Protesters defy controls, clash with Thai police
Thai police officers used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons Sunday to disperse hundreds of antigovernment demonstrators who held a rally in Bangkok despite coronavirus restrictions banning gatherings of more than five people.
Demonstrators demanded that Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha’s government step down, insisting the budget of the monarchy and the military be cut during the pandemic, and calling for a major boost in vaccine imports to fight the growing surge of the virus.
The rally came as Thailand recorded its largest singleday jump in virus infections — nearly 11,400 — and as fresh restrictions were announced, including the shutdown of most domestic flights. Many parts of the country, including Bangkok, are already under some form of lockdown that includes restrictions on gatherings and business operations as well as a nighttime curfew.
As infections and deaths climb and as more people face economic suffering, disapproval of the government’s handling of the pandemic has grown.
Criticism of Prayuth’s government for failing to secure early and adequate vaccine supplies is widespread. Thailand mostly relies on two vaccines, including China’s Sinovac shot, which some studies indicate is less effective against the delta variant, which is exploding across Southeast Asia.
Thailand’s other main vaccine is AstraZeneca, which a Thai company owned by the country’s king has been producing, but only since June and in smaller than expected quantities.