Thousands of protesters gathered in Bangkok’s central shopping district Sunday after the prime minister ignored a “deadline” from the movement to resign. Last week, largely student-led protests demanded that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha, who seized power in a 2014 coup, resign by Saturday evening. As the deadline came and went, protesters returned to the Ratchaprasong intersection to demand his ouster. Renewed protests come ahead of a special parliamentary session Monday, which is aimed at easing political tensions amid the ongoing protests.Thai Protest Leader: ‘Our Demands Are Supremely Clear’Parliament to hold special session after protesters call for removal of prime minister, a new constitution and reform of monarchyPrayuth has described the special session as a step toward finding a “middle-of-the-road path. In addition to changes to the constitution, demonstrators are seeking to reduce the influence of the Thai monarchy.  The institution maintains a divine-like status among Thailand’s elite, and is protected by strict “lese majeste” laws that allow for imprisonment of anyone convicted of insulting the monarchy.  
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