Bangkok - The Thai opposition movement postponed Wednesday its mass protest designed to bring down the government until well after the December 5 birthday of widely revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Protest leader Veera Musikapong said the demonstrations planned to start on Saturday were opposed by many within the activists' own ranks, who feared that it might be seen as disrespectful to king.
"We have the highest respect for his majesty so we want nothing to take away from his birthday celebrations," Veera said. A decision when to resume the protests will be taken in mid-December, he added.
Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - whom the protestors wish to return to power - told a meeting of supporters via video link that the protests should be delayed until after the king's birthday.
The 81-year-old king, the world's longest serving monarch, has been hospitalized in Bangkok since mid-September.
Thaksin's supporters in April succeeded in stopping a meeting of the Association of South-East Asian Nations with regional leaders at a seaside resort. They also went on a violent rampage in the streets of Bangkok.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is responsible for internal security, said Wednesday he might not invoke the use of the Internal Security Act - giving the military special powers to crack down on protests - if the protest leaders suspended their action.
Protest leaders had claimed that a million people would join their demonstration in Bangkok, although the security services thought about 40,000 might turn up.
Thaksin was sentenced to two years jail by a Thai court for abuse of power as prime minister, when his wife bought prime real estate in central Bangkok from the state at a cheap price. Other corruption cases against him are being processed.
