Thai police clash with protesters near king's palace
21 March, 2021
Thai police used drinking water cannon and charged toward protesters who possessed gathered nearby the King's Palace in Bangkok in Saturday (Mar 20) to demand the release of protest leaders and demand reform of the monarchy.
Hundreds of police in riot gear and shields advanced on different fronts against protesters to force people from the Grand Palace. Occasionally they confronted off with protesters who threw firecrackers.
More than 1,000 protesters had gathered close to the palace found in Bangkok within an area referred to as Sanam Luang, or perhaps Royal Field.
Demonstrators clash with riot police during an anti-federal government protest found in Bangkok, Thailand, Mar 20, 2021. (Picture: Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)
"We will arrest anyone on the roads," police stated over loudspeakers as multiple lines of law enforcement advanced, pushing persons back.
Police used shields, batons, rubber bullets and tear gas and detained five protesters, police deputy spokesman Kissana Pattanacharoen told reporters.
"We repeatedly issued warnings before escalating our response," he said, adding that protesters utilized metal pubs and threw stones and marbles.
The demonstrations come after parliament this week failed to pass a bill to rewrite the military-backed constitution, one of the protesters' main demands.
A mass trial for protest leaders started this week against activists who were accused of sedition and insulting the monarchy.
"We’re demanding true democracy and not a authorities that says it really is elected but comes from the army," stated a guy who gave his brand only as Kung, 60. “The environment has transformed and we want the same sort of monarchy as in Western countries.”
A good portrait of the king nearby the protest area was defaced.
Law enforcement deputy spokesman Kissana Pattanacharoen said earlier that protests were against the law and violated regulations to contain the pass on of the coronavirus.
Thailand's youth protest motion has posed the biggest challenge so far to Primary Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Protesters claim he engineered a process that could preserve the political position quo and preserve him in power after a 2019 election. Prayut offers rejected that.
Protesters also broke a normal taboo by demanding reform of the monarchy, telling the constitution drafted by the military after the 2014 coup provides king too much power.
The Royal Palace has declined to directly touch upon the protests, but Prayut and government officials possess said that criticism of the king is unlawful and inappropriate.
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