Clashes between police, protesters in Bangkok

Protesters engaged in minor scuffles with riot police in Bangkok Wednesday night as pro-democracy rallies continued in the Thai capital.

Prosecutors in Thailand charged four prominent activists with sedition and defaming the monarchy for their protest activities on Tuesday.

The case is the first of numerous ones lodged against participants in the student-led protest movement that is being prosecuted by the attorney general’s office.

It also is the first in which the defendants are expected to spend significant time in jail, as suspects in other cases have usually been released after arrest.

The four -- Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Arnon Nampa, Somyos Prueksakasemsuk and Patiwat Saraiyaem, also known as “Mor Lam Bank” -- were denied bail.

The protest movement campaigned last year for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government to step down, the constitution to be amended to make it more democratic and the monarchy to be reformed to make it more accountable.