BANGKOK, June 23 – A large crowd gathered at Ratchaprasong, Bangkok’s prime business and shopping area, Thursday evening to join a major election campaign rally for Thailand’s oldest political party, the Democrat Party, with less than two weeks to go until the July 3 general election.

Despite rains, the Democrat supporters turned up in substantial numbers at Ratchaprasong, last year’s rally site for the anti-government Red Shirt movement, amid tight security with the presence of hundreds of police officers offering protection.

Read more: MCOT