Thai protesters clash with police, shout at king’s motorcade

Hundreds of Thai protesters scuffled with police throwing blue paint at officers and shouting at the royal motorcade of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, after 21 demonstrators were arrested ahead of new round of anti-government demonstrations on Wednesday. The crowd chanted, “Release our friends!” as the king’s car swept past in a display of dissent towards the monarchy that has no recent precedent in Thailand. Among those taken away during Tuesday’s protests were Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, a protest leader, and Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan, a singer. People who were detained would be charged appropriately, police said. “The protesters may not have observed the law today, so police had to act to bring order and didn’t act disproportionately,” government spokesperson Anucha Burapachai told Reuters News Agency. The protests, which have persisted for three months, present the biggest challenge in years to a political establishment dominated by the army and the palace. style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; left: 0;">