News That Matters To You! Headlines U.S. World Business Markets Technology Sports Entertainment Health Science Politics Thai protests ease as police lift key barricades By TODD PITMAN and JINDA WEDEL Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) -- Anti-government protesters swarmed into the Thai prime ministers office compound Tuesday as police stood by and watched, allowing them to claim a symbolic victory after three days of bitter clashes. Hundreds of protesters poured onto the lawn of Government House, waving Thai flags and blowing whistles to celebrate a symbolic victory. The unexpected reversal of strategy by the government suggests it no longer wants to confront the protesters and was willing to compromise to ease tensions ahead of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadejs 86th birthday Thursday. After bitterly resisting protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets since Saturday, police lounged on sidewalks as protesters removed the barriers on a road leading to the prime ministers office and walked through. Earlier Tuesday, Police used cranes to remove concrete slabs and barbed wire barricades on a nearby road leading to the police headquarters after agreeing to let the protesters into the building. It had been widely expected that some kind of an understanding would be reached to allow the protests to pause for King Bhumibol Adulyadejs birthday on Thursday. The king is highly revered by all Thais and is seen as the sole uniting figure in the country. Government officials did not comment on the developments, and it was not clear if this would provide more than a lull to the violence and the crippling political deadlock that is undermining Thailands democracy, economy and tourism. The protesters, mostly middle-class Bangkok supporters of the opposition Democrat Party, accuse Yingluck of being a proxy for her elder brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was deposed in a 2006 military coup but remains central to Thailands political crisis, and is a focal point for the protesters hatred. ©2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Terms under which this site is provided. Learn more about our Privacy Policy . #News #Headlines #Breakingnews
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:18:35 +0000
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