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Scuffles Break Out as Thai Protesters Flout Virus Rules to Protest

Vijitra Duangdee

   BANGKOK - Several pro-democracy activists in Thailand were arrested as
   protests Saturday unexpectedly returned to Bangkok's streets, defying
   an emergency law imposed during a fresh COVID-19 outbreak to rally
   against a royal defamation law being wielded against their movement.

   The main groups maaking up the Rasadorn (the people) movement have
   formally declared a hiatus to the major street rallies that rocked the
   kingdom, demanding sweeping reforms of Thai politics and the
   once-untouchable monarchy.
   But pockets of protesters have switched from major scale rallies to
   smaller flash mobs and publicity stunts targeting the royal defamation
   law, section 112 of the Thai penal code.
   The law carries a penalty of between three and 15 years per charge for
   "insulting, defaming or threatening" the monarchy and is loathed by
   Thailand's pro-democracy movement, which views it as a political
   weapon. More than 40 protesters so far have been charged under the law.

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