THE WORLD TODAY

Police crack down on new Thai protests

THAILAND’S prime minister rejected calls for his resignation, as riot police cracked down on thousands of student- led protesters who rallied in the capital in defiance of a strict state of emergency.

Police used water cannons and charged at the crowd, scattering protesters, onlookers and reporters.

Officers appeared to have assumed control of the intersection in Bangkok where the rally was centred and much of the crowd retreated down a street to nearby Chulalongkorn University. Organisers advised them to shelter there if not going straight home.

The protesters had gathered in torrential monsoon rains to push their core demands, including that prime minister Prayuth Chan- ocha leave office, the constitution be amended and the nation’s monarchy undergo reform.

On Wednesday, demonstrators heckled a royal motorcade, an unprecedented development in Thailand, where the monarchy is normally revered.

Prayuth’s government declared a strict new state of emergency for the capital on Thursday. It outlaws public gatherings of more than five and banning the dissemination of news that is deemed to threaten national security.

It also allows police to detain people at length without charge.

A number of protest leaders have already been rounded up since the decree went into effect. Yesterday another two activists were arrested under a law covering violence against the queen for their alleged part in the heckling of the motorcade.

They could face up to life in prison if convicted.

Prayuth said yesterday that he had no plans to resign as he had done nothing wrong.