Thailand protests: Bangkok shuts down transport as demonstrators remain defiant

Transport was paralysed across central Bangkok on Saturday as thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered for a third straight day in defiance of emergency laws after a chaotic Friday night that saw riot police use water cannons on protesters in the Thai capital.

Bangkok's BTS overground train system and metro were closed throughout the city as protesters massed at multiple locations, blocking several intersections to stretch the police.

"Everyone is a leader today," said Moss, 23, referring to Saturday's leaderless rallies after dozens of prominent organisers were arrested this week.

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"We're trying to stretch the police force by holding rallies in a number of key Bangkok junctions," he added.

There were demonstrations in at least six cities outside Bangkok too. Police did not intervene, and the participants dispersed after several hours.

The protesters - many still in high school - are calling for the resignation of Prayuth Chan-ocha's government, as well as a new constitution and reform of the monarchy.

Protests have been largely peaceful with minor scuffles between riot police and frontline demonstrators.

Ex-army chief Prayuth, who seized power in a 2014 coup and has since turned into a civilian leader, has said he will not step down and warned the protesters of serious consequences if they continued to defy the "severe" emergency decree which outlaws public gatherings of more than five people and bans the dissemination of news that is deemed to threaten national security.

But the young protesters say they are not giving up.

Several protest leaders who were arrested on Friday have been bailed on Saturday.

"I condemn whoever was behind the order to disperse the crowd, you are a tyrant," said Tattep "Ford" Ruangprapaikitseree, 23, leader of the main protest group Free People.

"I stand with all of you who will continue to come out to fight for democracy," he told reporters after posting bail on Saturday morning.

Rights groups have warned of the dangers ahead with security services operating with emergency powers.

"By sending in the police to violently disperse peaceful protesters, Thailand's government is embarking on a wider crackdown to end the students' protests," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The decree gives police "the green light to commit rights abuses with impunity," he added.

A Thai activist covered in blue paint lies on the ground during an anti-government protest in Bangkok on Saturday. Photo: Reuters alt=A Thai activist covered in blue paint lies on the ground during an anti-government protest in Bangkok on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

The demonstrators have borrowed heavily from the Hong Kong protest playbook, keeping their movements fluid, sharing protest-related details at the last minute over LINE groups and using umbrellas against the water cannon and washing off blue dye in the water with soda water.

The black-clad protesters have in recent days started to wear hard hats, goggles and gas masks, with a run on hardware stores reported across Bangkok.

A post on "How to go to mob like Hongkongers" was widely circulated on Thai Twitter with a guide on what to bring and wear for young demonstrators who see an affinity in their fight to bring down the Thai establishment and Hong Kong's pro-democracy struggles against Beijing.

"I brought saline water to clean my eyes in case we're getting sprayed by water cannon like last night," said Eve, 27.

Pro-democracy protesters give the three-finger salute at Udomsuk in Bangkok. Photo: AFP alt=Pro-democracy protesters give the three-finger salute at Udomsuk in Bangkok. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong tweeted his support for the Thai protesters, saying "People should not be afraid of their governments, only governments should be afraid of the people." He also posted a picture of himself giving the three-finger salute with the hashtag MilkTeaAlliance - a pro-democracy grouping of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thai youth protesters.

By responding with force, Prayuth's government is narrowing the potential for a peaceful outcome to the crisis.

In a fluid situation in a country which stumbles through rounds of coups, violent crackdowns and protests, experts say there are several scenarios ahead and none of which end well for the kingdom's pro-democracy cause.

The first and "most likely ... is Prayuth sticks it out while more violently intimidating the demonstrators," said Paul Chambers, a lecturer and special adviser in international affairs at Thailand's Naresuan University.

Another is the premier resigns and hands power to someone else in his conservative coalition government, which could promise constitutional reforms down the track.

A third option is "the military takes power with either Prayuth continuing as a weak premier while the army commander holds real power or another PM becomes the face of a new junta," Chambers added.

This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

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