Conflicts & War

Fresh arrests at pro-democracy protests in Thailand

Bangkok, Feb 28 (efe-epa).- Thai police arrested at least a dozen protesters amid fresh anti-government demonstrations in Bagnkok on Sunday.

Pro-democracy protests began last July to demand the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha and the scaling down the military powers.

Demonstrators on Sunday met at one of Bangkok’s main roads before marching toward the prime minister’s official residence, located at the military camp for the 11th Infantry Regiment, which acts as the official guard for King Vajiralongkorn.

Security at the camp was bolstered the previous night with containers placed on the road outside in a bid to impede the protest, which has diminished in strength compared to last year.

Initially targeting the prime minister and calling for changes to the military junta-era constitution, the regular protests in Thailand later demanded royal reforms, a deeply taboo subject in a country with some of the strictest lèse-majesté laws in the world.

More than 50 protesters, including some of the movement’s leadership, are facing such charges, which can lead to prison sentences of between three to 15 years.

The United Nations, the European Union and the United States have criticized Thailand’s monarchy laws and excessive prison sentences.

In January, a civil servant was ordered to serve a 43-year sentence for sharing a clip from a radio show criticizing the king on her social media. EFE-EPA

nc/jt

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