ID :
112108
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 13:14
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/112108
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Red Shirts achieve target; UDD protesters pour blood at PM’s home
BANGKOK, March 17 (TNA) – Thailand's Red Shirt protesters broke through cordons of police on Wednesday to splatter their own blood on the front gate at the entrance of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s home, and flung bags of blood over the walls into the compound in an upscale area of the capital, but the prime minister is out of the city on the job upcountry.
A caravan of pickup trucks, cars and motorcycles carrying thousands of red-clad protesters led by the red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) began moving from Phan Fah Bridge, their main protest venue in the old Bangkok area adjacent to the centres of government and the bureaucracy, to the prime ministers’ residence in Soi Sukhumvit 31, paralysing outbound traffic.
Some 1,500 policemen with shields and batons were in formation in front of the premier’s residence to provide security, which was raised to the highest level. But the protesters braved rain and penetrated the police barricade, achieving their goal of pouring their own blood on the front gate and nearby walls of the prime minister's home.
Despite the significant scuffle and push, there was no report of violence.
The blood-pouring campaign at the prime minister’s house followed similar actions on Tuesday at entrances of Government House and Democrat Party
headquarters as protesters’ intensified their campaign to pressure Mr Abhisit to dissolve Parliament.
It was the latest move of the Red Shirt four-day rally which drew some 100,000 protesters on Sunday on Rajdamnoen Avenue, many loyal to convicted
former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in the 2006 coup.
However, the number of protesters has dwindled to about 25,000 people, according to the Peacekeeping Operations Command.
The Thai government earlier enforced the Internal Security Act, deploying 50,000 soldiers and police across the capital and surrounding provinces as
it feared possible violence.
Consequently Mr Abhisit moved to stay with senior military officers at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok since the mass rally began. He then
travelled to drought-hit provinces in the North and visit the South on Wednesday.
The prime minister earlier rejected the protesters’ demand for House dissolution, saying his government was legitimately elected, but would not
apply force against the demonstrators.
The key protest leaders pledged to camp out at Phan Fah Bridge until they achieve their victory. (TNA)
A caravan of pickup trucks, cars and motorcycles carrying thousands of red-clad protesters led by the red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) began moving from Phan Fah Bridge, their main protest venue in the old Bangkok area adjacent to the centres of government and the bureaucracy, to the prime ministers’ residence in Soi Sukhumvit 31, paralysing outbound traffic.
Some 1,500 policemen with shields and batons were in formation in front of the premier’s residence to provide security, which was raised to the highest level. But the protesters braved rain and penetrated the police barricade, achieving their goal of pouring their own blood on the front gate and nearby walls of the prime minister's home.
Despite the significant scuffle and push, there was no report of violence.
The blood-pouring campaign at the prime minister’s house followed similar actions on Tuesday at entrances of Government House and Democrat Party
headquarters as protesters’ intensified their campaign to pressure Mr Abhisit to dissolve Parliament.
It was the latest move of the Red Shirt four-day rally which drew some 100,000 protesters on Sunday on Rajdamnoen Avenue, many loyal to convicted
former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in the 2006 coup.
However, the number of protesters has dwindled to about 25,000 people, according to the Peacekeeping Operations Command.
The Thai government earlier enforced the Internal Security Act, deploying 50,000 soldiers and police across the capital and surrounding provinces as
it feared possible violence.
Consequently Mr Abhisit moved to stay with senior military officers at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok since the mass rally began. He then
travelled to drought-hit provinces in the North and visit the South on Wednesday.
The prime minister earlier rejected the protesters’ demand for House dissolution, saying his government was legitimately elected, but would not
apply force against the demonstrators.
The key protest leaders pledged to camp out at Phan Fah Bridge until they achieve their victory. (TNA)
