Transit shutdowns fail to deter Thai pro-democracy protests - The Associated Press

Unlike protests a day earlier, in which police used a water cannon to disperse protesters, Saturday’s demonstrations were peaceful, with no reports of any clashes by the time participants started heading home in the evening.

The protesters are calling for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to leave office, the constitution to be amended to make it more democratic and the nation’s monarchy to undergo reform.

Protesters began dispersing at 8 p.m., the time organizers had said the protests would end.

A 20-year-old student who used the name Ryo said Friday night’s events had hardened his resistance.

The protesters have been doing their best to elude the authorities, using social media to assemble followers before police have time to block them.

The protesters charge that Prayuth, who as army commander led a 2014 coup that toppled an elected government, was returned to power unfairly in last year’s general election because laws had been changed to favor a pro-military party.