Red shirt protesters set up platform, tents along rally venue

BANGKOK, March 14 (Bernama) -- Anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) from upcountry have gradually arrived in the Thai capital.

While demonstrators have also set up a huge platform at Phan Fah bridge, a main protesting venue and tents were placed along Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Thai News Agency reports Saturday.

Officials manning checkpoints at Wang Noi district in Ayutthaya north of Bangkok on Friday asked the protesters to park their cars and use vehicles provided by the government instead in traveling to Bangkok and join the rally to avoid traffic problem.

However, the protesters refused and security officials eventually allowed them to travel to the capital in order to avoid confrontation.

The Asian Highway from the northern provinces was jammed with heavy traffic for over 10 kilometres particularly around Nakhon Sawan as there was a constant flow of vehicles carrying protesters to Bangkok.

UDD Red Shirts from upcountry began arriving in Bangkok and joined other demonstrators for a mass protest Sunday aimed at forcing the dissolution of parliament.

They have erected a large platform and tents along both sides of Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Not yet closed for traffic, the avenue will automatically be closed once the number of protesters increases, police said.

The rally by the Red Shirts, the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) had been staged because the UDD members, most of which are supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, refused to accept the ruling by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.

Recently, the court ruled to confiscate part of the frozen assets of the ousted premier while most people of the country accepted the decision.