Yet again, riot police have fired rubber bullets at anti-government protesters in Bangkok, for the fourth time in less than a fortnight. This afternoon, protesters gathered at Victory Monument, where they threw paint at police. Rubber bullets and tear gas were used to disperse the crowd, some of whom attempted to march to Prayut Chan-o-cha’s residence on Viphavadi Rangsit Road. The road was blocked by shipping containers, and the protesters set fire to a police truck at the Sam Liam Din Daeng intersection nearby.
The rally was organised by Thalufah, a protest group led by Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, who has been convicted of lèse-majesté. Rap Against Dictatorship’s single Ta Lu Fah (ทะลุฟ้า) was named after the group (using an alternate spelling). Jatupat was arrested along with eight other protest leaders a few days ago, and they were all denied bail.
The use of rubber bullets by riot police is now becoming a daily occurrence. Today’s events were a repeat of yesterday’s, and rubber bullets were also deployed at six previous rallies this year, on 28th February, 20th March, 2nd May, 18th July, 1st August, and 7th August.
The rally was organised by Thalufah, a protest group led by Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, who has been convicted of lèse-majesté. Rap Against Dictatorship’s single Ta Lu Fah (ทะลุฟ้า) was named after the group (using an alternate spelling). Jatupat was arrested along with eight other protest leaders a few days ago, and they were all denied bail.
The use of rubber bullets by riot police is now becoming a daily occurrence. Today’s events were a repeat of yesterday’s, and rubber bullets were also deployed at six previous rallies this year, on 28th February, 20th March, 2nd May, 18th July, 1st August, and 7th August.
