Water cannon used on protesters demanding reform

(8 Nov 2020) Thai police blasted student protesters with water cannon outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Sunday, to stop them delivering boxes of letters addressed to the King, demanding reform of the powerful monarchy. The vehicles sprayed protesters after the demonstrators began rolling away a line of buses that had been placed across their path. After a momentary panic and a hasty retreat, many of the protesters – mostly students – rushed forward again undeterred. Exactly a week ago, just metres away, King Maha Vajiralongkorn had suggested some way forward may be possible in the increasingly tense situation, triggered by the students' unprecedented demands. "Thailand is the land of compromise" he said, when unexpectedly put on the spot by a British TV reporter. The demonstrators had earlier gathered in their several thousands at an iconic monument, close by, on Sunday, before making their move towards the Grand Palace. They handed out pens, paper and envelopes for people to write the letters, and provided large red mobile post boxes for them to symbolically send them to King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...