The Thai Supreme Administrative Court has overturned a lower court’s decision and agreed to deliberate a case regarding the police crackdown on a 2020 protest.

According to iLaw, the Supreme Administrative Court decided to accept the case concerning the police crackdown during a 17 November 2020 protest in front of the parliament building.

The Court judges found that the case involved a dispute over wrongful acts committed by state officials regarding the exercise of their authority under the Thai administrative law, and that the case was under the Administrative Court’s jurisdiction. The Supreme Administrative Court therefore reversed the earlier decision of the Administrative Court of First Instance which had dismissed the case.

The complaint requested the Court to order the Royal Thai Police to provide compensation for damages, and order high-ranking police officials to cease excessive use of force against protesters. In addition, the authorities were also requested to comply with their duties under the Public Assembly Act and public assembly management plans, implement proper measures to prevent clashes between opposing protest groups, and prepare medical units.

On 17 November 2020, protesters gathered on the streets in front of the parliament building to demand constitutional amendments. At the time, senators and members of parliament were discussing seven proposals for constitutional amendments.

Police water cannon began firing at protesters at around 14.00, an hour before the scheduled start of the protest, as announced by the student activist group Free Youth. The police reportedly warned protesters beforehand that they would fire a warning shot, and made an announcement while they were counting down that they had mixed a chemical irritant into the water.

At 16.00, on Samsen Road, in front of the Boon Rawd Brewery Co, Ltd, the police fired water cannon and tear gas at the protesters again, while protesters at the Kiak Kai intersection brought in the giant inflatable ducks, nicknamed “the navy” and previously intended as a mockery of the government, to be used as shields against the water cannon.

At 19.44, after almost 6 hours of struggle, during which the police continuously fired water cannon and tear gas at protesters at both the Bang Krabue and Kiak Kai intersections, protesters broke through the police barricade at the Bang Krabue intersection, while protesters had already broken through at the Kiak Kai intersection.

At 20.50, the protesters arrived in front of the parliament building, while police retreated inside the parliament compound.

There were reports of more than 10 waves of tear gas being used on protesters both in canister form and from the water cannon. It was also reported that gunshots and explosions were heard during a clash between pro-monarchy protesters in yellow and the pro-democracy guards.