In the early morning of the Thai New Year day (13 April), Thai soldiers used tear gas to disperse the red shirt protesters in central Bangkok. The next day, thousands of troops moved to clear the red shirt demonstrators from around the government building. The red shirt leaders decided to end the rally but vowed to go on with the anti-government campaign (BBC, 2009a).
During the months of March and May 2010, the red shirt protest activities intensified after the Thai Supreme Court announced the seizure of Thaksin’s assets. Most red shirt protesters from the north and north-eastern provinces of Thailand continuously travelled to join their fellows in Bangkok despite attempted roadblocks conducted by the authority. The UDD’s protest at the old town district of the Thai capital went on peacefully with the call for the resignation of the premier. Then in April 2010, the red shirt leaders decided to move their protest to Bangkok’s luxurious, tourist-attractive Downtown area. At this time, the government imposed a state of emergency and sent the troops in to crack down on the red shirt gathering.