by BERNAMA

BANGKOK – Thai police have arrested at least 13 anti-government protesters as they returned to the streets on Wednesday, for the second consecutive day, demanding Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha to step down for the government’s poor handling of the COVID-19 situation.

The police clashed with the protesters, firing tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters at Din Daeng Intersection, the same venue where clashes happened on Tuesday and last Saturday.

Deputy police spokesman Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen said eight policemen were injured after hit by firecrackers and ping pong bombs when clashes broke out.

“A total of 13 protesters were arrested and facing charges including arson and assault as well violating COVID-19 restrictions and defying ban on public gatherings,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday night.

The number of injured protesters was not known but Erawan Medical Center reported at least one protester was injured in the clashes.

The protesters on Wednesday, mobilised by Tha Lu Fah group gathered at the Victory Monument at 3pm (local time) and planned to march to the residence of Prayuth at the 1st Infantry Regiment headquarters in Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

However, some of the protesters started to throw objects including paint and firecrackers at police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Following the sudden clashes, about an hour later, the organiser called off the rally. However, many refused to go home and they moved on to Din Daeng Intersection where the police sealed off the road that leads to the prime minister’s house using shipping containers .

The police in riot gear fired multiple rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets to force protesters back at Din Daeng Intersection. However, the protesters retaliated with sling shots, threw fireworks as well as ping pong bombs at the police.

The protesters also set fire to a vehicle nearby an expressway. A police vehicle was smashed by the protesters who refused to go home.

In recent weeks, the anti-government protesters returned to streets repeating their demand for Prayuth to step down claiming the government has failed to handle the COVID-19 crisis and is slow in the vaccine roll-out.

On Tuesday, police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse a similar protest at Din Daeng Intersection and arrested 48 people, including 15 youths and confiscated 122 motorcycles.