Thai protesters reach parliament gates, end rally

Protesters were sprayed by a water cannon near the gate of Thailand's Parliament on Tuesday night as lawmakers considered proposals to amend the constitution. Organizers of the student-led pro-democracy movement, which supports substantial changes to the constitution, said that the protesters surrounded the building in a show of strength.

During the evening protest, the demonstrators breached a barricade and approached Parliament, prompting police officers to use the water cannon to disperse the protesters. The student-led movement has staged mass rallies around the country for months and has called for substantial changes to the constitution and reforms to the monarchy. The Parliamentary session is an effort by the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to take the initiative away from the ongoing pro-democracy movement. The protesters have alleged that Prayuth was returned to power unfairly in last year’s election because laws had been changed to favor a pro-military party. The protesters have also said that the constitution, written and enacted under military rule, is undemocratic. Another rally was scheduled to be held in Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon.