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Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

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Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Despite COVID risks, protesters took to the streets of Thailand’s capital once more to call for the prime minister’s ouster and decry the government’s pandemic response.

Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

A protester fires a sling shot toward advancing police as protesters retreat toward Victory Monument at an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Police line up ahead of a planned protest by anti-government groups at Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

A protester is arrested after taunting police prior the start of an anti-government protest at Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

A protester throws a rock over a two-story container barricade blocking protesters from reaching government house in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters hold their position whilst waiting for others to arrive at Victory Monument in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters begin moving from Victory Monument toward police barricades in an attempt to reach the prime minister’s residence during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters work to move containers from their path in an attempt to reach the prime minister’s residence in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

As police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, protesters retreated over a traffic bridge toward Victory Monument in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters help a fellow protester caught in tear gas during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

A protester attempts to extinguish a tear gas cannister fired by police during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 78, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Fellow protesters help a young man after he was exposed to tear gas at an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters light firecrackers to throw over a police barricade during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters hide from tear gas and rubber bullets fired by police behind a makeshift shield in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters used found objects such as tables to shield against rubber bullets fired by police during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand. August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

A protester attempts to extinguish a tear gas cannister fired by police during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 78, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters used rocks and concrete fragments to fire at police with slingshots beyond barricades at an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters used rocks and concrete fragments to fire at police with slingshots beyond barricades at an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters launch fireworks toward police at an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters and onlookers watch as police advance toward Victory Monument, in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright
Thai Protesters Face Off With Police in Bangkok

Protesters and bystanders flee as police advance toward the remaining protesters during and anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand on August 7, 2021.

Credit: Cory Wright

Protesters took to the Bangkok streets for the second time in a week to call for the ousting of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Saturday, August 7, 2021. The protesters initially called for a march to the Royal Palace, which prompted the positioning of shipping containers, razor wire, and rail tankers to prevent protesters from reaching the sacred site.

Police also moved in to quickly to quell the protest and make arrests before it started at 1 p.m. local time, prompting protest organizers to call for changes in their destination, first rallying protesters toward Government House before finally setting the prime minister’s residence as the destination.

Despite the increase in numbers, protesters were held off by barricades backed by police armed with tear gas and rubber bullets, forcing demonstrations to retreat and eventually disperse later in the evening.

It is estimated that over a thousand protesters participated in the demonstration, which followed a sustained lull in activity due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases throughout Thailand. However, the movement has staged protests with increasing numbers and intensity since July 18, which marked the one-year anniversary of the large-scale student protests in 2020.

The initial call by protesters for the resignation of the current government, fresh elections, a new constitution, and a reformation of the nation’s monarchy have recently been amplified and the mainly younger demographic has been joined by citizens of all ages frustrated by the government’s COVID-19 response, the slow vaccine rollout, and the economic fallout that has come as a result.