Thai PM offers to lift emergency as thousands protest in capital

Protests have swept Bangkok in the past week in defiance of the ban on gatherings and the threat of crackdowns by the police

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said his government is prepared to withdraw emergency rules banning large gatherings in the capital if the mounting protests demanding his ouster and monarchy reforms remain peaceful.
 

Prayuth’s pledge to review the state of emergency and open the doors for talks came as thousands of defiant protesters marched toward the prime minister’s office known as the Government House in Bangkok on Wednesday after breaking through police barricades and barbed wire. Simultaneous rallies by pro-royalist groups in support of King Maha Vajiralongkorn also raised fears of clashes between the rival groups.
 

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