Thailand announces state of emergency

Thailand announced an emergency decree early Thursday after thousands of demonstrators massed around the Government House, the seat of government, in Bangkok.

The decree on the state of emergency bans gatherings of five or more people, as well as the publications of news or online messages that could infringe on national security.

Thai police dispersed protesters who surrounded the prime minister’s office and arrested top leaders in an early-morning raid.

Tens of thousands of protesters broke through police lines on Wednesday in a march to Government House, the official office of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, in an escalation of demonstrations that began in early July. Some protesters gave a three-finger salute — a symbol of the demonstrations — to a motorcade of Queen Suthida ajrasudhabimalalakshana, who smiled and waved at them.

The anti-government protests have been underway in Thailand for several months, with the opposition calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who came to power as a result of 2014 coup.

The protestors also want the government to adopt a new constitution and reform the monarchy. The rallies held in Bangkok on Wednesday involved about 1000 protestors.

The protestors led mostly by students, have broken taboos about publicly criticising the royal family, which sits at the apex of power in Thailand.

The protests had gained momentum amid the worst economic crisis facing the tourism- and trade reliant nation, which has passed a $60 billion stimulus to battle the pandemic-triggered slump. The emergency may also hurt government’s plan to gradually reopen tourism to foreign visitors from this month.