What happened?
How did the conflict shift abruptly from tear gas, rubber bullets and other projectiles to hugs and rose-giving? Some of the answers are starting to emerge.
How did the conflict shift abruptly from tear gas, rubber bullets and other projectiles to hugs and rose-giving? Some of the answers are starting to emerge.
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In a scene almost unthinkable a few hours before, a policeman hugs two protesters. CHANAT KATANYU
If you want to catch up on what has happened over the past few days, here is our coverage which includes dozens of photos from our Bangkok Post photographers:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382962/crunch-time-day-two
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382687/crunch-time-day-one
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382533/final-confrontation
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382260/protests-no-end-in-sight
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382098/where-are-we-and-what-next
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/381919/protests-not-over-yet
All of a sudden, protesters realised police were removing the barbed wire and barriers they had reinforced overnight. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH
Police let up defences for HM birthday celebrations
Wassayos Ngamkham
Aekarach Sattaburuth
The upcoming celebrations for His Majesty the King's birthday are behind the Metropolitan Police Bureau's (MPB) decision to allow anti-government protesters into their headquarters and Government House.
A Pheu Thai Party source on Monday night said the government negotiated with protest leaders to end clashes between demonstrators and riot police, with the military acting as mediator.
The military asked the government to allow protesters inside MPB headquarters and Government House as a symbolic gesture to end the violence, the source added.
As their fellow protesters stream on to the Government House lawn, this group poses for, of course, a group photo. CHANAT KATANYU
The military was keen to avoid clashes during the King's birthday tomorrow.
At the height of Monday's clashes, a tear gas canister landed in the compound of Suan Kularp Palace, near the MPB's head office, Daily News online reported.
Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit said he had been summoned for an audience with a royal family member at the palace. He was told Thais must not fight each other.
Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit stressed the importance of showing loyalty to the royal family.
He added that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will return to Thailand today from an overseas trip.
An MPB source said senior police agreed that enforcing heavy-handed measures to deal with the protesters could worsen the situation with the crackdowns on the red-shirt protesters during the 2010 political unrest serving as a reminder.
"The conflict has resulted from politics, so it must be resolved through political means. We have taken the wrong path.
"Today, the military are heroes. Thailand must restore its image and let politicians fix the political problems," the source said.
After the tear gas cleared and riot police backed off, it was clear why both sides were so determined to control the Chamai Maruchet bridge. That is Government House in the distance. CHANAT KATANYU
The decision to allow protesters into the MPB compound and Government House was a joint one, reached at a meeting between senior police officers. It was not made solely by national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew.
Deputy national police chief Woraphong Chiewpreecha confirmed the clashes between riot police and protesters at Orathai bridge on Monday night led to the MPB's decision to end their resistance to the protesters.
The scene near the Orathai bridge yesterday morning after heavy fighting the night before. SEKSAN ROJJANAMETAKUL
Early yesterday after the clashes, police found firearms at the site, he said. In light of this, the MPB feared that if police had continued to block demonstrators, a "third group" could have exploited the opportunity to instigate violence, which would have resulted in more deaths and injuries, Pol Gen Woraphong said.
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