Thailand’s protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, says he will continue to fight until the “Thaksin regime has been driven out”, as the government orders police to stand down to prevent further violence.
On Tuesday, Thailand’s government ordered police to allow anti-government protesters into state buildings in order to remove flashpoints for violent clashes and defuse tensions.
Protesters, who are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, entered the grounds of Government House, where Ms Yingluck’s office is based, and where on Monday rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon where used by police.
The police have backed off because we see the protesters just want to seize these places as a symbolic action, so we want to compromise. Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana
Protesters also entered the grounds of Bangkok’s central police headquarters. Both groups of protesters were reported to have left the grounds of government buildings, and are understood to have returned to the Democracy Monument intersection that has been their gathering point for weeks.
Channel 4 News Asia Correspondent John Sparks is in Bangkok and has been amongst protesters.
Declaration of victory at Govt House – well sort off. Most anti-gov protestors told us ‘the job’s not done’ pic.twitter.com/GkLMhorL6D
— John Sparks (@c4sparks) December 3, 2013
The thin green line – Thai troops blocking doors at PM’s office. The last symbol of authority in Thailand? pic.twitter.com/nY8cDc9aVk
— John Sparks (@c4sparks) December 3, 2013
In a speech to supporters, Mr Suthep said: “Today we won a partial victory but we will fight on until the Thaksin regime has been driven out.”
At least five people have been killed in clashes between protesters and the police, both from pro and anti-government factions.
Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said the government wanted to “compromise” with protesters.
“The government is still doing its job. This morning we had a cabinet meeting as usual,” he said.
This is a political problem that needs to be solved by political means. However, we are monitoring from a distance. Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha
“We haven’t given up, but today the police have backed off because we see the protesters just want to seize these places as a symbolic action, so we want to compromise.”
He added that Prime Minister Yingluck wants to open talks with the protesters, academics and others to try to find a solution.
She has previously met Mr Suthep, in a meeting organised by Thailand’s powerful military, but his demand that the government be replaced with a “people’s council” was something she said was “unconstitutional”.
Suthep is the former deputy prime minister of a government that ordered the military to put down pro-Thaksin protests in 2010. Ninety people were killed in the ensuing violence.
Mr Thaksin, who is understood to be living in Dubai, was also ousted by the military in 2006.
More violence in the latest protests could have prompted the military to intervene. However, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters on Tuesday the army was not getting involved this time.
“This is a political problem that needs to be solved by political means. However, we are monitoring from a distance,” he said.