Advertisement
Thai police fire rubber bullets, tear gas at crowds protesting government’s virus response
- Over 1,000 demonstrators gathered in Bangkok to mark the first anniversary of the ‘Free Youth’ pro-democracy protest movement
- Protesters are angry at the Thai government’s Covid-19 response as the country experiences a deadly resurgence in cases
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
Thai police on Sunday fired rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas at a crowd of over 1,000 people protesting against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government’s handling of a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections.
Thailand is experiencing a rebound in coronavirus cases, on Sunday reporting 11,397 new infections and 101 deaths. Public anger has mounted over the slow vaccine roll-out and an expansion of restrictions as partial lockdowns in Bangkok and nine other provinces fail to curb the deadly wave.
Hospitals have reportedly run out of beds while just 3.4 million people – under 5 per cent of the population – are fully vaccinated.
At the start of Sunday’s protest, a convoy of cars, tuk-tuks and motorbikes formed a ‘car mob’ and hooted as they travelled the short distance between Democracy Monument and Government House.
Marking the first anniversary of the founding of the core ‘Free Youth’ pro-democracy group, protesters massed in defiance of police warnings they could face prosecution under the Emergency Decree imposed ostensibly to control the virus.
Advertisement