Protest leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak (with crown) shows the three-finger salute during a demonstration to mark the 89th anniversary of the abolition of absolute monarchy in Bangkok, Thailand, June 24, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Hundreds of Thai pro-democracy protesters took to the streets on Thursday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and constitutional changes that would curb the influence of the country's powerful monarchy.
The rally, which defied a ban on public gatherings due to the pandemic, comes as Prayuth's government faces public criticism over its handling of coronavirus outbreaks, a slow economic recovery and a vaccine policy that involves a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
