Hundreds of protesters on Sunday (May 22) marked the second anniversary of Thailand's latest coup with song, dance, speeches and pro-democracy banners, in the largest show of dissent since the military toppled an elected government.

Under the watch of dozens of police officers, activists young and old gathered peacefully at Bangkok's Democracy Monument as discontent with the junta resurfaces after two years of relative quiet enforced by the army.

Since their May 22, 2014 power grab, the military has banned all political protest and ramped up prosecutions under draconian sedition and royal defamation laws.

But unhappiness with the coup-makers has mounted across the deep political divide as the economy continues to struggle.

"Today is another year we are standing here to make our voices heard louder to the people that administer this country and who we do not accept," student leader Rangsiman Rome told AFP.

But with the military firmly in control of the country, there is no immediate sense of a return to the mass demonstrations that marked Thailand's turbulent last decade.

Earlier Yingluck Shinawatra, whose government was ousted by the military's 12th successful putsch since 1932, said the country was "suffering" under army rule.

"Today is the 2nd anniversary of the coup d'etat that removed my government from office," Yingluck said in a Facebook post uploaded Sunday morning.

"It was the day that the people's rights and freedom were taken away." Yingluck was Thailand's first female prime minister and the sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was also toppled in a 2006 coup backed by the royalist establishment.

They despise the clan, accusing Thaksin of poisoning the country with populist and corrupt policies.

But the Shinawatras remain wildly popular among Thailand's rural and urban working class, especially in the north and east, who praise the family for improving the lot of the poor after decades of neglect by a Bangkok-based elite.

Former army chief turned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha says the coup was necessary to end more than a decade of political chaos and street protests.

But critics say the takeover was simply the latest attempt to ensure the Shinawatras are excluded from power.

In her statement, Yingluck said Thais are "suffering" as the economy limps along and questioned whether the junta had made good on a vow to heal the political divide.

A Thai court found Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra guilty on Wednesday of violating the constitution and said she could no longer serve as caretaker premier,

Thailand Charter Court dismisses Yingluck and nine cabinet members from office.

Transfer of Thawil Pliensri from the post of National Security Council chief was unlawful, unconstitutional and unethical, said the court. Yingluck had replaced him with a relative.

The transfer of Thawil Pliensri from the post of National Security Council chief was unlawful, unconstitutional and unethical, said the court.

The Cabinet appointed Deputy Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan the new caretaker prime minister on May 7.

The Cabinet appointed Deputy Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan the new caretaker prime minister on May 7.

The Cabinet appointed Deputy Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan the new caretaker prime minister on May 7.

Judges delivering the verdict said Yingluck had abused her position by transferring the country's National Security Council chief to another post so that a relative could benefit from related job moves.

It was unclear whether Yingluck's cabinet, or cabinet members at the time of the transfer in 2011, would have to step down along with her.

Yingluck's removal is likely to bring her supporters into the streets in protest.

Thailand's Charter Court dismisses Yingluck and nine cabinet members from office

Anti-government protesters accuse Yingluck's government of wasting thousands of millions of Thai Baht on a failed general election in February.

The Court dismissed caretaker PM Yingluck from office, ruling that she abused her power by transferring National Security Council Thawil Pliensri.

Members of the "Volunteers' Ward to protect the Nation's Democracy" group hold pictures of Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2013.

A red shirt protester shout slogans in support of Thailand's first female PM, Yingluck Shinawatra, outside the Parliament in Bangkok, August 23, 2011.

Thailand's first female Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra waves on a boat as she inspects flood affected areas in Sukhothai province, northern Thailand, August 13, 2011

The court dismissed caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck and nine Cabinet ministers from office, ruling that they had abused power by transferring National Security Council Thawil Pliensri.

Pro-government supporters greet Yingluck in Bangkok on May 7.

Pro-government supporters greet Yingluck in Bangkok on May 7.

Jubilation at the opposition camp of anti-government protesters led by former DPM Suthep as they march through Bangkok on May 7.

Jubilation at the opposition camp of anti-government protesters as they march through Bangkok on May 7.

Jubilation at the opposition camp of anti-government protesters as they march through Bangkok on May 7.

Jubilation at the opposition camp of anti-government protesters as they march through Bangkok on May 7.

Jubilation at the opposition camp of anti-government protesters as they march through Bangkok on May 7.

Thailand's opposition leader and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had asked PM Yingluck to step down to pave the way for reforms.

Thailand's opposition leader and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had asked PM Yingluck to step down to pave the way for reforms.

Thailand's opposition leader and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had asked PM Yingluck to step down to pave the way for reforms.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep, leader of the anti-government protesters, had asked Yingluck to step down repeatedly.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep, leader of the anti-government protesters, had asked Yingluck to step down repeatedly.

Anti-government protesters' tents are set up inside Lumpini Park, the main protest site in Bangkok in this photo taken on March 4, 2014.

Anti-government protests have been raging on in Bangkok for months, demanding that the Yingluck administration steps down to pave the way for reforms and a new government.

Anti-government protesters pressed on with their demands for reform and ouster of the Thaksin clans for six months.

Farmers dumped a pile of rice during a rally to demand the Yingluck administration resolve delays in payment from the rice pledging scheme, outside a Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Bangkok in March, 2014.

Farmers dumped a pile of rice during a rally to demand the Yingluck administration resolve delays in payment from the rice pledging scheme, outside a Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Bangkok in March, 2014.

Farmers dumped a pile of rice during a rally to demand the Yingluck administration resolve delays in payment from the rice pledging scheme, outside a Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Bangkok in March, 2014.

Farmers dumped a pile of rice during a rally to demand the Yingluck administration resolve delays in payment from the rice pledging scheme, outside a Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Bangkok in March, 2014.

Will former PM Yingluck flee Thailand like her fugitive brother Thaksin?