Thai protesters vow to return to streets after police clashes
BANGKOK, Oct 17 (AFP) - Thai pro-democracy protesters vowed Saturday to again defy an emergency decree banning gatherings after days of confrontations in the capital that saw riot police use water cannon and dozens of activists arrested.
Officers in Bangkok dispersed thousands of demonstrators on Friday night by spraying water laced with blue dye and a chemical agent to mark participants for future legal action.
But the escalation in police tactics has not cowed the burgeoning youth- led protest movement, which is demanding the resignation of a premier first brought to power in a military coup and reform of the kingdom's powerful monarchy.
One of the pro-democracy movement's main organising groups called on its supporters to return to the streets on Saturday afternoon.
“Be prepared both physically and mentally for the demonstration and to cope with a crackdown if it happens,” the online post from Free Youth said.
Another group, the United Front of Thammasat, called on activists to spread out at different stations on the city's Skytrain and subway network, prompting the operators of both rail networks to shut down services.
Police said they would shut key roads around suspected protest sites.
Thai Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha extend
ed an emergency decree banning gatherings of more than four people by another month on Friday.
The former army chief, who masterminded the coup in 2014 before being voted into power last year in an election protesters say was rigged in his favour, also rebuffed calls for his resignation.