Bangkok Red-shirt Rally - Live Updates - Tuesday

BANGKOK (NNT) – The core leader of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) forbids vendors and the private sector to express their opinion against the rally.

At the stage at Phan Fa Bridge, Mr Veera Musikapong, the UDD’s core leader proclaimed the restriction among vendors and operators around the rally sites including the private sector, in voicing their opinions with the media about how the rally affected trading as well as the country’s economic system and investors’ confidence.

He said the demonstration was taken in accordance with the people's constitutional rights.

-- NNT 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

Bombing suspect released, probe continues

BANGKOK (NNT) - A suspect of the M79 grenade attack has been freed after forensic experts did not find any explosive substances on his body.

Police seized a suspicious vehicle, a "Mitsubishi Space Wagon", which was driven by a middle-aged man, Mr Nawin, 39, shortly after the police had received a tip-off from eyewitnesses and later taken the suspect for interrogation at Thung Mahamak police station.

The explosion at the First Infantry Battalion of the First Infantry Regiment on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road on Monday afternoon injured two soldiers on duty.

Both were later confirmed safe and currently hospitalised at Phra Mongkut Hospital.

According to Metropolitan Police Bureau Chief Police Leutenant-General Santan Chayanon, the police did not lodge any charges against the suspect as the recent forensic investigative result, led by Dr.Pornthip Rojanasunan, Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science found no trace of explosive subtances on the arrested man and in his car.

He insisted that the authorities will continue to hunt down the real perpetrators in connection with the M79 grenade blasts.

-- NNT 2010-03-16

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george · March 16, 2010

Thai Prime Minister won't step down

Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva appeared on national television yesterday to reject a demand from demonstrators that he resign by midday and call elections, the BBC reports. "The protesters have demanded that I dissolve the house…but the coalition parties agree the demand cannot be met," he said. "Elections must be held under common rules and genuine calm. We have to listen to other people's voices, not just the protesters."

Protesters march as demands not met

The Jakarta Post

Army reinforcements were rushed into Thailand's capital as tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators prepared to march on a key military headquarters demanding that the government dissolve Parliament.

A force of more than 50,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel has been mobilized in the capital area, and many were deployed to await the march at the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters where Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva has been hunkered down in recent days. But the protest, one of the largest staged in recent years, has proved peaceful.

Thailand’s red shirt tactics turn violent

The Nation

Two soldiers were injured on Monday after an M-79 grenade was fired into an army battalion opposite the National Broadcast Television (NBT) station near the Victory Monument in Bangkok. Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, also threatened to pour 1 million cc of the blood of 100,000 red-shirt people around Government House. Natthawut said the red-shirt people would collect their blood and pour the blood at every gate of the Government House at 6pm.

Meanwhile, Phuket continues unlikely to be directly affected by the protests as there are no known plans for any anti-government activities in the island province, long a stronghold of support for the Democrat Party whose coalition leads the current Thai government.

Phuket tour company cancels trips to Bangkok

ScandAsia.com

Fear of unrest during the political demonstrations in Bangkok has made Danish Star Tours in Phuket cancel its usual two-day side trips to Bangkok for their guests.

The Danish Ambassador to Thailand, Michael Sternberg, has advised people to avoid going to Bangkok. “We have a great many people on Phuket...who had planned for the two-day tours to Bangkok, but those excursions are canceled now. We believe that’s the right thing to do," he said.

The tour company's guests arriving from Denmark will instead be immediately sent to the seaside resort of Hua Hin or other destinations. Star Tours currently has around 1,000 Danish guests in Phuket and 65 in Bangkok.

Ideological struggle in Thailand

CNN

The protesters are supporters of former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006. Thaksin was the only Thai prime minister to serve a full-term in office and remains hugely popular. The protesters say that current PM Abhisit was not democratically elected.

Rural poor vs urban elites in Thailand

The New York Times

The depth of the distrust of the elite and the sense of victimization was on display among protesters at the rally on Sunday in Bangkok, Thailand. “We are here to announce class warfare, in peace and for democracy,” Nattawut Saikua, a protest leader, told a roaring crowd.

Protesters and their leaders are portraying the demonstration as a struggle of the poor and disaffected against a government supported and controlled by the elite. “They have never felt pain,” Mr Nattawut said of the governing class. “We don’t have their connections, but we’re ready to die.”

Thaksin’s last chance to return home

The Guardian

The march is regarded by some as the last chance for Thaksin to return to Thailand. Forcing the government out of power, loyalists say, could pave the way for his pardon and return. Thaksin, who lives in Dubai, faces a two-year prison term for abuse of power. But he remains popular among the poor who are thankful for the cheap medical care, low interest loans and other measures his government enacted to alleviate poverty.

-- Phuket Gazette News Hound

george · March 16, 2010

TRUE BLOOD?

Blood campaign is dangerous : health groups

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Red-Shirts-B...ou-t347891.html

webfact · March 16, 2010

Bloody Tuesday at red-shirt protest rally

BANGKOK: -- Day three of the mass rally by anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) red-shirt protesters sees a new level being sunk to as organizers prepare for a mass blood collection from protesters.

Overnight dozens of boxes of syringes, needles, boxes of alcohol and other medical supplies were delivered to the Phan Fa bridge rally site.

Yesterday key red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua said the UDD will collect 1,000 liters of blood from about 100,000 red-shirt protesters and splash it about the grounds of Government House, so that politicians will “have to walk over the blood of the people as they go to work”.

Mr. Natthawut said if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva refused to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections the protesters will also splash blood over the ruling Democrat Party headquarters and the prime minister's house on Sukhumvit Road.

Mr. Natthawut said 10cc of blood will be collected from each protester, with about 500 medical personnel being recruited to carry out the blood drawing.

Thailand Public Health Ministry has warned the protesters against the possible transmission of diseases, but UDD leader Dr. Weng Tojirakarn, a medical doctor, said the collection of 10cc of blood will not cause any harm to the protesters.

-- thaivisa.com 2010-03-16

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george · March 16, 2010

TAN Network: Around 45 medical personnel on standby for redshirts to donate blood,red leaders be first to donate at 8am

Thaivisa: There are 1,000s lined up for blood donations [08:05]

george · March 16, 2010

Thaivisa: They are collecting blood in 5 litre bottles. Adding anti-coagulant. [08:17]

TAN Network: Medical volunteers at red rally revealed brand 100,000 new syringes donated for red shirt blood drive. Donated blood wont be stored according to normal medical practice. All poured into bottles ready to be 'used' by red shirt protesters.

MCOT: Red Shirts start collecting blood from volunteers, targeting 1 million CC, to pour at Govt House gates after PM rejects demand

george · March 16, 2010

The Nation: Thaksin says he may return to Dubai Friday

TAN Network: DAAD leaders take to the stage to donate blood; Veera has already given blood; Jatuporn now being stuck with needle

Thaivisa: Media tent now a blood bank. 1,000's of ppl lined up to donate 10cc

TAN: Reports suggest that one of the medical personnel present at the red shirt blood drive came from Somdejprapinklao Hospital.

TAN: Nattawut Saikua now getting his blood drawn

webfact · March 16, 2010

This 11-year-old boy from Bangkok was one of the first people to donate 10cc of blood in response to the call by UDD leaders.

Photos © Copyright thaivisa.com 2010

-- thaivisa.com 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

Preperations

Photos © Copyright thaivisa.com 2010

-- thaivisa.com 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

TAN Network: DAAD leaders take to the stage to donate blood; Veera has already given blood; Jatuporn now being stuck with needle

Nattawut Saikua now getting his blood drawn

Weng Tojirakarn next in line to donate blood; doctor from Khon Kean volunteers to draw

People's Channel Executive Adisorn Piengket next

Pheu Thai MP Karun Hongsakul also joins blood drive; followed by Darunee Klitboonyarai

webfact · March 16, 2010

Thaivisa: 1,000's of redshirt protesters donate blood

monty · March 16, 2010

More pictures in our picture thread!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3419093

webfact · March 16, 2010

Photos © Copyright thaivisa.com 2010

-- thaivisa.com 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

Thailand protesters press plan to bring down govt

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) - Tens of thousands of red-clad Thai protesters pressed on Tuesday with their rally calling for snap elections, despite the prime minister's firm rejection of their demands that he step down.

The "Red Shirts", loyal to deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, showed no sign of giving up their protests in the streets of Bangkok, where security was tightened after four grenades hit an army base in the capital on Monday.

The attacks wounded two soldiers and raised tensions, although it was not yet clear if they were linked to the protesters, who had massed in front of a separate barracks where Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was taking refuge.

In a bizarre development, protest leader Nattawut Saikur said the Red Shirts would ask demonstrators to donate a small amount of blood on Tuesday and spill it at the gates of Government House to demonstrate their fierce determination.

"If Abhisit still wants to continue as prime minister regardless of our demands, he must walk across Red Shirt people's blood," he said, sparking concern among health officials who said the stunt could spread diseases.

The Red Shirts rail against the perceived elitism of the government and say it is undemocratic, as it came to power via a December 2008 parliamentary vote that followed a controversial court ruling ousting Thaksin's allies.

Thaksin's followers are largely from the poor rural north and support him for the populist policies he introduced before being ousted in a 2006 coup.

But the ex-premier, who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, is loathed by the rival "Yellow Shirts", who are supported by Bangkok's elites and accuse him of graft and disloyalty to the revered royal family.

Since the coup Thailand has been rocked by protests from both sides.

Last month Thailand's top court confiscated 1.4 billion dollars of the telecoms tycoon's wealth. He made an impassioned plea to supporters by video link on Monday for the third consecutive night, urging them to fight on.

By Monday evening the Red Shirts had returned to their main rally site in Bangkok's old quarter from the army base in the city's northern outskirts, after Abhisit left the barracks by helicopter.

Earlier Abhisit, who heads a fragile six-party coalition, had made a nationally televised address to reject the red-clad crowd's demand.

"Elections must be held under common rules and genuine calm. We have to listen to other people's voices, not just the protesters," he said.

The pro-Thaksin forces had dubbed their rally a "million man march" but police have estimated their numbers at only 86,000 since they began arriving on Friday. Protest leaders gave various figures, all a lot higher than 100,000.

Authorities said a 50,000-strong security force was on hand across Bangkok and surrounding provinces, under a strict security law allowing authorities to ban gatherings and impose curfews.

A senior police official said a male suspect had been arrested Monday for the grenade attacks and his car confiscated, but the man denied any involvement in the incident.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-03-16

Published with written approval from AFP.

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webfact · March 16, 2010

Red shirts start shedding blood

BANGKOK: -- About 500 red-shirt protesters made long queue at 8 am Tuesday to let their leaders draw to cc of blood each as part of the measure to force the government to dissolve the House.

Voluntary medical personnel started taking the protesters' blood at 8 am for the red-shirt leaders to pool the blood for pouring in front of the Government House at 6 pm.

The red-shirt leaders announced they would pour 1 million cc of the grassroots' blood to pressure the government to dissolve the House.

-- The Nation 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

Thai Red Cross refuses to provide blood transfusion service for the protesters

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Thai Red Cross has refused to provide a blood transfusion service to the red shirted protesters due to their wrong purpose of usage.

Deputy Director of the Clinical Pathology Center, Thai Red Cross, MD Ubolwan Charoonruangrit stressed the Thai Red Cross Society would not provide a blood transfusion service to the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters due to the misapplication as the blood transfusion practices were meant only for medical care and donation purposes.

The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship’s core figure, Mr Nattawut Saikua, had earlier stated that 10 milliliters of blood will be collected from each of the 100,000 participating demonstrators tomorrow and splattered around the Government House after the Prime Minister has shrugged off their House dissolution request.

The blood collection by skin puncture must be done only by medical experts or else, mis-puncture will cause significant injury. The extra affect will cause paralysis and trauma on those who have high blood pressure or Hemophilia. The procedure should be done in a clean lab and the skin should always be wiped with alcohol pad before the puncture.

MD Ubolwan added the BMA’s garbage officers might get infected from the accidental puncture wounds if the protesters dumped their needles in the garbage.

-- NNT 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

Thaksin says he may return to Dubai Friday

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced early Tuesday that he may be in Dubai by Friday.

He posted a message on his twitter page, saying: "By Friday, I may have returned to Dubai".

-- The Nation 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

Thai 'Red Shirts' collect own blood for symbolic protest

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's red-clad protesters rallying in Bangkok collected their own blood Tuesday, to be spilled at the entrance of government offices if their demands for snap elections are not met.

Hundreds of "Red Shirts," who back fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, were queuing up in the capital to offer a small amount of their blood in an unusual gesture of their determination, AFP reporters witnessed.

Red Shirt leader Veera Musikapong was the first to donate, saying: "This blood is a sacrificial offering. To show our love for the nation, to show our sincerity."

The group is protesting against the perceived elitism and illegitimacy of the government, which came to power via a December 2008 parliamentary vote that followed a controversial court ruling ousting Thaksin's allies.

Tens of thousands of the Red Shirts have massed in the streets of Bangkok since the weekend amid tight security. Many are from the poor rural north and support the populist platform of Thaksin, who was deposed in a 2006 coup.

Senior Reds said their blood would be spilled at the entrance to Government House in Bangkok's historic quarter at 6:00 pm (1100 GMT) if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva continued to refuse their demands to dissolve parliament.

"If Abhisit is still stubborn, even though he does not have blood on his hands, his feet will be bloodied with our curses," another leader Nattawut Saikur said.

Authorities raised health fears about the blood-letting plan after it was announced late Monday.

"Experts are worried and concerned that protesters could contract diseases using needles for blood drawing," said public health minister Jurin Laksanawisit in a statement.

But protest organisers insisted the procedures were safe, using one needle per person.

"We have three tents for blood donations. All people who conduct the blood drawing will be doctors, nurses or other qualified people who came here voluntarily," said senior Red Shirt Weng Tojilakarn, also a doctor himself.

Published with written approval from AFP.

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webfact · March 16, 2010

TAN Network: Traffic police say Bangkok traffic almost back to normal as city dwellers get used to the political situation

TAN Network: Joint Parliamentary session unable to start; not enough members attending; House Speaker Chai refuses to reschedule

After several attempts to start proceedings, Chai Chidchob closes Parliamentary session after only Pheu Thai MP's show up

webfact · March 16, 2010

Thaivisa: Many of the redshirt protesters giving blood are dehydrated/hypoxic. Having trouble getting veins

webfact · March 16, 2010

-- thaivisa.com 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

The redshirts blood collection is probably the biggest mass collection of blood outside of a time of war or national disaster

webfact · March 16, 2010

Red-shirt leaders pool blood

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leaders had their blood pulled out Tuesday morning in the campaign for protesters to pool their blood for pouring in front of the Government House.

Veera Musigapong was the first red-shirt leader to give his blood at 8:25 am.

He was followed by Jatuporn Promphan, and then Natthawut Saikua.

They were followed by Weng Tojitrakarn, Adisorn Piengket, and Karun Hosakul.

Their bloods were emptied from syringes into a bin, which was by half with a solution. The red-shirt leaders said the solution was chemical for preventing the blood from hardening.

Jatuporn said the pooled blood of the red-shirt people would be poured onto the ground in front of Government House before dusk.

-- The Nation 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

TAN Network: INN: Jatuporn calls on Pheu Thai MP's to resign in order to pressure gov't to dissolve House;will spill blood on Gov't House this evening

webfact · March 16, 2010

Queue for blood donation at Red shirts camp in Bangkok today Tuesday @ 10:00 am

-- thaivisa.com 2010-03-16

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webfact · March 16, 2010

THE NATION: Two and a half hrs passed, the blood is still far for its target (1 million CC). Only 20,000 people (200,000 CC) donated their blood.

webfact · March 16, 2010

A group of monks donating blood

-- thaivisa.com 2010-03-16

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