Thai police use water cannon on protesters

Thai police use water cannon on protesters

Despite a burst of water cannon and a police blockade, thousands of Thai protesters marched to the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Sunday (November 8) to demand curbs to King Maha Vajiralongkorn's powers and the removal of the government.

Libby Hogan reports.

Chanting "slave to dictatorship" people in Thailand marched to the Grand Palace in the capital Bangkok on Sunday (November 8).

More than 10,000 protesters spilled onto the streets, according to Reuters estimates, although police put the number at 7,000.

It's the latest in months of protests demanding curbs to the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn that have also called for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to step down.

At one point the police fired off water cannon, the second time its been used since July when the rallies began.

It was a shock to those on the front line like protest leader Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon.

"It's not right to use water cannon with protesters who have a different stand and political views." But police said it was fired only as a warning.

A police van was jolted around by protesters, as throngs of people marched linking arms. Some protesters also wrote letters, addressed to the King and left them near the palace.

The protesters called for reversing the changes the King made shortly after taking the throne, which included taking personal control of the palace fortune and some army units.

They say the monarchy has helped enable decades of military domination in Thailand.

"We (protesters) are marching to a royal household because we want the king to know what the people want from him.

The reason we are here today is because we want to communicate with him." The Palace hasn't commented on the protests since they first began.

But the King said a week ago that the protesters were still loved and that Thailand was quote "a land of compromise."