Police in Thailand have emphasized the necessity of retaining public safety by using force against protesters defying a ban against social gatherings.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Police confronted the protesters in the capital Bangkok on Tuesday, as they gathered to demand the resignation of the prime minister for allegedly imposing restrictions infringing upon their democratic rights, while failing to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
“Police decided to use tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets because we considered that if we don’t, there will be more damage,” Bangkok police chief Pakapong Pongpetra told reporters.<\/p>\n
Nine police officers were injured in the clashes — one of them was shot in the leg — while the others were hurt by firecrackers, rocks and shrapnel from improvised explosive devices, and at least two police traffic boxes were torched, according to police reports.<\/p>\n
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