BANGKOK, Nov 19 -- Thailand's anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) movement gathered in Bangkok Friday to mark the six-month anniversary of the forced ending by state security forces of the group's protest against the government at Ratchaprasong intersection.

Somyot Preuksakasemsuk, head of the Red Shirt faction called the 'May 24 Group,' key organiser of the event said the Ratchaprasong intersection gathering will begin at 5pm.

Ratchaprasong, a prime Bangkok commercial area, was the central venue of the anti-government protests last April-May.

Mr Somyot said that today the Red Shirt activists will wear black outfits and gather first at the Bangkok Remand Prison, demanding that the Red Shirt protesters still being detained on charges of violating the emergency decree be released.

The protesters will then proceed to the headquarters of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) at the Chaeng Wattana Government Complex in the afternoon and complete their rally at Ratchaprasong intersection.

Mr Somyot said he expected some 10,000 supporters to join the rally.  The demonstration will be peaceful, he said.

Key protest leader Jatuporn Prompan, outspoken MP from the Opposition Puea Thai Party, will also join the event at Ratchaprasong.
 
Pol Maj-Gen Saroj Promcharoen, chief of Metropolitan Police Division 2 said the police have deployed two companies of forces to provide security for the demonstrators which expected to turn out around 1,000 people.

Metro police deputy chief Pol Maj-Gen Kririn Inkaew this morning inspected Ratchaprasong intersection and said that seven or eight companies of police will be deployed to ensure safety.

He warned motorists to avoid the area at Ratchaprasong as traffic will gradually build up in afternoon.

The UDD planned to end their activities at 8pm.

The Red Shirt rally in downtown Bangkok ended May 19 after the Red Shirt leaders announced the end of the more than ten-week long protest and surrendered to police as the army personnel sealed off their protest area. Most key protest leaders remain in detention under terrorism charges and their bail has been rejected as the court cited their possible flight to avoid prosecution.

Only Mr Jatuporn, who is an MP for the Puea Thai Party, was granted bail as he has parliamentary immunity.

Eighty-nine persons, both security personnel and protesters, were killed and more than 1,900 were injured in several clashes between the troops and the UDD members during April and May. (MCOT online news)