At least 55 injured in Thailand’s most violent protests since a new movement emerged

BANGKOK: At least 55 people were injured, some with gunshot wounds, when protesters marching towards the Thai parliament clashed with police and royalist counter-protesters, in the worst violence since a new youth-led protest movement emerged in July.

The police fired water cannons and tear gas at the protesters who broke through barbed wire barricades and removed concrete barriers outside the parliament. Police denied opening fire with live ammunition or rubber bullets and said they were investigating who might have used firearms.

The protest movement, which has called for deep constitutional reform to a system that protesters say has strengthened the power of the military, has become the biggest challenge to Thailand’s establishment in years.

READ: Thai police fire tear gas and water cannons at parliament protest

Thousands of protesters gathered in parliament to pressure lawmakers discussing changes to the constitution. The protesters also want the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former ruler of the army, and curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Bangkok’s Erawan Medical Center said at least 55 people were injured. He said at least 32 suffered tear gas and six people had gunshot wounds. He did not say who could have used firearms.

“We try to avoid clashes,” Bangkok Police Deputy Chief Piya Tavichai told a news conference. He said the police had tried to push back the demonstrators in parliament and separate them from the realistic yellow-shirted counter-protesters.

The protesters advanced towards the police with makeshift shields, including inflatable pool ducks. After about six hours, the police withdrew and abandoned their tanker trucks, which the protesters mounted and sprayed with graffiti.

“I hereby announce the escalation of protests. We will not give up. There will be no compromise,” Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak told the crowd outside parliament before the protesters dispersed.

Another protest was scheduled for central Bangkok on Wednesday.

The government spokesman, Anucha Burapachaisri, said that the police had been forced to use tear gas and water cannons to protect the parliamentarians.

In photos: Thai protesters, police clash in front of parliament

Prime Minister Prayut took office in 2014 and remained in office after last year’s elections. He rejects the opposition’s accusations that the election was unfair.

Legislators were discussing various proposals for constitutional changes, most of which would exclude the possibility of altering the role of the monarchy.

Also discussed is the role of the upper house Senate, which helped ensure that it held power with a parliamentary majority after last year’s disputed vote.

Some protesters fought with dozens of royalists who had been left behind after an earlier rally by hundreds of right-wing Thais calling on lawmakers not to make changes to the constitution.

“The amendment of the constitution will lead to the abolition of the monarchy,” royalist leader Warong Dechgitvigrom told reporters. The protesters have said they do not want to abolish the monarchy.