Thousands defy emergency decree in Thailand

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bangkok for a second night on Thursday, defying the government's emergency decree aimed at stopping student demonstrations.

Police arrested 22 people, including three prominent activists, after the government announced a ban on gatherings of more than five people.

Protests are expected again this Friday.

Authorities warned over loudspeakers that protesters were violating the emergency decree, were being photographed, and could be prosecuted and arrested.

But thousands of people gathered at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok's commercial center, chanting, jeering at police and waving lights from their cell phones.

Student-led protests that have been taking place across Thailand since July have intensified in recent weeks.

The protesters are demanding a new constitution, the dissolution of parliament and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut, as well as an end to intimidation of government critics.

See: Protest in Thailand: Everything you need to know

Protesters attack the monarchy

But an increasingly central demand is reform of the monarchy to limit the powers of King Vajiralongkorn .

It is the biggest challenge to the ruling establishment in decades, with young people publicly breaking deep-rooted taboos by speaking openly about the royal family in public.

Thailand's royal family is protected from criticism by a strict lese majeste law that carries a sentence of up to 15 years, although Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said the king had asked that no one be prosecuted under the law.

The emergency decree, which took effect in the capital Bangkok at 4 a.m. local time on Thursday, was implemented after protesters marched en masse from the city's Democracy Monument and broke through a police barricade to camp outside Government House on Wednesday night.

The Government House which received a visit from a Chinese minister yesterday: The Chinese Foreign Minister visits Thailand

The protesters demanded Prayut's resignation and reform of the monarchy.

"It has emerged that several groups have invited, incited and committed illegal gatherings," the decree said.

"There have been activities that have affected peace and public order."

The government also cited the obstruction of a royal procession by protesters as justification for the emergency decree.

Video shows police pushing back protesters who were shouting and making the three-finger salute from the movie "The Hunger Games" as a car carrying Queen Suthida and King Maha Vajiralongkorn's youngest son, Prince Dipangkorn, drives slowly by.

Video: Thai Queen's motorcade surrounded by anti-government protesters

"There are therefore sufficient reasons to believe that violent acts have been committed.

And this has affected government stability, security, property and personnel.

"This is no longer a peaceful assembly, as it must be justified by the constitution," the decree adds.

An emergency decree to stop the movement

In addition to limiting groups to five people, the emergency decree includes a nationwide ban on publishing and disseminating news and information – including online – that incites fear among the public.

The assigned officers will now be authorized to enforce new traffic rules and close certain premises to the public.

Police arrested 22 people following Wednesday's anti-government protests, according to Thai police Colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen.

Among them were several prominent activists, including student leader Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, 21, who was searched by plainclothes officers at a hotel near the protest site and then arrested in connection with a speech she gave in August, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Human rights lawyer and protest leader Arnon Nampa was arrested Thursday morning following a speech he gave Wednesday in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Protest leader Parit Chiwarak was also arrested on Thursday.

On August 10, Panusaya stood on a stage and publicly presented a 10-point list of demands for reforming the monarchy.

Panusaya is the spokesperson for the student union group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, and their demands include the revocation of laws against defamation of the monarchy, a new constitution, the abolition of royal offices, the ouster of the military government, and the disbanding of the king's royal guards.

Protest in Thailand. Photo: thaipbsworld.com.

The king, who spends much of his time abroad, returned to Thailand this week for a series of royal duties, including to mark the memorial day of the death of his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej .

On Thursday morning, the protest group Free Youth called on people to defy the ban on gatherings and join the afternoon demonstration in Bangkok, stating on Facebook that "high school and university students, workers, and the general public gathered peacefully and did not initiate violence."

King Vajiralongkorn confronted protesters for the first time on Tuesday.

After a demonstration outside the prime minister's office was broken up by police and 21 protesters were arrested, the king's motorcade drove past the demonstrators, who shouted "free our friends" and gave the three-finger salute.

Authorities tightened security the next morning, deploying about 15,000 police officers to control the crowd.

As the protesters gathered, they were met by lines of royalist groups who had turned up dressed in yellow, the color of the monarchy.

"I'm here to show my respect to the king," said Nid, 65, a private business owner in Bangkok.

Regarding the protesters, he said, "They should go home and focus on their studies.

Our country is based on three pillars: nation, religion and monarchy. They should know that."

Although the student movement suffered a setback with the arrest of its top leaders, it "is expected to continue to grow," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist and director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University.

“Popular grievances are so broad and deep that traditional Thai institutions, such as the military, the monarchy and the judiciary, have hampered reforms and changes that can move Thailand forward,” he said.

Two activists could face life imprisonment for alleged royal motorcade violations

Two activists could face life imprisonment for allegedly violating HM the Queen's freedom during Wednesday afternoon's rally in Bangkok, which coincided with a royal motorcade.

The Criminal Court issued the arrest warrants yesterday.

Violence against the Queen or her liberty, under Section 110 of the Thai Penal Code, is punishable by 16 years to life imprisonment.

According to the Bangkok Post, the sentence could be more severe if the activists are also convicted of violating Thailand's lese majeste law, Section 112, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison for insulting or defaming the royal family.

The warrants were issued for activists Ekkachai Hongkangwan and Bunkueanun Paothon.

Reports did not elaborate on what the activists allegedly did to violate the laws, but many protesters were moved to an area on Phitsanulok Road where the royal motorcade was and were seen flashing the three-finger salute, a symbol of defiance against the military government.

Transfer of senior police officers

Three high-ranking police officers were abruptly transferred after Wednesday's pro-democracy protest and are under investigation for alleged negligence.

The reports do not go into detail about the investigation, but the Nation Thailand newspaper claims the order was given by the new National Police Commander, Suwat Jangyodsuk, of the Royal Thai Police.

Nation Thailand claims that senior officers Somprasong Yentuam, Prasai Jittasonthi and Manop Sukhonthanapat have been ordered to leave their posts.

Source: cnn.com , thethaiger.com