Pro-democracy protesters hold up the three-finger salute during an anti-government rally in Bangkok on November 18, 2020. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP)
Thousands of democracy activists gathered in downtown Bangkok Wednesday for a second day of protest, after six people were shot during violent clashes, as lawmakers voted on possible constitutional reforms.
Thailand has been rocked by months of protests demanding changes to the constitution, the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha — and even changes to the untouchable monarchy.
But Tuesday saw the most violent confrontations since the movement began in July, as police used tear gas and irritant-laced water cannon on protesters trying to reach parliament, and democracy activists clashed with royalists.
More than 50 people were injured, six of them with gunshot wounds, according to medical officials, though it is not clear who was responsible for the shooting.
Protesters gathered on Wednesday at the Ratchaprasong junction in Bangkok’s shopping and commercial heart, after their leaders vowed to step up the movement.
Police used dumper trucks, concrete blocks and razor wire to barricade their nearby national headquarters, while many protesters came equipped with helmets, goggles and gas masks.
“We will protect our people. We don’t want any violence but there will be no compromise until they meet our demands,” protester Jay, 26, told AFP.
National police spokesman Yingyos Thepjamnong warned protesters not to encroach on the HQ, saying more than 2,000 officers had been deployed.
‘Keep fighting’
Prime Minister Prayut has urged protesters to refrain from violence but ruled out introducing another emergency decree — like the one banning public gatherings of more than four people which spanned a week in October.
But there is little sign the demonstrators are prepared to back down. Late Tuesday prominent student leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak said a “new era” in the movement had begun.
“We should not be afraid — this is just a transitional moment in our history,” Sirapop Poompuengpoot, another student leader, told the gathering crowd Wednesday.
“People are working for us in parliament and the rest is up to us: keep fighting.”
Tuesday’s drama saw protesters plough through police barricades towards parliament to put pressure on MPs debating constitutional reform, prompting the use of tear gas and water cannon.
More than 50 people were injured, mostly by tear gas, according to an ambulance and medical coordination service, which said six people were shot.
Police say they did not fire either live rounds or rubber bullets on Tuesday, and they are investigating who was behind the shootings, which happened about 300 metres (yards) from the main protest zone near parliament.
The wounded included one royalist supporter shot in the hip and a pro-democracy protester hit in the leg, police said.
“The rest of shooting victims are still under investigation, but the fact was both sides were shot and wounded,” Bangkok police deputy commissioner Piya Tavichai told reporters Wednesday.
The Thai Human Rights Lawyers Association slammed police tactics, saying they were “not in accordance with international procedure to disperse demonstrations”.
Challenge to monarchy
The protests have seen calls from some for reform to the monarchy — until recently an unthinkable demand in a country where the king and his family are protected by some of the world’s toughest royal defamation laws.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn sits at the apex of Thai power, supported by the military and the kingdom’s billionaire clans, and the royal family enjoys support from mostly older conservatives.
Lawmakers have this week been discussing various proposals for constitutional change, which mostly exclude any reform to the monarchy.
One proposal seeks to replace the military-appointed Senate with directly elected representatives.
It was Senate support that allowed Prayut to hold on to power after last year’s election.
Parliament began voting Wednesday on which amendments are to be debated further.
446150 747384hey very good website i will definaely come back and see once more. 769555
[url=https://bs4shop.top]блэкспрут darknet[/url] – спрут как попасть на сайт, блек спрут оригинальная ссылка
Battle, build, and conquer—become the ultimate champion Lucky cola
361863 838390This style is spectacular! You clearly know how to maintain a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (effectively, almostHaHa!) Fantastic job. I truly enjoyed what you had to say, and much more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! 552171
316337 561195Hello. Neat post. There is an concern along with your internet site in firefox, and you might want to test this The browser could be the market chief and a big part of other men and women will miss your amazing writing because of this dilemma. 488639
693488 873901Which is some inspirational stuff. Never knew that opinions might be this varied. Thank you for all of the enthusiasm to offer such useful information here. 767930
78812 34245But wanna admit that this is very useful , Thanks for taking your time to write this. 595149
920573 678025Extremely efficiently written story. It will be beneficial to anybody who employess it, including me. Maintain up the great function – canr wait to read a lot more posts. 454194
211257 749071You need to take part in a contest for among the most effective blogs on the internet. I will suggest this internet web site! 313225
713000 902736This internet page is often a walk-through its the internet you wanted about this and didnt know who to question. Glimpse here, and youll definitely discover it. 211714
81878 960567You Finally want the respect off your family and buddies? 586703
where to get clomiphene no prescription where buy generic clomiphene no prescription cheap clomid pills order clomid without rx how to get generic clomiphene price cheap clomid online can i get cheap clomid price
664846 661872Just wanna remark on few common points, The web site style is perfect, the subject matter is rattling great 868723
The thoroughness in this draft is noteworthy.
Palatable blog you be undergoing here.. It’s severely to assign great status writing like yours these days. I honestly comprehend individuals like you! Take mindfulness!!
buy zithromax 500mg without prescription – generic sumycin buy flagyl 200mg for sale
rybelsus 14mg drug – order periactin 4 mg without prescription periactin 4 mg cheap
216968 155422Excellent blog, Im going to spend a lot more time reading about this subject 730587
motilium uk – brand cyclobenzaprine order flexeril
inderal 10mg sale – buy inderal 20mg generic methotrexate 10mg for sale
… [Trackback]
[…] Information on that Topic: famousreporters.com/thai-protesters-mass-for-new-rally-after-six-shot/ […]
amoxicillin oral – valsartan 160mg usa combivent 100mcg uk
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More to that Topic: famousreporters.com/thai-protesters-mass-for-new-rally-after-six-shot/ […]
buy zithromax 500mg online cheap – buy zithromax 250mg pills nebivolol 5mg us
order augmentin 375mg without prescription – atbioinfo buy acillin tablets
nexium generic – anexa mate buy nexium 20mg sale
warfarin medication – coumamide.com hyzaar generic
buy meloxicam for sale – moboxsin buy mobic 7.5mg generic
prednisone order – https://apreplson.com/ buy prednisone 10mg
buy amoxicillin tablets – https://combamoxi.com/ buy cheap amoxil
fluconazole online buy – https://gpdifluca.com/# order forcan pills
cenforce 50mg generic – this cenforce uk
snorting cialis – ciltad genesis tadalafil tablets