A number of white masks from the anti-government V For Thailand movement gathered in front of CentralWorld shopping mall at Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday afternoon as part of their weekly protest against the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.
They called for Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, the police chief, to provide protection for the white masks of Udon Thani province after Kwanchai Sarakham, leader of the Udon Thani red shirts, threatened to stage a counter-rally against them.
The white masks of Udon Thani planned to also rally in front of the Thung Srimuang open ground on Phosri road on Sunday afternoon.
In Bangkok, Pol Maj Gen Wallop Prathummuang, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 6, said three companies of police were deployed in front of CentralWorld, around the Gaysorn Plaza department store, in front of the Royal Thai Police Office, and around the arts and cultural centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to maintain law and order.
So far there had been no reports of violent incidents. The red shirts of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have been asked to rally elsewhere to avoid clashes with the white masks, he said.
As of 2.30pm, the white masks reportedly had moved from the front of CentralWorld to the Pathumwan intersection.
A number of Thai people in the United States reportedly held a similar rally in San Francisco on Saturday.
Anti-government protesters, wearing Guy Fawkes masks, gather outside CentralWorld shopping mall on Sunday. (Photo by Pattarapong Hirunard)