Thailand withdraws Bangkok emergency decree after protests swell | Thailand

The move to ban gatherings and curb information only served to fuel the anti-government protests.

Thailand on Thursday rolled back a “severe emergency,” a decree that was introduced last week to end months of protests against the government and monarchy but served only to inflame anger and bring tens of thousands of people onto the streets.

A government statement published in the official Royal Gazette said that as of 12pm (05:00 GMT) the emergency measures, including a ban on political gatherings of five or more people and publishing news that could affect security, would come to an end.

“The current violent situation that led to the announcement of the severe situation has eased and ended to a situation in which government officials and state agencies can enforce the regular laws,” the statement said.

The only specific incident given for the ban was one in which Queen…