Rounding the corner of Government House it was discovered that the police had taken off their protective helmets and put down their riot shields.

Most simply sat on the curb looking a little apprehensive, smoking cigarettes or snapping pictures on their mobile phones.

The arriving protesters were greeted with smiles and handshakes.

Many demonstrators then got to work dismantling the concrete barricades or waved the Thai flag aloft.

To be continued. Ad-infinitum no doubt.

There was an uneasy calm around Government House this morning. The air was filled with an acrid smell from burnt out police vans and the occasional firework still being launched toward the building. It soon became apparent that the police had retreated, leaving the rabble-rousers on the front line free to cross the razor wire and into the government compound, albeit cautiously.

Many immediately turned into opportunist thieves and took whatever what they could including the radio equipment from the few vehicles that remained unscathed while others showed off spent cartridges, claiming live rounds had been used by the police in the night.

More alarmingly several of them pocketed unused CS gas canisters. That’s right folks, somewhere out there in Bangkok a bunch of nationalistic bully boys now have a stash of CS gas at home…