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BANGKOK: Thai riot police evicted thousands of protesters from outside the prime minister’s office early Thursday (October 15), as a government emergency decree banned large gatherings and the publication of news “that could create fear”.
A series of demonstrations in the last three months has brought tens of thousands of people to the streets of Bangkok to demand the departure of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former leader of the military government, and a new constitution.
They have also broken a long-standing taboo by calling for reforms from King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s powerful monarchy, and in an act cited by the government as one of the reasons for their emergency measures, they obstructed a royal caravan.
Police wearing riot shields form a barricade in Bangkok, Thailand during a protest on October 15, 2020 (Photo: AP Photo / Rapeephat Sitichailapa)
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Shortly after the emergency decree took effect at 4 am local time, riot police advanced behind shields against the protesters who had camped in front of the Government House. Many of the thousands who had protested there Wednesday night had already left.
Some protesters tried to resist with makeshift garbage can barricades, but were quickly driven back. At dawn, hundreds of policemen occupied the nearby streets and city workers began to clean up.
Police arrest a protester in Bangkok, Thailand, during a rally on October 15, 2020 (Photo: AP Photo / Rapeephat Sitichailapa)
At least three of the protest leaders were arrested, said Thai Human Rights Lawyers. Police did not immediately comment.
The government said it acted in the face of growing disorder and after the obstruction of the caravan.
“It is extremely necessary to introduce an urgent measure to put an end to this situation effectively and quickly to maintain peace and order,” announced state television.
MEETINGS OF FIVE OR MORE PROHIBITED
The emergency decree prohibits large gatherings of five or more people and allows authorities to prevent people from entering any area they designate.
It also prohibits “the publication of news, other media and electronic information that contains messages that may create fear or intentionally distort information, creating misunderstandings that will affect national security or peace and order.”
READ: Thai rivals protest in show of force in the streets of Bangkok
Police wearing riot shields clash with protesters in Bangkok, Thailand, during a demonstration on October 15, 2020 (Photo: AP Photo / Rapeephat Sitichailapa)
Thai human rights lawyers said three leaders of the protest were arrested. They were named by Parit Chirawat, human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and Panupong Jadnok.
He said Arnon was arrested on charges related to a speech he gave in the northern city of Chiang Mai. He said he did not know the reasons for the other arrests.
Before his arrest, protest leader Arnon told protesters to leave the protest site in front of Government House and said they would regroup at 4 p.m. Thursday in Bangkok’s commercial district of Ratchaprasong, near the Central World shopping center.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Bangkok on Wednesday. The protest movement aims to remove Prayut, who took power in 2014.
Protesters march during a massive Thai anti-government protest in Bangkok on October 14, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Jorge Silva)
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Those marching in the streets also want a new constitution and have called for a reduction in the king’s powers.
Thailand’s Queen Suthida and Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti react inside a royal caravan as they walk past a rally in Bangkok on October 14, 2020 (Photo: AFP / Teera Noisakran).
Protesters shouted at the king’s caravan in Bangkok on Tuesday after the arrest of 21 protesters. On Wednesday, protesters stopped a convoy carrying Queen Suthida, waved three fingers and chanted “get out” to the police protecting the vehicle.
