Foreign media put protest lull down to Royal birthday
CHANON WONGSATAYANONT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MEDIA OUTLETS worldwide have reported on the temporary truce between the anti-government protesters and the police that began on Tuesday. Some admitted that the police's decision to clear the barriers and pull back was a surprise, but they all saw this as an attempt to defuse the political tension ahead of His Majesty the King's 86th birthday today.

CNN and BBC said the atmosphere changed massively after the police withdrew. The battle zone "has suddenly turned into something a bit like a family picnic", said Jonathan Head, a BBC correspondent.

CNN described it as more of a carnival atmosphere, with flowers, water bottles and hugs being exchanged between the police and protesters.

The Guardian, and Singapore's Channel News Asia and Straits Times, said this response was likely in preparation for His Majesty's birthday. They quoted the National Security Council chief, Paradorn Pattanatabut: "There's a mutual understanding that everything must be calm and orderly on this auspicious day."

Britain's The Telegraph suspected that a backroom deal may have been involved in securing the peace.

However, all media outlets are aware that this truce is temporary. Bloomberg, for example, quoted protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban as saying, "From December 6 we will resume the fight every day, every hour and every minute until we achieve victory."


-- The Nation 2013-12-05

tomorrow = business as usual

2faced people, what else?

Go home and stay home.Respect the voters choice and show respect for democracy.You'll have a chance to change this at the next election.Yingluck's decision to want to introduce an amnesty bill after she said she wouldn't, is no excuse to cause mayhem on the streets.Remember all politicians will say anything before an election to grasp power by any means.Once in power then the story changes dramatically,along with the excuses.

Are the foreign media wrong in reporting this? It does seem to be the case that the protests are paused for the royal birthday. But of course, farang know nothing of Thailand. Really, Thailand is becoming easier to understand all the time. Follow the money.

Go home and stay home.Respect the voters choice and show respect for democracy.You'll have a chance to change this at the next election.Yingluck's decision to want to introduce an amnesty bill after she said she wouldn't, is no excuse to cause mayhem on the streets.Remember all politicians will say anything before an election to grasp power by any means.Once in power then the story changes dramatically,along with the excuses.

Your words:

Remember all politicians will say anything before an election to grasp power by any means.Once in power then the story changes dramatically,along with the excuses.

Just like Yingluck, Thaksin and the PTP have done.

_{Sadly, as is evident today, Thais seem to treat advice from Number One the same way they treat Buddhist teachings.}

_{They listen respectfully, then go away and ignore it completely.}