Thai marchers link cause to Myanmar battle
A new faction of Thailand’s pro-democracy movement staged a protest march on Sunday, linking their cause with that of demonstrators in Myanmar battling that neighbouring country’s coup-installed military government.
Marchers sought but failed to go to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s house, which is on an army base in Bangkok. Shipping containers were situated to block them, and police using water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas barred the way.
The demonstrators abandoned their plan several hours later after taking an online vote of their supporters.
Police said a 41-year-old officer died in the tumult, with local media reported he had a heart attack. According to the Erawan EMS center, 23 policemen and 10 protesters were injured.
Thai pro-democracy demonstrations have recently become marred by increasing violence. Much of it has been initiated by particularly confrontational protesters using tactics including throwing small homemade “ping-pong” bombs with the power of big firecrackers at police, who sometimes react with disproportionate force.
Sunday’s action was linked to the informal Milk Tea Alliance of pro-democracy activists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Myanmar, which called for efforts on Sunday online and in real life in support of the protests in Myanmar.
In Myanmar on Sunday, a crackdown on protesters by security forces left at least 18 people dead, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
Prayuth was targeted in part because he met on Wednesday in Bangkok with the new foreign minister appointed by Myanmar’s junta.
Defying lethal shootings, Myanmar protesters return to streets
Police in Myanmar’s biggest city on Monday fired tear gas at defiant crowds who returned to the streets to protest the military’s seizure of power a month ago, despite reports that security forces had killed at least 18 people around the country a day earlier. The protesters in Yangon were chased as they tried to gather at their usual meeting spot at the Hledan Center intersection. Demonstrators scattered and sought to rinse their faces with water in vain attempts.