<p>Thousands of Thai protesters demanding the prime minister's resignation rallied overnight outside his office in Bangkok on Thursday after scuffling with royalists opposed to the youth-led movement's calls for reforms to the monarchy.</p>.<p>Student activists have staged huge demonstrations in recent months calling for Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former army chief who took power in a coup six years ago, to step down.</p>.<p>But some protesters have also demanded reforms to the country's powerful monarchy -- a move that has prompted a backlash from Thailand's staunchly pro-royalist establishment.</p>.<p>Tensions flared near the capital's Democracy Monument ahead of a scheduled afternoon drive-by of a royal motorcade carrying King Maha Vajiralongkorn.</p>.<p>Yellow-clad royalists arrived at the venue in numbers to rival the anti-government protesters, forcing police to erect barriers and roadblocks to keep them apart.</p>.<p>More than 15,000 police were deployed.</p>.<p>Organisers of the anti-government rally warned supporters not to provoke their opponents.</p>.<p>"There will be provocations from the other side so please trust in me -- we don't want to clash with anyone," said Anon Numpa, a prominent activist.</p>.<p>"When the royal motorcade arrives, don't utter swear words."</p>.<p>Police had cordoned off most of the anti-government protesters away from the royal route, but dozens were still present as the motorcade drove by.</p>.<p>Queen Suthida could be seen staring from a limousine window as protesters held up three-fingered salutes -- a gesture of defiance the pro-democracy movement has borrowed from the popular "Hunger Games" films.</p>.<p>Such overt challenges to the monarchy are unprecedented in Thailand, where the royal family's influence permeates every aspect of society.</p>.<p>"The monarchy has been around more than 700 years," said Sirilak Kasemsawat, one of the thousands of royal supporters waiting "to show we love the king".</p>.<p>Brief scuffles with royalists broke out as anti-government protesters made their way to Government House, which was quickly stopped by police intervening.</p>.<p>Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri announced late Wednesday the premier had ordered police to press charges against "the protesters who obstructed the royal motorcade".</p>.<p>Charges will also be pursued against "those who had acted in a way that defames the monarchy," he said in a statement.</p>.<p>"They must face legal procedures without exception."</p>.<p>Despite warnings from police to disperse from the Government House after 10 pm (1700 GMT), some camped outside to support the activists, who set up a stage nearby to continue calling for Prayut to "get out".</p>.<p>Organiser Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree also reiterated the need for a rewrite of a 2017 military-scripted constitution.</p>.<p>"The new constitution must bring Thailand to a democratic system with the monarchy institution truly governed under it," said the prominent leader.</p>.<p>Several popular anti-government movements have arisen in the turbulent modern history of Thailand, which has endured long bouts of political unrest and more than a dozen successful military coups since 1932.</p>.<p>The army has long positioned itself as the sole defender of the ultra-wealthy king, whose power stretches across every facet of Thai society.</p>.<p>Activists have repeatedly said they wish only for the monarchy to adapt to modern times.</p>.<p>Their demands include the abolition of a strict royal defamation law -- which shields the king from criticism -- and for the monarch to stay out of politics.</p>.<p>"We're just asking them to change with us," protester Dear Thatcha told AFP.</p>.<p>Wednesday's demonstration was intended to commemorate the 47th anniversary of a 1973 student uprising that saw 77 people killed.</p>.<p>"This could be the last fight for Thailand's democracy," said 18-year-old Attaporn, who travelled from the kingdom's northern Pichit province to join the rally.</p>.<p>"I have to do this if I want a better future."</p>.<p>The day before, nearly two dozen activists were arrested after rallying around the Democracy Monument.</p>.<p>They were charged were obstructing police and "causing disorder" while one prominent leader, Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, saw an additional charge of sedition for his participation in a previous protest, his lawyer said.</p>.<p>Only one -- a minor -- was released on bail.</p>.<p>Since the movement started in July, dozens of anti-government activists have been arrested, charged with sedition and released on bail.</p>.<p>This "grinding confrontation" is likely to continue for some time to come, said political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University.</p>.<p>But he added that the student-led movement appeared disorganised and was struggling to articulate a clear and singular objective.</p>.<p>"The protest movement requires more time and public persuasion that reform and change are needed," he told AFP.</p>
<p>Thousands of Thai protesters demanding the prime minister's resignation rallied overnight outside his office in Bangkok on Thursday after scuffling with royalists opposed to the youth-led movement's calls for reforms to the monarchy.</p>.<p>Student activists have staged huge demonstrations in recent months calling for Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former army chief who took power in a coup six years ago, to step down.</p>.<p>But some protesters have also demanded reforms to the country's powerful monarchy -- a move that has prompted a backlash from Thailand's staunchly pro-royalist establishment.</p>.<p>Tensions flared near the capital's Democracy Monument ahead of a scheduled afternoon drive-by of a royal motorcade carrying King Maha Vajiralongkorn.</p>.<p>Yellow-clad royalists arrived at the venue in numbers to rival the anti-government protesters, forcing police to erect barriers and roadblocks to keep them apart.</p>.<p>More than 15,000 police were deployed.</p>.<p>Organisers of the anti-government rally warned supporters not to provoke their opponents.</p>.<p>"There will be provocations from the other side so please trust in me -- we don't want to clash with anyone," said Anon Numpa, a prominent activist.</p>.<p>"When the royal motorcade arrives, don't utter swear words."</p>.<p>Police had cordoned off most of the anti-government protesters away from the royal route, but dozens were still present as the motorcade drove by.</p>.<p>Queen Suthida could be seen staring from a limousine window as protesters held up three-fingered salutes -- a gesture of defiance the pro-democracy movement has borrowed from the popular "Hunger Games" films.</p>.<p>Such overt challenges to the monarchy are unprecedented in Thailand, where the royal family's influence permeates every aspect of society.</p>.<p>"The monarchy has been around more than 700 years," said Sirilak Kasemsawat, one of the thousands of royal supporters waiting "to show we love the king".</p>.<p>Brief scuffles with royalists broke out as anti-government protesters made their way to Government House, which was quickly stopped by police intervening.</p>.<p>Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri announced late Wednesday the premier had ordered police to press charges against "the protesters who obstructed the royal motorcade".</p>.<p>Charges will also be pursued against "those who had acted in a way that defames the monarchy," he said in a statement.</p>.<p>"They must face legal procedures without exception."</p>.<p>Despite warnings from police to disperse from the Government House after 10 pm (1700 GMT), some camped outside to support the activists, who set up a stage nearby to continue calling for Prayut to "get out".</p>.<p>Organiser Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree also reiterated the need for a rewrite of a 2017 military-scripted constitution.</p>.<p>"The new constitution must bring Thailand to a democratic system with the monarchy institution truly governed under it," said the prominent leader.</p>.<p>Several popular anti-government movements have arisen in the turbulent modern history of Thailand, which has endured long bouts of political unrest and more than a dozen successful military coups since 1932.</p>.<p>The army has long positioned itself as the sole defender of the ultra-wealthy king, whose power stretches across every facet of Thai society.</p>.<p>Activists have repeatedly said they wish only for the monarchy to adapt to modern times.</p>.<p>Their demands include the abolition of a strict royal defamation law -- which shields the king from criticism -- and for the monarch to stay out of politics.</p>.<p>"We're just asking them to change with us," protester Dear Thatcha told AFP.</p>.<p>Wednesday's demonstration was intended to commemorate the 47th anniversary of a 1973 student uprising that saw 77 people killed.</p>.<p>"This could be the last fight for Thailand's democracy," said 18-year-old Attaporn, who travelled from the kingdom's northern Pichit province to join the rally.</p>.<p>"I have to do this if I want a better future."</p>.<p>The day before, nearly two dozen activists were arrested after rallying around the Democracy Monument.</p>.<p>They were charged were obstructing police and "causing disorder" while one prominent leader, Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, saw an additional charge of sedition for his participation in a previous protest, his lawyer said.</p>.<p>Only one -- a minor -- was released on bail.</p>.<p>Since the movement started in July, dozens of anti-government activists have been arrested, charged with sedition and released on bail.</p>.<p>This "grinding confrontation" is likely to continue for some time to come, said political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University.</p>.<p>But he added that the student-led movement appeared disorganised and was struggling to articulate a clear and singular objective.</p>.<p>"The protest movement requires more time and public persuasion that reform and change are needed," he told AFP.</p>