Several thousand red shirts have united for the first time since their protest was broken up on May 19 to mourn the death of their “heroic fighter”, army specialist Khattiya Sawasdipol.

Supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) flooded Wat Sommanat yesterday with bitterness, resentment and anger about the death of the red shirt security chief, better known as Seh Daeng, as well as the deaths of other red shirt supporters during the military operation to disperse their rallies.

“It’s our reunion,” said Rasamee Wisawan, a UDD supporter who was waiting in a long queue to pay her respects to the hard-line leader at the royally sponsored cremation.

“For me, it’s like we are at the funeral for all the deaths. Seh Daeng represents our dead brothers and sisters.”

The government’s imposition of the emergency decree means it is difficult for red shirt protesters to gather like this, she said.

“He was a good man who fought alongside us,” said a taxi driver in his thirties. “He was one of our fellows who shared the same goal.”

Bangkok Post