Thailand: hundreds stage largest protest since start of military rule

Environmental activists demonstrate against luxury housing project in Chiang Mai

Over a thousand people have gathered in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand to protest against the building of a government luxury housing project on forested land, police have said.

The gathering on Sunday was one of the largest since Thailand's junta took power following a 2014 coup. The junta imposed a ban on public gatherings of over five people and has largely curbed freedom of expression through various orders and used military and police forces to block public gatherings.