Although activists remain divided, junta's tolerance is tested
The first signs of serious dissent against Thailand's interim junta have emerged, testing the tolerance of the new army-appointed government.
Pro-democracy protesters, who staged a small rally on Wednesday in a public park, have said that they are determined to continue their campaign, arguing that the military coup was illegal and that Thailand's 1997 constitution should be reinstated.
Protesters wearing black T-shirts with the slogan, 'Listen again closely: a coup is a dictatorship', called for elections to be held immediately and for legal action to be taken against the coup leaders.
About 200 people turned out for the rally, which ran late into the night at Sanam Luang, the scene of mass protests earlier this year against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed on September 19.
Under martial law, which remains in place despite repeated promises to lift it, political gatherings are illegal and news can be blocked by authorities. However, these measures have been applied selectively and some state-run TV channels reported on the rally.
Behind the stirrings of anti-coup sentiment are diverse activist networks that are trying to find common cause. Many are wary of being tagged as proxies for Mr Thaksin, who remains in exile.