Thai police push back protesters at vigil for dead youth

Thai police pushed back pro-democracy supporters who had gathered at a Bangkok police station on Friday to hold a candlelit vigil for a young activist who died a day earlier. Wait Somnoi, 15, had been in a coma since August, caused by a gunshot wound that left a bullet lodged close to his brain.

Around 50 police holding riot shields cleared out about one hundred protesters who had gathered at the Din Daeng police station in the center of the Southeast Asian country's capital, where activists had gathered to lay flowers and candles on Friday. A nearby intersection had become a flashpoint between protesters and security forces. Clashes between demonstrators and the authorities have often resulted in violence, with activists throwing rocks, and police using water cannons and firing rubber bullets.

Thai police have said they do not use real guns. Demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha have recently escalated over his management of the coronavirus and the economy.

Pro-democracy demonstrators plan another gathering this weekend, ahead of Thailand's Nov. 1 reopening which will waive quarantine for vaccinated tourists from over 40 countries, after nearly 19 months of strict entry restrictions. "Those who have come out to create violence, please don't do that" Prime Minister Prayuth said on Friday. "Tourists will be worried and won't come".

"These images go to other countries".

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)