Stand-by for more rallies in the capital. The Red Shirts will rally tomorrow at the Rajaprasong intersection. Red Shirt organisers say the rally will not involve speeches. It will merely be a memorial for those killed in the riots last year.

 

Police and red-shirt leaders have agreed to minimise disruption to traffic. However. as tomorrow also marks the start of the new school year, anyone planning to pass through that district should be prepared for delays.

 

"The May 19 rally is meant as a memorial to the 92 people killed and organisers will try to ensure [the least possible] impact at Ratchaprasong," (Red-shirt leader Thida Thawornset) said, apologising in advance for any inconvenience to the public.

 

The red shirts are expected to start congregating at around 1pm, although the religious ceremony in memory of the dead will begin at 4.30pm. Red-shirt leaders are scheduled to deliver the eulogy followed by a slide show of the crackdown. The rally is scheduled to disperse in the evening before 11pm . . .

 

(According to Ratchaprasong business proprietor Chai Srivikorn), if more than 30,000 red shirts turned out for the rally, business would be disrupted because the area would be virtually shut down, he said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/05/18/national/Police-and-red-shirts-agree-to-help-traffic-30155587.html

In response to the concerns of business owners in the Ratchaprasong district who fear that today's rally will once again disrupt their businesses, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship is asking for understanding and is appealing to the business owners

I had a boy coming from Korat and it took him an extra hour with the delay. I watched the Thai TV and it looked like a mass of people.

 

The people I have talked to are going to vote for Thaskin's sister. They don't know much more than that is who they want! It will be interesting to see what happens.

I was on the Skytrain around 6:30 pm. Changing at Siam was worse than I have ever known it. Coming from Saladaeng and wanting to switch to a train in the direction of Mo Chit, the platform was jammed so tightly with bodies I was afraid people might fall on to the tracks. Most people had to wait for at least 4 or 5 trains before they could get close.

 

Since I do not often have to travel in the rush hour, I don't know how much of this was due to the traffic disruptions, and how much to the changeable weather and the fact that students have just returned to school. But I felt sorry for those arriving from the airport and trying to make a connection at Phaya Thai with luggage. It was all but impossible.