5 protesters injured in clashes with police near APEC summit venue in Bangkok

ANKARA (AA) – At least five pro-democracy protesters were injured on Friday in a clash with police in Thailand's capital Bangkok, near the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which began earlier that day.

Police spokesman Major General Achayon Kraithong accused protesters of assaulting riot police and throwing stones, injuring at least five cops, according to the Bangkok Post. At least eight protesters were arrested during the demonstration.

The group calling itself “Citizens Stop Apec 2022’’ held the rally and tried to reach the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, the APEC summit venue, the daily added.

The situation became tense when protesters attempted to reach the APEC summit venue, despite the deployment of thousands of police and army personnel to protect the main leadership from China, the US, France, Australia, Japan, and other APEC member nations who are in the city for the two-day event.

Despite police warnings, angry demonstrators continued their march, causing clashes and prompting police to use rubber bullets to disperse them.

According to the South China Morning Post daily, nearly 300 people protested the country's "Bio-Circular Green" (BCG) Economic policy and the government, which they claimed was installed with the support of the Thai army.

They were urging that APEC leaders not legitimize the current government of Prayuth Chan-ocha and accusing him of policies that they claimed only benefited his relatives in Thailand, the daily said.

Protesters also urged APEC leaders not to back BCG policies.

BCG's economic policy encompasses three different models, the bio-economy, the circular economy, and the green economy, focusing on renewable, biological, and natural resources to create a sustainable economy.

Thailand is expected to be supported by global actors and business people with an agreement within the scope of the APEC summit for the BCG economic policy, which is expected to constitute 24% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in five years. It is expected that if global actors and investors back BCG, the government will gain more power.