Thai government defuses confrontation, protest leader says not over

Wednesday, 4 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Thailand’s government ordered police on Tuesday to stop confronting protesters demanding the resignation of the prime minister, raising hopes that days of political violence may end, but the leader of the campaign said the fight would go on.

The protesters who oppose Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have been besieging various government buildings in the capital, including Government House, the complex that houses her offices. After days of firing teargas canisters and rubber bullets to hold them off, police handed out roses to flag-waving protesters after the barricades were brought down. The protesters mingled with police, shouted slogans and left peacefully. The developments raised hopes that the latest eruption of conflict between the Bangkok-based establishment and forces loyal to Yingluck and her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, may be over. Five people have been killed in clashes since the weekend and scores hurt. A heavy-handed government crackdown would have raised questions about the government’s survival and the possibility of the military stepping in to restore order. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban however said the campaign against what he called the “Thaksin regime” would continue.