Thousands of Thai students held a protest against the country's military junta after the banning of a popular opposition party.

Footage shows youngsters from the Chiang Mai University in the north of the country staging a peaceful demonstration yesterday (February 25) evening.

The rally was part of a nationwide series of protests by students angry at the country's ruling military party led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The establishment party has been criticised over a court ruling last Friday which disbanded the popular insurgent Future Forward Party.

The party, lead by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, had strong support from the country's young for its progressive, liberal policies and posed a threat to the country's status quo after coming third in recent elections.

In Bangkok at the prestigious Chulalongkorn and Kasetsart Universities, students listened to speeches and wrote messages denouncing the dissolution of Future Forward Party.

“They called us keyboard trolls, only good at typing keyboards. Today, we have come out to show our strength,” one speaker said.

Another protest at Kasetsart University in northern Bangkok attracted around 1,000 students and supporters where speakers criticised the absence of justice and democracy in the country.

Thailand's military junta banned street protests shortly after it came to power in 2014 and it has criticised the recent gatherings, claiming they could spread the coronavirus.