Thailand: Police arrest pro-democracy activists and rappers in crackdown on anti-government protests

Demonstrators call for prime minister to resign over alleged corruption and incompetence, Conrad Duncan reports

Pro-democracy activist and singer Dechathorn Bamrungmuang speaks outside the criminal courthouse in Bangkok yesterday (AP)

Nine pro-democracy activists, including two rappers, have been arrested in a crackdown on growing protests in Thailand that have presented a serious threat to the country’s military-backed government.

Protesters have called for Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand’s prime minister and a former army general, to resign amid accusations of incompetence and corruption.

Mr Prayuth seized power in a 2014 military coup and then won an election in 2019 that was widely seen as unfair and biased towards his administration.