- Outraged by the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, protesters took to the streets of Bangkok.
- At least six police officers were injured in clashes with protesters.
- The police arrested at least six protesters.
Thai police fired tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters who took to the streets of Bangkok on Tuesday because they were angry at Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the police, at least six police officers were injured in the conflict, one was shot in the leg, and three others were hit by shrapnel from a homemade bomb.
The number of injured protesters is not yet known. The police warned earlier that under the Covid-19 emergency regulations, all public gatherings are illegal and at least 6 protesters have been arrested.
As sporadic violence continued into the night, two police booths were also set on fire.
Pia Tavicha, deputy chief of the Bangkok Police Department, told reporters:
The behavior of the protesters indicated their intention to damage government property and the public, as well as to harm the police.
After thousands of protesters drove through the capital in a convoy of cars and motorcycles, clashes broke out.
They stopped to give speeches and resign in front of several buildings linked to cabinet members or supporters of Prayut, accusing the government of mismanagement of the epidemic and abusing its power to suppress critics.
“The government lacks the ability to manage the country and only sees the benefits of the elite,” student activist Benja Apan said in a statement read on top of a truck in Bangkok’s business district.
“If this is still the case, then we can expect that the country will face an unsurvivable disaster,” she said.
The latest wave of cases has pushed hospitals to the brink. Thailand reported on Tuesday that the number of deaths from Covid-19 was a record 235 per day, almost four times that of the whole of last year. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the total death toll in Thailand has been 6,588.
Read also | Countries responding to cases: what you need to know about the coronavirus now
Prior to the suppression by the authorities, last year’s demonstrations attracted hundreds of thousands, and the protest movement led by Thai youth seems to be regaining momentum.
The protesters also broke traditional taboos and demanded reform of the monarchy, risking prosecution under the Offences of the Monarchy Act, which provides for insulting or slandering kings, queens, heirs and regents punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment.
Last weekend, more than 1,000 anti-government protesters clashed with the police.
Protest leaders who have been jailed and released on bail for previous demonstrations in recent days have recently been re-detained, including Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, Jatupat “Pai” Boonpattararaksa and Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak.
Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa also faced new offenses and other charges in a speech last week.
We want to hear your opinion on the news. Subscribe to news 24 Be part of the dialogue in the comments section of this article.
