The pro-democracy movement calls for a new rally Wednesday, November 18 in Bangkok the day after clashes with the police and ultra-royalists during which six demonstrators were wounded by bullets.
"W
e are going to open a new era in our fights
", "
there is no longer any compromise possible
", warned several leaders of the protest.
The authorities have appealed for calm.
Read also: In Thailand, the youth challenge the monarchy
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha urged protesters to refrain from violence, but ruled out introducing a new emergency decree - like the one banning public gatherings that lasted for a week in October.
“
No need.
It affects stability and confidence in our country.
No one is going to want to come or invest here because our confidence has eroded,
”Prayut told reporters.
Riot police on Tuesday used water cannons and tear gas against protesters gathered near Parliament, where MPs and Senators are debating possible constitutional reform.
Clashes also erupted between pro-democracy activists and
ultra-royalist “
yellow shirts
”.
A total of 55 people were injured, six of them from live ammunition.
Four people were still hospitalized on Wednesday.
The police denied during a press briefing that they had fired live ammunition or even rubber projectiles and the origin of the shots remained unknown.
Bangkok Deputy Police Commissioner Piya Tavichai said his services were investigating the shootings, which took place around 300 meters from the main protest area.
These are the most violent incidents since the start of the protest calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister, a reform of the monarchy and a new Constitution.
Towards a constitutional reform?
Parliament is due to vote on Wednesday to decide which draft constitutional amendments it agrees to consider.
One of the proposals debated provides that the Prime Minister must be chosen from among the members of Parliament, while the current head of government is from the army.
Most of the proposals that have been submitted to parliamentarians exclude any reform of the monarchy.
The pro-democracy movement has always ensured that it wishes to modernize royalty, but in no case does not want to abolish it.
The vote is expected to last several hours and may not be over by the time protesters regroup at a major crossroads in central Bangkok at 4 p.m. (10 a.m. in France).
A strong police presence is expected with several thousand agents deployed and four axes closed.
Police headquarters are near the protest site and law enforcement was seen in the early afternoon moving around with water cannons and equipment to protect the complex.
SEE ALSO -
"Thailand is a land of compromise", says King Rama X
