Thai protests ease as cops back down ahead of king's birthday

Police today allowed protesters demanding the resignation of premier Yingluck Shinawatra to stage a demonstration inside government headquarters, easing tensions ahead of the revered Thai king's birthday but the main opposition leader said the campaign would continue.
As the anti-government protesters claimed a symbolic victory, Yingluck sought to use the king's birthday to launch a fresh effort to resolve the crisis, asking protesters to join a forum for political reform.
Hundreds of protesters poured into the lawns of the premier's office after police removed barricades, saying they would no longer use force against activists.
The mood in the capital Bangkok was considerably calmer after the surprise move ahead of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 86th birthday on Thursday.

The police, who used teargas and rubber bullets against flag-waving protesters over the past few days, handed out roses to them. The protesters mingled with police, shouted slogans and left peacefully.
However, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said the fight to unseat the government was not over. "This is a victory but it's not a decisive victory," he said.

"It's a partial victory but it's not final because the Thaksin regime is still in place. You cannot go back home yet...We must continue fighting."
The protesters accuse Yingluck of being a proxy for her elder brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in 2006 by the military and is in self-exile.

Media reports said the protesters were unlikely to continue their campaign on King Bhumibol's birthday, which is traditionally a day of prayer and celebration.
Yingluck invited protesters, academics and businessmen to join a forum to bring about political reform. In a brief televised address, she said talks were needed between different sections of society to find a long-term solution.
"Although the current political situation has not completely returned to normal there has been substantial progress. The government has asked both the army and police to carry out their duty with leniency and refrain from confrontation and violence that would cause casualties among the public," she said.

"I believe that His Majesty the King's birthday will be another occasion for the Thai people to be happy and unite for him," she added.