The youth-led protest movement that began last year has been reinvigorated by the arrests of prominent protest leaders.
Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered in the Thai capital, Bangkok, to demand authorities release some protest leaders from jail, defying an order on Friday banning public gatherings in the city.
A youth-led protest movement sprang up last year calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former military government leader, and reform of the powerful monarchy. Thai courts have denied recent requests for bail for some of the jailed protest leaders.
“Release our friends,” shouted the protesters in unison on Saturday, as they gathered in front of a criminal court surrounded by barbed wire. A water cannon could be seen behind the gates of the court.
“Abolish 112,” they also said, referring to Thailand’s lese majeste law, or Section 112 in…
