Dozens injured as Thai protesters clash with police

Officers launch rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons at anti-government demonstrators

More than 30 people have been injured after police shot rubber bullets at anti-government protesters in Thailand.

Police also deployed teargas and water cannons to disperse Saturday’s rally.

Videos showed people dismounting their motorbikes to flee riot police and groups taking refuge in a McDonald’s to shelter from the tear gas.

Twenty civilians and 13 police officers were injured in clashes that broke out near the king’s palace in Bangkok, according to the Erawan Medical Centre.

Police said that their actions were in accordance with international standards and that 20 protesters were arrested for breaking public gathering rules and insulting the monarchy.

“Violence originated from the protesters’ side and police have to defend the law and protect national treasures,” Piya Tavichai, deputy head of Bangkok police, said.

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But protesters said that police instigated the violence and that their power outweighed that of the assembled crowd.

“Violence came from the police first, using tear gas and water cannons before protesters did anything,” activist Rukchanok Srinork, who attended the rally, said.

“They have helmets, shields, crowd control training, if there is a stone, raise your shields.”

More than 1,000 protesters were in attendance. Some defaced portraits of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, whom they say has been given too much power by the constitution drafted by the military after their 2014 coup.

Retired army general Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power from an elected government to become Thailand’s prime minister.

He retained power after an election in 2019 by engineering a process to preserve the military-monarchy establishment, protesters say. The general denies this.

The protest movement, which emerged last year, has been spearheaded by Thailand’s youth, who demand reform of the monarchy.

Waves of demonstrations have proven a challenge for the government and repeatedly resulted in the outbreak of violence. Earlier this month, 20 anti-government protesters were injured at a similar rally.

The Royal Palace has avoided commenting on the protests. The government has said that criticising the king is inappropriate and unlawful.