think that

a conscious demonstration at this 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 under developing the country so it's not progress to to, to even did did debate the role of the monarchy. i mean, not, not, not, not defaming the monarchy, not calling for their removal, but just simply having a debate id 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 payments evaluate demonica. so i think it has gone out of the level out of what can be caught from if david strict was what 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 magic a lot and the, 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 the student protesters and they can't debate. it's not possible debate under the

present parliamentary system. there is no way for them to to in bring a debate into into parliament. and there is no so they, they really don't have any that 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 will that be enough? well, for example, the a sol factory,

a company which produce the vector vaccine offset 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 to freely discuss in a critical way on a, you know, mainstream public platform without the risk of going to prison. then that is very little that we can do to improve the situation as far as you know, as far as the monetary 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 news 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 on to 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 roll off the pie 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 as one of them. and people like, i know whom you site that you know, some of the protest leader things are. 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 too bad 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 that hold on? so let me, 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 you've seen throughout this country at this moment and for quite some time, especially as they put it a little bit before. busy we operate that was not a reasonably rational discussion that is on the carry, on the way in which we put it, that the young generation were calling. so the young generation wanting if i'm terry for what they want. as i said, it's not going to society as a whole. and then what was said is quite of a threat. that faith is good morning. you know, disney 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 word of king one of them when the king said a kid fight like you never bought before. because that is on the monitor. people who want to want you to stay and they want the republic, they will fight like it's never part of all. it's not only the new generation and only the people who would want to demolish the monarchy can bite other people can do also. so i don't think this is simple and i don't be this is bothering me 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 link, there's a lot of key. yes, it might be a crown company, but does it have something to do with the outbreak of 19 and really is it something

to know with the way in which administration has been that ministry the call with 900 situation so badly? what is the administration problem, or if you're going to problem, does it have anything to do with my team vaccine? if the company belongs to the crown? and if there is no actual background, i can prove no, actually evidence raising the issue this way. it's very unfair because magically the king. okay. and what barry very well and so i don't think we put together this way and i think you have to be why the right from each other probably respond to some of that briefly. ok to bring you well. no, i just, let's just, let's just, let's talk speak 1st wells. yes, i mean gate did 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 monitor. and this is most unfortunate. i think i totally agree we need to talk and they are disagreement, and they are royalists, that 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 it's close, exclusive 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 face 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 choice but to the face. those words. and if i like in the united kingdom again, if you you could say you're not to hell with the queen and you dont need to go out of prison. ok, there are programs mocking the queens. i think it's called the prince right as this that's not possible. and so that's, that, that's the problem. we're gonna, we're gonna have to leave it there. a good discussion gentlemen. thanks so much for

being with us. jade donna vondik david stretch was and private. roger in for thanks very much for being on inside story. and thank he was always 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 for me, hasn't. and the entire team here, but ah, me

a multi $1000000.00 online sec scam, and the philippines is black mailing men from around the world. 11 east, uncovered. how small time syndicate became a terminal empire. on al jazeera, released, the hype of english football lies analytic market for the rich and powerful one of the leading specialist. work under cover. just years investigative unit exposes the inner workings and key players in the murky underbelly of football finance. he's held some people going in addition, it has been said that you can make an elephant disappeared. i have many of the brazen example i see the men who sell football on. i just, you know, i,

al jazeera ever struck me with i'm can vanelle and, oh, how would the headlines on al jazeera, the african taliban has captured the northern provincial capital of criminals. and then now the significant defeat for the government, the telephone on his attack early on sunday morning and captured the city, battling st. blank street during hours of intense fighting officials and residence incandescence on describing total chaos. the afghan government has announced it'll conduct clearing operations in the area shall a balance have more from.