Thai protest leaders declare an end to demonstration after police fire water cannon in Bangkok
17 October, 2020
Thai protest organizers declared a finish to Friday's (Oct 16) demonstration that happened in defiance of a government ban, as riot police fired stinging liquid from water cannon to disperse the crowd.
"End of protest," said a message sent from one of the organizers.
Police fired water cannon and pushed forward with riot shields and batons on Friday evening to disperse a large number of protesters who defied a ban on protests for a second day, in spite of a warning from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Protesters pushed back, some with umbrellas. A few threw plastic bottles at the police completely riot gear.
"Get out, get out," the protesters chanted as police used the heaviest force yet to avoid three months of protests that contain challenged King Maha Vajiralongkorn's monarchy and also demanding the removal of Prayut, a former military ruler.
"The dictatorial government is using violence to disperse the people's movement," said Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, among the protest leaders.
A ban on gatherings of more than five persons was imposed on Thursday.
"We've issued warnings against unlawful acts," police spokesman Yingyot Thepchamnong told reporters. "After this, you will have intensive measures in enforcing regulations."
A protest sign read "Release our friends" - a mention of the arrest of greater than 40 protesters, including many of their leaders, as a government crackdown has intensified this week.
"I must fight for my future," said Pin, 22, a university student who declined to provide her full name.
Prayut first took power as army chief in a 2014 coup. Critics say he engineered an over-all election this past year to keep your hands on power as a civilian prime minister. He says the election was fair.
Protesters also want a fresh constitution, to displace one drafted under military rule.
In response to Friday's crackdown, police spokesperson Krissana Pattanacharoen said the authorities had warned protesters many times prior to the gathering.
He said the police did not use rubber bullets or teargas to disperse the protest around the Pathumwan intersection.
"If no unlawful act has been committed, what happened today wouldn't have occurred," he said, adding that the authorities dispersed protesters according to international standards.
NOT QUITTING
"I'm not quitting," Prayut told reporters after an emergency cabinet meeting, adding that emergency measures will be in force for up to thirty days. He warned people never to violate them, saying: "Just wait and see ... If you do wrong, we will use the law."
Calls have also developed among protesters for reforms to the monarchy, which is accused by protesters of assisting to entrench decades of military influence in politics.
Protests have already been largely peaceful.
The only specific incident cited by the federal government for the imposition of emergency measures was one where Queen Suthida's motorcade was jeered by protesters, but it addittionally said protests were damaging the economy and national security.
Police said on Friday that two men would be charged with attempted violence against the queen, which carries a possible death sentence if her life is thought to have already been threatened. Even if not, the charge can mean life in jail.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was worried about the situation in Thailand, said Ravina Shamdsani Said, a spokeswoman for commissioner Michelle Bachelet.
"We are particularly worried about the use of serious charges, including the crime of sedition, against individuals for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights," she told a briefing in Geneva.
Thai parliamentary opposition parties condemned the emergency measures.
"Pheu Thai Party calls on General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Hawaii officials to lift the emergency decree also to stop intimidating the people in all manners and to release those that were arrested immediately," said the party, which includes the most seats in parliament.
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