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BANGKOK (Reuters): Thousands of Thai protesters demonstrated in Bangkok on Thursday (October 15) in defiance of a ban imposed to end three months of anti-government actions that have targeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o -Cha, a former board leader.
Despite police calls through a loudspeaker to disperse, the group crossed the Ratchaprasong intersection in one of Bangkok’s busiest business districts. It was the scene of bloodshed in 2010, during more than a decade of violence between supporters and opponents of the Thai establishment.
“Like cornered dogs, we fight to the death,” said Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, one of the high-profile protest leaders who remains free.
“We will not back down. We will not run away. We will not go anywhere,” he told the cheering crowd.
Protesters also filled the hallways of the nearby shopping complex, raising the three-finger salute adopted as a symbol of opposition after the Prayuth coup in 2014.
“The people who came know that there is a ban against public gatherings of five or more,” police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen told Reuters. “We are going to take things step by step.”
A protester tied a white ribbon to the wrist of one of the policemen and said: “One day we will be side by side when Thailand is better.”
Three months of protests in the country of 70 million people have been largely peaceful, as has a march of tens of thousands on Wednesday. But in one incident, the police pushed protesters who were making fun of a caravan carrying Queen Suthida.
Overnight, the government banned political gatherings of five or more people and the posting of news and information online that could threaten national security.
“The measures were necessary to guarantee peace and order and prevent further incidents after the protesters affected the royal caravan and violated the monarchy with provocative language,” government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said in a statement.
The protests have been driven largely by students and youth.
“We don’t want anyone or the next generation to have to put up with this. We have to end this,” said Mameaw, 17, who came to the protest just after school exams. She declined to give her full name.
Police said they had arrested protest leaders Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa.
Arnon said on Facebook that he was being forced to board a helicopter to the northern city of Chiang Mai, where he faces sedition charges for a speech in August.
Later, images on social media showed student leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul being carried around in a wheelchair as she waved with three fingers.
The protest movement aims to eliminate Prayuth, saying he rigged an election last year to keep power. He says the choice was fair.
Those marching in the streets also want a new constitution and have called for a reduction in the king’s powers. They want his role to be clearly subject to the constitution and they seek the revocation of the orders that gave him control of the palace fortune and some army units.
Criticism of the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under lese majesty laws, though Prayuth said earlier this year the king had asked not to be enforced for now.
“The authorization of the assembly (of protesters) was very reasonable because the protesters apparently harassed the queen,” realist politician Warong Dechgitvigrom commented on Facebook.
Thailand’s benchmark stock index closed down 1.7%. The baht weakened slightly against the dollar.
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