Police dispersed protesters in Bangkok with high-powered water cannons, with more demonstrations planned for today

The latest wave of protests turned violent last night when more than 400 police officers used high-powered water cannons to directly target students who were gathered in a unity demonstration.

The protesters, mostly secondary and university students, continued to demand the release of their classmates arrested in recent days, while continuing to hammer home their demands for a change of government and constitutional reform.

See: Protest in Thailand: Everything you need to know

It was the end of the third consecutive day of protests, which are now escalating, with students showing they are ready to show greater determination.

The disorderly end to last night's protest came around 8 p.m., when riot police and hundreds of unarmed support police challenged the protest's front line at the Pathumwan intersection and advanced with shields and batons, and a barrage of high-powered water cannons spraying blue water and knocking protesters in their path, whose only weapon was flimsy umbrellas.

Many protesters complained that the blue water was stinging their eyes.

While protest leaders have called off the evening's demonstration, another protest has been announced for today at a location yet to be announced.

Some protesters, furious at the intervention, chased the police, throwing anything they could find at them.

According to reports, up to six police officers were injured in the clash.

Protest leaders say 13 protesters were injured.

The number of protesters arrested so far has not been announced.

Bangkok is under a state of emergency that prohibits, among other things, the gathering of more than five people in one place.

Today, the Thai Prime Minister announced that the state of emergency would last at least a month.

See also:

Thousands defy emergency decree in Thailand

Thailand uses emergency decree to ban gatherings after Bangkok protests

Source: thethaiger.com