ID :
111991
Tue, 03/16/2010 - 20:18
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http://m.oananews.org//node/111991
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Thai Red Shirt protesters pour blood at Government House, Democrat Party HQ
BANGKOK, March 16 (TNA) – Red-shirted anti-government protesters led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) late Tuesday poured blood collected from volunteer donations at Government House and the ruling Democrat Party headquarters as part of their intensified campaign to overthrow the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration.
Protest leaders began their blood collection campaign Tuesday morning and marched to Government House late afternoon with about 40 gallons of blood donations, far short of their target of 1,000 litre.
In addition to rank-an-file demonstrators from around the country, some 60 members of parliament from the opposition Puea Thai Party also had their blood drawn to join the campaign.
"This blood of the common people represents our commitment in the fight for democracy," UDD key leader Natthawut Saikua told cheering supporters.
Only one hundred UDD activists were allowed by police to enter the area near the front gate of the official seat of the Thai government. When applied, the blood has used dramatically in a ritual cursing of the premier and the elites in Thai society targeted by the protesters, and then poured at Government House entrances.
The Red Shirt leaders later poured blood at the Democrat Party headquarters amid tight security with hundreds of police protecting the building to ensure that no untoward incident took place.
Opposition Puea Thai member of parliament Surapong Towichakchaikul, a core UDD activist, earlier donated his blood and sprayed it dramatically at a portrait of Mr Abhisit.
Key UDD leaders on Sunday presented an ultimatum to the premier to dissolve Parliament and to call a new general election within 24 hours, or else the UDD would intensify its campaign to bring down the government.
Unfazed, Prime Minister Abhisit pledged to carry out his duties, travelling to visit villagers in drought-stricken northern provinces. He said the blood donations by the demonstrators signifies that the bloodletting and bleeding in Thailand today is not caused by the government which has clearly demonstrated that it would not use violence against the demonstrators.
Security measures were tightened at the prime minister's home after the Red Shirt leaders threatened to collect more blood and pour it there if their demands are still not met.
The protest has been one of the largest in recent years and drew a crowd of up to 100,000 in Bangkok on Sunday, according to police. Many of the demonstrators remain loyal to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.The Red Shirt turnout has fallen far short of the movement’s much-vaunted promise of one million supporters who would bring down the government. (TNA)
Protest leaders began their blood collection campaign Tuesday morning and marched to Government House late afternoon with about 40 gallons of blood donations, far short of their target of 1,000 litre.
In addition to rank-an-file demonstrators from around the country, some 60 members of parliament from the opposition Puea Thai Party also had their blood drawn to join the campaign.
"This blood of the common people represents our commitment in the fight for democracy," UDD key leader Natthawut Saikua told cheering supporters.
Only one hundred UDD activists were allowed by police to enter the area near the front gate of the official seat of the Thai government. When applied, the blood has used dramatically in a ritual cursing of the premier and the elites in Thai society targeted by the protesters, and then poured at Government House entrances.
The Red Shirt leaders later poured blood at the Democrat Party headquarters amid tight security with hundreds of police protecting the building to ensure that no untoward incident took place.
Opposition Puea Thai member of parliament Surapong Towichakchaikul, a core UDD activist, earlier donated his blood and sprayed it dramatically at a portrait of Mr Abhisit.
Key UDD leaders on Sunday presented an ultimatum to the premier to dissolve Parliament and to call a new general election within 24 hours, or else the UDD would intensify its campaign to bring down the government.
Unfazed, Prime Minister Abhisit pledged to carry out his duties, travelling to visit villagers in drought-stricken northern provinces. He said the blood donations by the demonstrators signifies that the bloodletting and bleeding in Thailand today is not caused by the government which has clearly demonstrated that it would not use violence against the demonstrators.
Security measures were tightened at the prime minister's home after the Red Shirt leaders threatened to collect more blood and pour it there if their demands are still not met.
The protest has been one of the largest in recent years and drew a crowd of up to 100,000 in Bangkok on Sunday, according to police. Many of the demonstrators remain loyal to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.The Red Shirt turnout has fallen far short of the movement’s much-vaunted promise of one million supporters who would bring down the government. (TNA)
