Thailand has taken some steps toward democracy. But a flurry of court challenges has raised the specter of another crisis — with the lèse-majesté law on royal defamation front and center.

Premier Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power in a coup six years ago, issued a statement addressing months of unrest, promising to use "all" the country's laws to quash the protests.

Riot police in Thailand sought to disperse thousands of protesters, a day after the government officially banned demonstrations calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators ignored the order. They are calling for the resignation of military-backed Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and curbs on the monarchy.

Last week, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul took the stage at a rally to read a manifesto calling for reform of Thailand's politically powerful monarchy — a move that could land her in jail.