Although a truce has been agreed on between government representatives and protesters in Thailand during the celebrations for the King’s birthday until December 5, protesters continued their marches towards state institutions on December 4. Thousands of people blocked Rama 1 road in the central business district of Bangkok in front of the Royal Army Police headquarters during the night, and in the morning activists arrived to forcefully open the iron gate and remove barricades and barbed wire fences behind it.

Security was increased at the police offices and ten companies of police were deployed outside the building and grounds, along with fire trucks and cranes.

However, while the protesters were busy tearing down the barbed wire with steel cutting tools and and climb over the barriers with ladders, there was absolutely no resistance from police who patiently waited inside the compound until the demonstrator had done their work and declared a “symbolic victory”.

Outlet owners in the nearby Central World shopping mall, one of Bangkok’s biggest and fanciest, complained about slow business especially as many Chinese tourists are avoiding Bangkok at the moment. The entries to Central World on the side of the street protests have been closed and blocked with steel fences.

Photos by Arno Maierbrugger

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