Thai police use tear gas against anti-government protesters

Riot police launch tear gas to protesters marching to Government House in Bangkok, Thailand (Anuthep Cheysakron/AP)

Thai police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons on Sunday to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters who held a rally in Bangkok, despite coronavirus restrictions banning gatherings of more than five people.

The demonstrators were demanding prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government step down, insisting the budget of the monarchy and the military be cut during the pandemic, and calling for the importing of mRNA coronavirus vaccines that have yet to be brought to Thailand on a large scale to fight a growing surge of the virus.