BANGKOK: Tens of thousands of Thai pro-democracy protesters rallied across Bangkok on Saturday, defying an emergency decree banning gatherings for a third consecutive day to demand the resignation of the prime minister and reform of the powerful monarchy.

Police had used water cannon against peaceful demonstrators on Friday but protestors said they were not cowed by the escalation in tactics.

“I’m concerned for my safety but if I don’t come out, I have no future,” said business student Min, 18, equipped with a helmet and gas mask as she arrived in Bangkok’s northern Lat Phrao district on Saturday, one of several protest venues across the city.

Flooding a massive intersection, protestors raised a three-finger salute adopted from the dystopian “Hunger Games” films as passing vehicles honked in support and flashed a thumbs-up at the mostly black-clad protesters.

Across the Chao Phraya river, thousands rallied in the western Wongwian Yai district chanting “Long live the people, down with dictatorship!”, while in southeastern Udomsuk protesters brought busy traffic to a standstill.

Carrying signs saying “Stop hurting people,” protesters in the three locales numbered in the tens of thousands at the peak, according to reporters on the scene.

But police estimated a far lower turnout, putting the total crowd size at demonstrations across the capital at 16,000. Demonstrations also took place in more than a dozen cities across the country.

For the mostly-young protesters, Friday’s Bangkok crackdown was a big learning curve, said Aim, whose friends were blasted with stinging liquid when police fired water cannon.

“We had no armour, just umbrellas,” said the 25-year-old public servant, grasping a pair of goggles. “I’m ready to fight,” said 20-year-old Tortor, carrying a backpack stuffed with a gas mask.

But unlike the previous day, police did not intervene and the protestors dispersed by 8pm as instructed by organisers, who vowed to “reunite again” on Sunday.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha announced on Friday an emergency decree banning gatherings of more than four people would be imposed for at least a month.

The former army chief, who masterminded a coup in 2014 before being voted into power last year in an election protesters say was rigged in his favour, also rebuffed calls for his resignation.

At least 65 protesters have been arrested since Tuesday, Thai lawyers for Human Rights said Saturday, as authorities escalated a crackdown on months of slowly building unrest.

The latest came Saturday night of prominent activist Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, who was arrested by plainclothes police after he left a rally at a Bangkok university.

Two other activists were arrested Friday under a rarely used law banning “violence against the queen” after they joined a group Wednesday that surrounded a royal motorcade carrying Queen Suthida, flashing a pro-democracy salute as the car drove by.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2020