Campaigners in Thailand call for end to law prohibiting defamation of monarchy

Anti-government protesters participate in a rally in Bangkok (Surat Suppakun/AP)

Pro-democracy activists in Thailand announced a campaign to gather one million signatures to support the abolition of the law that makes defaming the monarchy a crime.

About 3,000 people turned out in central Bangkok for a rally urging the end of the lese majeste law, also known as Article 112,- which makes even constructive criticism of the royal institution risky.