This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/03/bangkok-protests-truce-police-roses-hugs

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Bangkok truce as police swap teargas for red roses Bangkok truce as police swap teargas for red roses
(35 minutes later)
In a surreal turn of events, after days of fighting that left at least five dead and hundreds more injured, Thai police swapped teargas and water cannons for hugs and red roses in Bangkok on Tuesday as the embattled government opened its doors to protesters in a possible truce.In a surreal turn of events, after days of fighting that left at least five dead and hundreds more injured, Thai police swapped teargas and water cannons for hugs and red roses in Bangkok on Tuesday as the embattled government opened its doors to protesters in a possible truce.
The largely tactical move was seen as an attempt to defuse political tensions ahead of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 86th birthday on Thursday. But protest leaders said the peace was only temporary, and that fighting would carry on "as long as it takes" until the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, and her government are ousted from power.The largely tactical move was seen as an attempt to defuse political tensions ahead of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 86th birthday on Thursday. But protest leaders said the peace was only temporary, and that fighting would carry on "as long as it takes" until the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, and her government are ousted from power.
After a night of fighting between demonstrators and police in which rubbish trucks and bulldozers were rammed into barriers and fireworks and rockets were fired at officers, the mood on Tuesday had turned to jubilant. After a night of fighting between demonstrators and police in which rubbish trucks and bulldozers were rammed into barriers and fireworks and rockets were fired at officers, the mood in the capital on Tuesday had turned to jubilant.
Police stood down and dismantled barriers and razor wire, resulting in protesters wandering freely among previously secured buildings and snacking on the lawn of the prime minister's offices. Policemen handed out red roses, posed for photos and sang love songs on ukuleles, while others snoozed in the shade. "We're done here," one policeman said with a smile. "We're going home." Police stood down and dismantled barriers and razor wire, allowing protesters to wander freely among previously secured buildings and to snack on the lawn of the prime minister's offices. Policemen handed out red roses, posed for photos and sang love songs on ukuleles, while others snoozed in the shade. "We're done here," one policeman said with a smile. "We're going home."
Suthep Thaugsuban, the organiser behind the protests that have rocked Bangkok for more than a week, called this only a "partial victory". But Suthep Thaugsuban, the organiser behind the protests that have rocked Bangkok for more than a week, said this was only a "partial victory".
"You cannot go back home yet," he told protesters at a rally. "We must continue our struggle.""You cannot go back home yet," he told protesters at a rally. "We must continue our struggle."
Suthep, along with his Civil Movement for Democracy, aims to remove Yingluck's democratically elected government and install a "people's council" of unelected representatives, with the king – seen as the single unifying force in the country – serving as head of state.Suthep, along with his Civil Movement for Democracy, aims to remove Yingluck's democratically elected government and install a "people's council" of unelected representatives, with the king – seen as the single unifying force in the country – serving as head of state.
Protesters view Yingluck as a puppet of her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, the former PM who was ousted in 2006 from his post in a military coup. He now lives in Dubai in self-imposed exile to avoid a corruption conviction which he claims is politically motivated. Protesters view Yingluck as a puppet of her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, the former PM who was ousted in 2006 in a military coup. He now lives in Dubai in self-imposed exile to avoid a corruption conviction that he claims is politically motivated.
Angered by an amnesty bill which would have allowed Thaksin to return and quashed his corruption conviction, protesters rallied in their thousands to call for an end to the "Thaksin regime", although their numbers have dwindled as the days have worn on. Angered by an amnesty bill that would have allowed Thaksin to return and quashed his corruption conviction, protesters rallied in their thousands to call for an end to the "Thaksin regime", although their numbers have dwindled as the days have worn on.
Suthep, a former lawmaker in the opposition Democrat party who served as deputy premier in the last government, has planned further rallies on Wednesday and told the Guardian that full demonstrations would resume after the king's birthday, only ending "when we reach our goals". Suthep, a former lawmaker in the opposition Democrat party who served as deputy premier in the last government, has plans for further rallies on Wednesday and said full demonstrations would resume after the king's birthday, only ending "when we reach our goals".
"This isn't about political parties, it's about the people," he said. "The ultimate goal is to rid the Thaksin regime completely from Thailand.""This isn't about political parties, it's about the people," he said. "The ultimate goal is to rid the Thaksin regime completely from Thailand."
Yingluck has offered to negotiate several times. On Tuesday said she hoped "all sides" would come together for talks. Yingluck has offered to negotiate several times. On Tuesday she said she hoped all sides would come together for talks.
However, Suthep has said that his movement will not stand for any negotiation. Nor will it abide by a dissolution of parliament, any form of coalition, or a new appointment, vetted by Yingluck and approved by the protesters, for prime minister, Suthep added. However, Suthep has said his movement will not stand for any negotiation. Nor will it abide by a dissolution of parliament, any form of coalition, or a new appointment for prime minister vetted by Yingluck and approved by the protesters.
His reasons for an unelected people's council formed of "good people", he said, were clear. "From a western point of view, 'democracy' is an elected government serving as the people's representative. Unfortunately, elections in Thailand do not represent people's [real] choices because their votes are bought." He said he had clear reasons for an unelected people's council formed of "good people". "From a western point of view, 'democracy' is an elected government serving as the people's representative. Unfortunately, elections in Thailand do not represent people's [real] choices because their votes are bought."
It is unclear just what will happen next, with rumours circling of army involvement in the crisis, and many waiting for the king's expected speech on Wednesday for any insinuation of political unity or strategy. It is unclear just what will happen next, with rumours circling of army involvement in the crisis, and many looking to a speech by the king on Wednesday for any insinuation of political unity or strategy.
Still, analysts claim Suthep's brazen lack of negotiation could spell disaster for Thailand's fragile democracy, putting it at potential risk of total upheaval. Analysts warn Suthep's refusal to negotiate could spell disaster for Thailand's fragile democracy, putting it at potential risk of total upheaval.
"If he succeeds in his plans [to oust Yingluck], we will see huge turmoil in Thailand," says political scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak of the Thai Institute of Security and International Studies. "When he refers to the 'people', he is not talking about the 67 million people in Thailand or the eligible voters among them. He's talking about a lot of people in Bangkok, and some in the south; so this is a big problem. If he somehow succeeds with this people's council, we will see a backlash." "If he succeeds in his plans [to oust Yingluck], we will see huge turmoil in Thailand," said political scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak of the Thai Institute of Security and International Studies.
"When he refers to 'the people', he is not talking about the 67 million people in Thailand or the eligible voters among them.
"He's talking about a lot of people in Bangkok, and some in the south; so this is a big problem. If he somehow succeeds with this people's council, we will see a backlash."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.