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Tens of thousands of anti-government Red Shirt protestors have gathered at a rally in Bangkok to mark the first anniversary of the deadly crackdown on their mass protest last May

Attempts at talks between the government and Red Shirt leaders who support ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had failed to end the protests and avert bloodshed.

More than 90 people were killed in running battles between protestors and soldiers sent in by the government to disperse the protests.

A year on, the Red Shirts' key demand has been met - parliament has been dissolved and an election will be held in July, but deep divisions remain.

Thousands are gathering at the Rajaprasong intersection on Thursday to commemorate those killed in protests and to repeat their call for democracy.

The former prime minister of Thailand, Anand Panyarachun, has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program, the lesson learnt from past unrest is that democracy is not easy to achieve.

"You need to have objectivity, you have to have fairness, you have to have perseverence, and you have to have determination," he said.

"And sometimes certain politicians do not conform to the higher standards of ethics in governing the country."

Mr Anand, who also chaired the disbanded Thai Reform Commission, says the challenges facing Thailand are between urban and the rural citizens - not the rich and poor.

"We have to restructure the relationship between each group and each sector, and from each area," he said.

"We have to be more patient with the pace of development of democracy...we need determination.

"In the process, you have to reinforce democratic values, strengthen democratic institutions and bring in more people to be involved in the decision-making process.

"You have to do so many things - all together, on every front."

Twenty-six political parties have signed up take part in Thailand's general election on July 3.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is seeking an unambiguous mandate after claims by the opposition that they have repeatedly been forced from power by the military and establishment elite.

The upcoming election is expected to be a tight race between Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party and the opposition, Puea Thai party backed by the former fugitive premier Thaksin Shinawatra.