Pro- and anti-government demonstrators have held separate ceremonies to mark the fourth anniversary of the crackdown on demonstrators in Bangkok on April 10, 2010.
Leaders of the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship attend a religious ceremony at the Imperial World department store on Lat Phrao Road yesterday to remember compatriots killed during the April 10, 2010 clashes. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)
Leaders of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) conducted a religious ceremony at the Imperial World department store on Lat Phrao Road in Bangkok Thursday to mark the 4th anniversary of the clash between the red-shirt protesters and military officers at Khok Wua intersection, which claimed 26 lives including five soldiers and one Reuters journalist.
The UDD was calling for the ouster of the Democrat Party-led government at the time.
UDD leaders Thursday gave donations to nine Buddhist monks in a press conference room on the sixth floor of the department store and then offered lunch to the monks on the fifth floor of the premises. A group of UDD members also joined the ceremony at the department store Thursday.
UDD members screened video presentations of the crackdowns on the red-shirt protests in 2010.
Another red-shirt movement known as the People's Radio for Democracy Group held its own religious ceremony in front of the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission to remember those killed on April 10, 2010.
PRDG spokesman Sornrak Malaithong said his demonstrators would leave for their homes to celebrate the Songkran festival and return to Bangkok on April 18.
Meanwhile, Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), led his demonstrators to Din So Road near the Democracy Monument in Bangkok Thursday to remember the soldiers who were killed there four years ago, including operational commander Gen Romklao Thuwatham.
Mr Suthep was then deputy prime minister and director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation dealing with the UDD protests.
Mr Suthep said Thursday soldiers had tried to protect democracy and the general public but they were attacked with war weapons.
According to Mr Suthep, during the April 10 incident, he prohibited soldiers from using weapons and five soldiers were killed there.
Mr Suthep said Thursday the death of the soldiers on April 10, 2010 had caused great caused sorrow to the Thai people and he would always remember that troops had made enormous contributions to the country.
He and his PDRC demonstrators placed flowers on the road where the soldiers were killed and observed a moment of silence.
Leaders of other anti-government movements, namely the People's Democratic Force to Overthrow Thaksinism and the Dhamma Army, also joined the PDRC ceremony.
Relatives of the soldiers killed in the incident made merit at nearby Wat Bowon Niwet Thursday morning.
People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) supporters lay roses near the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue to mark the fourth anniversary of the April 10, 2010 clashes between troops and red-shirt protesters. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)