Thai anti-government protestors started gathering at Sanam Luang in central Bangkok on Thursday morning as their leaders are scheduled to appear on a stage at around 11 a.m. local time, in a move aiming to topple the coalition government.
The anti-government protestors, who are also known as the red-shirted group, have been led by the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), planed to march from Sanam Luang to the Government House later on Thursday.
The UDD group has demanded the government to dismiss Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, prosecute People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD) leaders for occupying the Government House and Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, amend the 2007 Constitution and dissolve the House of Representatives and hold a new general election.
Some 22 companies of police and 21 companies of soldiers have been prepared to ensure security during Thursday's mass rally, Thai-language television TNN reported.
A negotiation strategy under the international standard will be applied to deal with the protestors in order to stop them from marching to stage the rally at the Government House.
From Thursday morning around the Government House a number of security staff have been deployed ahead of marching to the Government House by the red-shirted protestors.
Also, several check points of police have been set up along the road linking the Government House and Sanam Luang.
Soldiers will be asked for help, if the police can not control the rally situation, while the security staff will do all means to prevent violence to occur.
One company of police consist approximately 150 police officers, while a company of soldiers consists up to 200 military men.
(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2009)