Thailand protests prompt 'serious emergency' decree banning crowds
Thai authorities declared a state of "severe" emergency in Bangkok early on Thursday and cleared thousands of demonstrators who had surrounded the seat of the government, in a dramatic shift in approach after months of youth-led protests.
The emergency decree, which bans gatherings of more than four people, took effect at 4 a.m.
"It is very important to have urgent measures to fix this and halt this conduct effectively so the law is respected and the public is in order," said the announcement. The message was published under the name of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
