Thousands of democracy activists marched on Thailand's police headquarters in Bangkok Wednesday, defacing the compound walls with brightly coloured paint, a day after chaotic protests left more than 50 injured.

The kingdom has been rocked by months of protests demanding constitutional reform, the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha and even changes to the untouchable monarchy.

Thai democracy activists vow to return to the streets after police fired water cannon and tear gas on demonstrators in the most violent clashes seen since the protest movement erupted in July.
Thai democracy activists vow to return to the streets after police fired water cannon and tear gas on demonstrators in the most violent clashes seen since the protest movement erupted in July. AFPTV / Pitcha DANGPRASITH

Protesters -- numbering some 20,000 according to an AFP estimate -- packed a major intersection in the heart of Bangkok's shopping and commercial district, after their leaders vowed to step up the movement.

After daubing anti-royal slogans on walls and the road, they marched on the heavily-defended national police headquarters -- led by a clown and a parade of giant inflatable rubber ducks.

They were accompanied by a Buddhist monk giving the three-fingered salute borrowed from the "Hunger Games" movies that has become emblematic of the youth-led protest movement.

Protesters gathered at the Ratchaprasong junction in Bangkok's shopping and commercial heart, after their leaders vowed to step up the movement
Protesters gathered at the Ratchaprasong junction in Bangkok's shopping and commercial heart, after their leaders vowed to step up the movement AFP / Jack TAYLOR

Some protesters threw glass bottles and paint bombs over the walls of police HQ, which was barricaded with dumper trucks, concrete blocks and razor wire.

Others hurled paint at the outside walls, leaving them plastered with bright yellows and blues, while others used water pistols to squirt paint into the compound.

Thailand has been rocked by months of protests demanding changes to the constitution, the removal the prime minister and even changes to the untouchable monarchy
Thailand has been rocked by months of protests demanding changes to the constitution, the removal the prime minister and even changes to the untouchable monarchy AFP / Jack TAYLOR

Fearing trouble, many protesters came equipped with helmets, goggles and gas masks, but after the impromptu paint job, they dispersed peacefully around 8:30 pm (1330 GMT).

Prominent protest leader Jatupat Boonpattarasaksa called a new rally on November 25 outside the Crown Property Bureau, which manages the hugely wealthy monarchy's estates.

Wednesday's protest came a day after the most violent confrontations since the movement began in July, as police used tear gas and irritant-laced water cannon on protesters trying to reach parliament, and democracy activists clashed with royalists.

A pro-democracy protester walks with an inflatable duck during an anti-government rally in Bangkok on November 18, 2020
A pro-democracy protester walks with an inflatable duck during an anti-government rally in Bangkok on November 18, 2020 AFP / Jack TAYLOR

More than 50 people were injured, six of them with gunshot wounds, according to medical officials, though it is not clear who was responsible for the shooting.

A protesters sprays a word on the paint-splashed sign of the Thai police headquarters in Bangkok
A protesters sprays a word on the paint-splashed sign of the Thai police headquarters in Bangkok AFP / Mladen ANTONOV

Prime Minister Prayut has urged protesters to refrain from violence, but ruled out introducing another emergency decree -- like the one banning public gatherings of more than four people which spanned a week in October.

But there is little sign the demonstrators are prepared to back down.

Map of Thailand locating Bangkok where police fired water cannon and tear gas on pro-democracy protesters on Tuesday.
Map of Thailand locating Bangkok where police fired water cannon and tear gas on pro-democracy protesters on Tuesday. AFP / STAFF

"We should not be afraid -- this is just a transitional moment in our history," Sirapop Poompuengpoot, another student leader, told the crowd Wednesday.

"People are working for us in parliament and the rest is up to us: keep fighting."

Police say they did not fire either live rounds or rubber bullets on Tuesday, and they are investigating who was behind the shootings of six people, which happened about 300 metres (yards) from the main protest zone near parliament.

The Thai Human Rights Lawyers Association slammed police tactics, saying they were "not in accordance with international procedure to disperse demonstrations".

In New York, the United Nations called for authorities to exercise restraint.

"It's very important that the government of Thailand refrain from the use of force and ensure the full protection of all people in Thailand who are exercising a fundamental peaceful right to protest," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The movement has seen calls from some for reform to the monarchy, and on Wednesday protesters sprayed hundreds of anti-royal slogans, some of them obscene.

Such scenes were until recently unthinkable in a country where the king and his family are protected by some of the world's toughest royal defamation laws.

"Tonight is our first victory. A victory for freedom of speech. We can speak about everything, and write anything, even about our king," protester Luke, 29, told AFP.

"I am really happy. I did not think this will happen in my country."

King Maha Vajiralongkorn sits at the apex of Thai power, supported by the military and the kingdom's billionaire clans, and the royal family enjoys support from mostly older conservatives.

On Wednesday they agreed to look at two proposals for a "constitutional drafting assembly", while rejecting more far-reaching bills to revise the role of the royals and change the makeup of the senate.

Thailand