Thailand Protests Pour Into Streets

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand- Thousands of anti-government protesters in Thailand have rallied outsides a military base on the outskirts of the capital in an effort to increase pressure on the country’s prime minster to stand down and call for new elections.

The protesters, known as the Red Shirts, converged Sunday on the Thai capital to demand that Prime Minister Abhisit Veijjajiva agree to dissolve parliament by midday Monday or face large mass demonstrations in the Thai capital.  This deadline has passed and Abhisit has rejected the demands for new elections.

The demonstrators lined up to have their blood drawn by nurses, a day after their leaders vowed to collect “1 million cubic centimeters” of blood–the equivalent of 1,000 standard soft drink bottles–to spill at Government House by Tuesday evening.

Abhisit said in a televised statement from the 11 infantry army barracks,”elections must be held under common rules and genuine calm. We have to listen to other people’s voices, not just the protesters.”  Afterwards he left the barracks by air to avoid the demonstrators.  He said that his government was open to listening to what else the protesters have to say.  After the demonstration, the protesters are heading back to the capital to continue with their protests.

The protest leaders announced the “blood sacrifice”, a tactic slammed by the Red Cross as wasteful and unhygienic.  Weng Tojirakarn, a protest leader and doctor, said the plan would test Abhisit’s conscience.  Weng said “Now that people have agreed to sacrifice their blood like this, how can he not make a sacrifice by dissolving the parliament?”

The Red Shirts include supporters of the Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, along with other activists who opposed the 2006 military coup that ousted Shinawatra for alleged corruption and abuse of power.  The Red Shirts believe Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the connivance of the military and other parts of the traditional ruling class who were alarmed by Thaksin’s popularity.

The protests have so far been peaceful and leaders of the Red Shirts have pledged that they will remain that way.  However Abhisit warned that violence is possible.

The Red Shirts have held numerous rallies since Abhisit came to office in December 2008, after a court decision removed Thaksin’s allies from government.  Thaksin, who lives in Dubai to escape a jail term from corruption has stated his support for the latest protests.

Last month Thailand’s supreme court took $1.4 billion of his assets after ruling the money was obtained through abuse of power when he was prime minister.

For more information, please see:
BBC News- Thailand Caught in Protest Standoff– 15 March 2010
Associated Press- Thai Protesters give Blood to Pour on Streets– 15 March 2010

Author: Impunity Watch Archive