A large crowd was building at the Pathumwan intersection in central Bangkok on Friday evening as anti-government protesters rallied for a third consecutive day.
The venue was a last-minute change after authorities sealed off the Ratchaprasong intersection, the scene of a rally that police estimate drew 13,500 people on Thursday night. The crowd left peacefully around 10pm.
The latest demonstration started at 5pm. Protesters in the streets at the intersection called out to people on the skywalk to join them on the ground.
The protesters ignored the state of emergency as they put pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down and for authorities to release detained activists.
As many as 51 people, well-known protest leaders as well as participants, have been arrested over the past four days, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Some of the key figures in the movement are being held without bail.
Police have warned that demonstrators will be arrested if they take part in the rally as the emergency decree bans gatherings of five people or more.
The nearby Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery shopping complexes announced they were closing because of the rally. The National Stadium station also closed.
The event also caused the operators of the BTS and MRT to curtail some services and close some stations.
"Come down. Come down," protesters urge people on the skywalk to join them on the streets at #Pathumwan intersection. #BangkokPost #Thailand #Bangkok #politics pic.twitter.com/K9Dr5OX7bs
— Bangkok Post (@BangkokPostNews) October 16, 2020
