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| - Thousands of democracy activists blocked a major junction in Bangkok for several hours on Friday to rehearse "coup prevention" strategies in the latest round of Thailand's anti-government protests. The country has for months been rocked by youth-led protests demanding a new constitution, reform of the untouchable monarchy, and for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha to resign. Prayut, who came to power in a 2014 coup, this week played down the prospects of being overthrown or introducing martial law. Inflatable Santa Claus figures joined the bright yellow rubber ducks that have become a symbol of the movement as some 5,000 demonstrators massed in the shadow of a motorway flyover in the north of the capital. Natalie, a 32-year-old Bangkok office worker, said the last coup was disastrous for Thailand and warned the country shouldn't go down that path again. "Now is a crisis time in Bangkok and Thailand. I want new elections and to change the prime minister and for a new government to actually listen to the people," she told AFP. As part of what they called "coup prevention" drills, protesters passed an armada of the pool toy ducks over their heads, to represent the military passing over the people to take the front row of Thai politics. Another group paraded portraits of generals who had led past coups before ritually burning them. After speeches from protest leaders, the crowds dispersed around 10:30pm (1530 GMT). Army Chief Narongphan Jittkaewtae has rejected coup rumours, saying the chance of another putsch was "less than zero". Political scientist Titipol Phakdeewanich from Ubon Ratchathani University believes another coup is unlikely at present. "I don't think he will be ousted because he still has strong support from conservatives... and big businesses," he told AFP. But in a country that has seen a dozen coups since it became a democracy in 1932, the current round of protests, which began in July, has fuelled rumours another could be looming. The movement has broken new ground for Thai political activism by demanding changes to the monarchy, a once-revered institution which some in the kingdom are beginning to question. A major rally on Wednesday targeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn's huge wealth, demanding more transparency about his financial arrangements. The king is protected by some of the world's toughest lese majeste laws and earlier this week 12 protest leaders were summoned for police questioning on royal defamation allegations. One of the 12, Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul, urged the crowd to remain defiant despite the threat of prosecution. "I want to ask those who issued the summons -- do you think we will be afraid, and will stop raising our voices?" Rung said. Next week a constitutional court in Bangkok will rule on whether Prayut has broken rules by living in an army house, despite the fact the former general is no longer in the military's top brass. Losing the case could see Prayut forced out of office. ask-lpm-pdw/st
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