Thailand protests

Thailand has taken some steps toward democracy. But a flurry of court challenges has raised the specter of another crisis — with the lèse-majesté law on royal defamation front and center.

Riot police in Thailand sought to disperse thousands of protesters, a day after the government officially banned demonstrations calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators ignored the order. They are calling for the resignation of military-backed Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and curbs on the monarchy.

Last week, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul took the stage at a rally to read a manifesto calling for reform of Thailand's politically powerful monarchy — a move that could land her in jail.

A few hundred activists from the New Democracy Movement marched through the streets of Bangkok calling for a restoration of elected government.