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Thai police arrest scores as they drive paper-plane protesters away from palace

THAI police arrested scores of protesters and injured dozens as they drove protesters away from the royal palace in Bangkok on Saturday night.

Activists calling for the release of political prisoners and constitutional changes to reduce the power of the monarchy broke through barricades around the Grand Palace carrying paper planes with political messages they intended to launch over the palace walls.

But police loosed water cannon and hails of rubber bullets at them before charging in and arresting large numbers.

Emergency medical service Erawan reported 33 people, including 13 police, had been injured. At least two reporters were hit by rubber bullets.

The protest was organised by the Restart Democracy group, part of a movement for democratic reform that has staged rallies for over a year in protest at the power of the crown and the army. Current Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha seized power in a military coup in 2014.

Thai authorities have handed down severe sentences for protesting and for insulting the monarchy, with 65-year-old woman Anchan Preelert sentenced to 43 years for sharing Facebook posts critical of the monarchy in January.

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