Casualties after Thai police use force to disperse rally near king's palace
The rally outside Bangkok's Grand Palace was a continuation of student-led protests that began last year and have rattled Thailand's traditional establishment, which is fiercely opposed to change, especially with regard to the monarchy.
Riot police raise their shields as they restrain a demonstrator during clashes at an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand, March 20, 2021.
More than 30 civilians and police were injured in anti-government protests in Thailand, an emergency medical centre said after police used water cannon, teargas, and rubber bullets to disperse the rally the night before.
Video circulated on social media on Sunday showed police hitting and stomping on people with others fleeing from police in riot gear and some abandoning their motorcycles. Another video showed people taking refuge from teargas in a McDonald's restaurant.
Thirteen police officers and 20 others were injured, the Erawan Medical Centre said.
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Video showing Thai police beating and arresting protesters after media were forced to leave the area. #ม็อบ20มีนา #WhatsHappeningInThailand https://t.co/s1ewxfQobr
— Jiraporn Kuhakan (@KuhakanJiraporn) March 20, 2021
Police said on Sunday their actions were in accordance with international standards and that 20 protesters were arrested for breaking public gathering laws and insulting the monarchy.
"Violence originated from the protesters' side and police have to defend the law and protect national treasures," the deputy head of the Bangkok police, Piya Tavichai, told reporters.
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Thai police clash with anti-government protesters at Sanam Luang #ม็อบ20มีนา #WhatsHappeningInThailand pics via @soezeya pic.twitter.com/EKBbzzdfdl
— Chayut ☠️ (@ChayutSet) March 20, 2021
Protesters disagree
"Violence came from the police first, using tear gas and water cannons before protesters did anything," said activist Rukchanok Srinork, 27, who was at the rally.
"They have helmets, shields, crowd control training, if there is a stone, raise your shields."
Portraits of the king were defaced at Saturday night's protests, which drew well over 1,000 people.
An anti-government protest this month saw over 20 protesters injured.
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Face off with Thai police at Bangkok protest #WhatsHappeningInThailand pic.twitter.com/DGw5BiTLXT
— Matthew Tostevin (@TostevinM) March 20, 2021
Protest movement
Thailand's youth protest movement emerged last year and has posed the biggest challenge for the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a retired army general who seized power in 2014 from an elected government.
Protesters say he engineered a process that preserved the military-monarchy establishment and kept him in power after a 2019 election. Prayuth and his supporters reject that assertion.
The protesters have demanded reform of the monarchy, breaking a traditional taboo, saying the constitution drafted by the military after the 2014 coup gives the king too much power.
The Royal Palace, which declined to comment on Sunday, has avoided commenting directly on the protests. The government has said criticism of the king is unlawful and inappropriate.
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