PRO-DEMOCRACY groups in Thailand have vowed to intensify their protests calling for monarchy reform and a new constitution, after a court detained four of their leaders on royal defamation charges.
As protest continued for the second day on Wednesday, police fired tear gas as protesters rallied outside Pathumwan police station in Bangkok after some were arrested during a rally at Pathumwan intersection.
According to the Bangkok Post, police had earlier arrested 10 people at the intersection but some were later released.
The rally was held after the Criminal Court denied bail to four key members facing royal insult charges.
They were Anon Nampa, Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk and Patiwat "Mor Lam Bank" Saraiyaem.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports one of the key protest leaders, Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul saying that the refusal of bail was a sign authorities were adopting a confrontational stance.
The detained leaders are among activists who have spearheaded a movement that's broken long-held taboos about publicly discussing and questioning the monarchy.
More frequent protests will pile pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's government, which is facing a no-confidence vote next week and battling a slump in the trade and tourism-reliant economy.
While political analysts expect the authorities to charge more activists in the coming days under the lese majeste law to weaken the protest movement, Gen Prayut has said the government was merely enforcing existing laws.
Thailand's lese majeste law is one of the harshest in the world, mandating as many as 15 years in prison for each instance of defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, heir apparent or regent.
Since late November, the authorities have charged at least 58 activists who have led demonstrations and called for a review of monarchy's powers.
The opposition Move Forward Party has also submitted a proposal to amend Thailand's lese majeste law, saying it could defuse political tensions and improve freedom of expression.
The proposal by 44 of the party's MPs is seen as a significant move in a country where criticising the king is taboo.
The party wants honest criticism of the monarchy to be allowed and punishments under the law to be reduced.
It also wants only the palace to file lese majeste complaints with the police instead of private citizens as it would prevent abuse.
Under their proposal, those who defame or threaten the king would still face imprisonment for up to one year, or a 300,000 baht fine, or both.
The protest movement that started in mid-2020, also demands the resignation of Gen Prayut, who ruled the country as junta leader for five years before becoming premier after the 2019 elections.
The Human Rights Watch has also expressed concern about the increasing use of the lese majeste laws against pro-democracy activists and said the detained leaders may spend years in jail without trial.