Thailand bans protests as challenge to monarchy, prime minister escalates

BANGKOK — Thailand's government banned protests and police arrested at least three protest leaders on Thursday in the face of escalating demonstrations targeting King Maha Vajiralongkorn as well as Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha, a former junta leader.

Within 30 minutes of emergency orders, justified partly on the grounds of disturbing a royal motorcade, riot police drove away protesters who had camped outside Mr. Prayuth's offices to demand his removal and a new constitution. "The situation right now is tantamount to a coup ," said Tattep Ru ang pr apai kits eree,o ne of the few protest leaders still free.

Police said they had arrested more than 20 people for refusing to cooperate with officers clearing the protest from the prime minister's office. Among those arrested were two of the most vocal critics of the monarchy. Another was picked up later.

Three months of protests have been largely peaceful, as was a march by tens of thousands of people on Wednesday. But in one incident, police pushed jeering protesters away from a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida.

That was used as a reason for the emergency measures that include a ban on gatherings of five or more people. Publishing news or online information that "could create fear" or "affect national security" was also forbidden.

"It is extremely necessary to introduce an urgent measure to end this situation effectively and promptly to maintain peace and order," the government said in the order.

Other reasons for the emergency measures were damage to the economy from protests and the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus, of which only one locally transmitted case has been reported in more than four months.

"What was done today is pushing Thailand to a breaking point," said opposition politician Thanathorn Juan groong ru ang kit.

"The government must release the protesters and end the emergency decree."

Police said they had arrested protest leaders Parit "Penguin"

Chiwarak and rights lawyer

Arnon Nampa. Mr. Arnon said on

Facebook he was being forced to board a helicopter to the northern city of Chiang Mai, where he faces sedition charges over a speech in August. —