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Protest-hit Thailand marks king's birthday Thai king urges mutual support in birthday speech
(about 4 hours later)
Thailand is marking the 86th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, amid a truce after days of violent demonstrations in the capital Bangkok. King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has urged people to support each other for the sake of the country, in his address to the nation on his birthday.
People have been cleaning the streets in the capital ahead of festivities, while local media report hundreds are lining the streets near one of the king's palaces. Thailand is marking the 86th birthday of the revered king amid a truce after days of violent protests in Bangkok.
Speaking at his palace in the coastal resort of Hua Hin, the king said that Thailand had been peaceful because of the unity of the people.
There were violent clashes earlier in the week between police and protesters.There were violent clashes earlier in the week between police and protesters.
The demonstrators were demanding that the current government resign. The demonstrators, who are demanding that the current government resign, began protesting on 24 November.
On Wednesday, some protesters, along with government forces, have been cleaning the area around the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, where celebrations for the king's birthday are expected to be held. They agreed to stop their attacks on government buildings for the birthday celebrations, but have said they will be back right after them.
Thousands of people had headed to the town of Hua Hin, near the king's Klai Kangwon palace, in the hope of seeing him, the Bangkok Post reports.
Special bus and train services had been laid on by the transport ministry to bring people to the town, the paper says.
The kings traditionally delivers a speech to the nation on his birthday, and it will be scrutinised to see if he makes any reference to the political crisis.
Pause in unrestPause in unrest
The current wave of protests began in Bangkok on 24 November relatively peacefully, but things took a violent turn over the weekend and on Monday. On Thursday, thousands of people had headed to the town of Hua Hin, near the king's Klai Kangwon palace, in the hope of seeing him, the Bangkok Post reports.
Special bus and train services had been laid on by the transport ministry to bring people to the town, the paper says.
The kings traditionally delivers a speech to the nation on his birthday - an audience keenly anticipated for any hints of his thinking on events in Thailand.
He called on people to do their duty to support each other for the sake of the country.
"All Thais should realise this point a lot and behave and perform our duties accordingly, our duty for the sake of the public, for stability, security for our nation of Thailand," the king said.
The current wave of protests began in Bangkok relatively peacefully, but things took a violent turn over the weekend and on Monday.
Protesters tried to topple police barricades and storm the prime minister's office, Government House. Clashes broke as police used tear gas and water cannon to repel them.Protesters tried to topple police barricades and storm the prime minister's office, Government House. Clashes broke as police used tear gas and water cannon to repel them.
The situation calmed down on Tuesday after security forces stepped back from protesters.The situation calmed down on Tuesday after security forces stepped back from protesters.
Some anti-government protesters headed to the police headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday. A few hundred of the protesters were allowed inside the compound by the police and then withdrew.Some anti-government protesters headed to the police headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday. A few hundred of the protesters were allowed inside the compound by the police and then withdrew.
The current calm feels like a pause and not an ending to the protests, the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Bangkok reports. The protesters say there is more to come. "After the king's birthday, we will start fighting again until we achieve our goal," former deputy prime minister and protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban told AFP on Tuesday.
"After the king's birthday, we will start fighting again until we achieve our goal," former deputy prime minister and protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban told AFP on Tuesday.
The protesters want the current government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down and be replaced by an unelected "People's Council".The protesters want the current government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down and be replaced by an unelected "People's Council".
They allege that her government is controlled by her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in self-imposed exile after he was overthrown in a military army coup in 2006 and convicted of corruption.They allege that her government is controlled by her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in self-imposed exile after he was overthrown in a military army coup in 2006 and convicted of corruption.
At least four people have died since Saturday, in what has been Thailand's worst political turmoil since the 2010 rallies that ended in violence.At least four people have died since Saturday, in what has been Thailand's worst political turmoil since the 2010 rallies that ended in violence.
But a senior Thai military official appeared optimistic.
"Everyone agreed that the military forces will not take a leading role in this situation and there will be no coup, as we believe the tension is easing and everything will be back to normal soon," navy chief, Admiral Narong Pipathanasai, told media on Wednesday.