Thai protest leaders detained ahead of planned “car mob” rally

Thai authorities have detained at least 11 leaders of the country’s anti-government protest movement and deployed hundreds of police ahead of a planned demonstration on Tuesday involving a convoy of cars congregating in the centre of Bangkok. Thailand’s youth-led protest movement has seen a recent resurgence over anger about the government’s handling of the pandemic after demonstrations last year attracted hundreds of thousands of people before a crackdown by authorities. The protesters have also broken traditional taboos by demanding reform of the monarchy, risking prosecution under a lese majeste law that make insulting or defaming the king, queen, heir and regent punishable by up to 15 years in prison.