Huge procession carried off to great fanfare and with few problems.
Today’s protest cavalcade appears to have been a great success, at least in terms of the size of the turnout and the lack of friction.
In sweltering heat, thousands of vehicles carrying tens of thousands of UDD supporters joined a motorized procession that may have stretched to over 20kms, along a route in the region of 45-50kms. As of 4.30pm, the head of the motorcade is just entering Chinatown, a few kilometres from the Pan Fah Bridge, from where it left at 10am this morning.
The roads full of protesters and surrounding routes all suffered major disruption but in other parts of Bangkok, life continued pretty much as normal with, if anything, lighter traffic than usual. Major shopping developments remained open and the security presence along most of the route was light. Smaller groups of protesters occasionally drove through other areas of Bangkok, campaigning for support for rallies tonight and tomorrow.
All observers seem in agreement about several points: the day has enjoyed a positive, festive atmosphere free of almost any signs of aggravation (one water bottle was thrown at a UDD leader from a tall building, fortunately hitting nobody); huge numbers of loud, energetic supporters lined most roads and cheered on the procession; and the parade of vehicles is something like 20kms long.
Photographs from the heart of the huge protest motorcade.
We already enjoyed some of the great photographic work of the most Tweet-tastic Legal Nomads here on Monday. For over a week now, this intrepid traveler has been in amongst the red-shirt throngs, both as they massed in the old center of Bangkok and when they made their occasional trips to other parts of the capital.
Expect to see these and more photographs at the Legal Nomads blog later today, as well as on her Picasaweb collection.
Backround to the protests.
In the dark about the reasons for the protests? We have a backgrounder here.
Good stuff man! You’re braver than me hangin with the *cough* democracy fighters *cough*
Posted by Troy on March 20th, 2010.
Thanks for putting up my photos – much appreciated.
Posted by Legal Nomads on March 21st, 2010.