Live
play
  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Coronavirus
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
  • More
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Climate
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts

In Pictures

Gallery

Thai protests transform into festivals

Widespread demonstrations have calmed after police allowed protesters to enter key government buildings.

The bomb squad is called in on Tuesday after a grenade was found on a street near Government House. Its pin had been removed, but it failed to detonate.
The bomb squad is called in on Tuesday after a grenade was found on a street near Government House. Its pin had been removed, but it failed to detonate.
By 
Robert Kennedy
3 Dec 2013
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

Bangkok, Thailand – Anti-government demonstrations that had raged violently for days morphed into a festival-like atmosphere in the Thai capital on Tuesday, after police removed barricades and let the protesters freely enter strategic offices.  

It was a strange turn of events after a night of running street battles left dozens wounded, with burned out vehicles scattered in front of Government House. 

Outside the Metropolitan Police Bureau protesters hugged police officers, shook their hands, and gave them flowers before peacefully dispersing by early afternoon. 

The strange scene juxtaposed the past two days with police firing rubber-coated bullets and tear gas, and dousing demonstrators with chemical-filled water. 

“For two days it was like war,” protester Kanjana Saeiu, 41, from the southern island of Phuket, told Al Jazeera on the trash-covered street. 

“It’s completely different today. It shows how much Thai people love each other. You won’t see a situation like this anywhere else in the world.”

It remains to be seen what will happen next. The demonstrators have demanded that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration resign, but she says she was democratically elected and has no plans to step down. 

Bomb-disposal officers prepare to approach and neutralise a grenade found on street.
Bomb-disposal officers prepare to approach and neutralise a grenade found on street.
Advertisement
Cases of water and garbage remain after protesters happily departed from Government House.
Cases of water and garbage remain after protesters happily departed from Government House.
Demonstrators tie a rope to police barricades and haul them out of the way so traffic could pass.
Demonstrators tie a rope to police barricades and haul them out of the way so traffic could pass.
Jubilant anti-government protesters celebrate after police removed barricades in front of Government House.
Jubilant anti-government protesters celebrate after police removed barricades in front of Government House.
Demonstrators mix and mingle with police in a festival-like atmosphere in Bangkok on Tuesday.
Demonstrators mix and mingle with police in a festival-like atmosphere in Bangkok on Tuesday.
Police and protesters work together to remove the graffiti-covered police barricades.
Police and protesters work together to remove the graffiti-covered police barricades.
Advertisement
Street food vendors barbecue pork for hungry protesters and police outside of Government House.
Street food vendors barbecue pork for hungry protesters and police outside of Government House.
Organisers tell the protesters that the fight against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra(***)s government is not yet finished.
Organisers tell the protesters that the fight against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra(***)s government is not yet finished.
After days of street battles, officers look relieved that the stand-off is now over.
After days of street battles, officers look relieved that the stand-off is now over.
Many children have been part of the demonstrations that swelled to 100,000 people on the streets more than a week ago.
Many children have been part of the demonstrations that swelled to 100,000 people on the streets more than a week ago.
Demonstrators celebrate after being allowed to enter Government House after days of tension and pitched street battles.
Demonstrators celebrate after being allowed to enter Government House after days of tension and pitched street battles.
A protesters holds a poster of revered King Bhumibol Adulyedej, whose 86th birthday is on Thursday. Many say the demonstrations will cease, for now, out of respect for the world(***)s longest-serving monarch.
A protesters holds a poster of revered King Bhumibol Adulyedej, whose 86th birthday is on Thursday. Many say the demonstrations will cease, for now, out of respect for the world(***)s longest-serving monarch.

More from Gallery

In Pictures: Myanmar’s ‘bloodiest’ day since coup

A protester uses a fire extinguisher as others holding homemade shields run in Yangon. [AFP]

In Pictures: Risking death in search for antique Afghan carpets

Abdul Wahab, one of Kabul's top tribal carpet collectors, displays a rug inside his shop on Chicken Street in the capital. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

In Pictures: Is avocado boom to blame for bee deaths in Colombia?

A poisoned beehive in Santa Fe de Antioquia. [Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP]

In Pictures: Police escalate crackdown on protests in Myanmar

Protesters flash three-finger salutes during a rally against the February 1 military coup in Yangon, Myanmar. [Reuters]
Most Read

UN seeks access to Ethiopia’s Tigray to probe war crimes

People mourn the victims of a massacre allegedly perpetrated by Eritrean Soldiers in the village of Dengolat, North of Mekele, the capital of Tigray on February 26, 2021 [File: Eduardo Soteras/ AFP]

Pakistani PM to face confidence vote after Senate blow

As per unofficial results, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party still made the largest gains in the election [File: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters]

German warship to cross South China Sea for first time since 2002

The German ship will not pass within what officials called the '12-nautical-mile' in a reference to contested areas in the crowded sea [File: Fabian Bimmer/Reuters]

‘RIP SN10’: SpaceX rocket goes up in flames after landing

The Starship SN10 prototype soared through the air and successfully manoeuvred for landing - only to explode eight minutes later [SpaceX via AFP]
  • About
    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
  • Our Channels
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
  • Our Network
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners
Follow Al Jazeera English:rssinstagramyoutubetwitterfacebook
logo
© 2021 Al Jazeera Media Network