Red Shirts Remember May 19 | Bangkok Post: multimedia

Approximately 20,000 red shirts gathered at Ratchaprasong intersection today on the first anniversary of the May 19 crackdown that forcibly removed them from the protest site they had occupied for two months.

“We have come to think about our brothers and sisters that died,” said Preawnit Sasiwimolkul, a red shirt from Bangkok.

Protestors lit candles and observed a minute’s silence to remember those killed during the violence of last May. Some said they had returned to the site to remember key red shirt leader and rogue army officer Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, who was assassinated a week before the crackdown, others to see where they had slept during the protests, and in the case of Prawit Techasuangnoen from Nakhon Ratchasima, “to fight for democracy.”

Loyal supporters would attend every rally organised by the red shirts, claimed some. “I come to every event, I’ve never missed one,” confirmed Kwanjai Sritakul from Roi Et.  By Patipat Janthong.