Pheu Thai Party members and United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters turned out in force at Bangphai temple in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district on Sunday for the religious rites to mark 100 days of the death of Col Apiwan Wiriyachai.
Col Apiwan was a former executive of the Pheu Thai Party, former speaker of the House of Representatives, and a key supporter of the UDD. He died of a lung infection in the Philippines on Oct 5 last year.
The ceremony was chaired by former justice minister Sompong Amornvivat.
Key Pheu Thai and UDD members who turned up for the ceremony included Pongthep Thepkanchana, Pol Lt Gen Chat Kuldilok, Tida Tawornseth, Kobkaew Pikulthong, Weng Tojirakarn, Udomdej Rattanasathien, Nithat Srinont, Arunlak Kijlertpairote, Yosawaris Chuklom, Nattawut Saikuar, Jatuporn Promphan, Pol Lt Gen Viroj Pao-in, Rabiabrat Pongpanich, and Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai.
Sixty Chinese dinner tables were arranged for the guests, but they were not enough for them and a large number of reporters who turned up to cover the news. Many noodle booths were subsequently opened to solve the problem.
Police from Bang Bua Thong station were deployed to provide security and managed traffic.
UDD supporters who arrived in a red shirt were asked to change to a white one instead before entering the ceremonial ground.