Police show of force in Bangkok during protests, October 14, 2020. -

Rapeephat Sitichailapa / AP / SIPA

Tensions continue to rise in Thailand.

While the protest has not weakened since this summer, the government chose this Thursday to harden its position to regain control of the situation.

Authorities have now decided to ban gatherings of five or more people and online publications that could harm national security in an attempt to end pro-democracy protests.

Demonstration in front of government headquarters in Bangkok, October 14, 2020. - Teera Noisakran / Pacific Press // S

On Wednesday, a new demonstration to demand the dismissal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha brought together several thousand people in front of the Government House in Bangkok.

Shortly after the new restrictions took effect, at 4 a.m. on Thursday, riot police evacuated protesters who were still camping at the site.

Most of the protesters, however, had already left the scene.

Royalty, a taboo subject

In addition to the departure of General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, in power since a coup in 2014 and legitimized by controversial elections last year, the pro-democracy movement also calls for a modification of the Constitution, put in place in 2017 under the junta and very favorable to the army.

Some activists even go further, demanding in-depth reform of the kingship, a taboo subject until recently in the kingdom.

They demand the monarch's non-interference in political affairs, the repeal of the draconian lese majesty law and the return of the assets of the Crown to the bosom of the state.

These claims are deemed unacceptable by the government.

On Wednesday, a car with Queen Suthida on board, who could not avoid the route of the demonstration, was stopped for a few moments and dozens of pro-democracy protesters raised three fingers in front of her vehicle.

The day before, other activists had made the passage of King Maha Vajiralongkorn the same salute, inspired by the film

Hunger Games

, unprecedented gestures of challenge to royal authority.

The government justified Thursday the promulgation of the emergency decree by referring to “illegal” demonstrations and denouncing the obstruction of the royal procession on Wednesday.

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