Thai Protests Turn Bloody -- But Not Violent

[webfact]

Thai protests turn bloody -- but not violent

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

Source: http://tweetphoto.com/14591387

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Protesters spilled their own blood at the gates of Thailand's government headquarters Tuesday in a colourful act of political theatre designed to propel their fugitive hero back to power.

Thousands of "Red Shirts" loyal to deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra queued up during the day to donate blood in makeshift tents, where it was poured from syringes into five-litre water bottles for the bizarre spectacle.

Red leaders said they had collected 300 litres (530 pints) of blood, far short of their aim of 1,000 litres, most of which they poured at the Government House gates in the late afternoon to press their demand for snap elections.

They later took some of the blood to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat party offices for a second protest, where a Hindu priest began the symbolic spilling by invoking a curse against the government.

The demonstrators said they would march to Abhisit's residence in central Bangkok on Wednesday morning as they step up their campaign, though the premier will not be there.

The bloody show was the latest part of a pro-Thaksin demonstration which has drawn up to 100,000 protesters to the streets of Bangkok since the weekend, according to police, watched over by 50,000 security forces personnel.

The Hindu priest, wearing a traditional white outfit and with bare feet, knelt down in the blood to wipe his hands in it, before raising them aloft. Others then joined in, creating pools of blood at the steps of the offices.

"This blood is to show our commitment in calling for democracy. This is an important curse ritual," said Red leader Nattawut Saikur.

The Red Shirts, whose numbers appeared to be dwindling on Wednesday, held the blood bottles in the air triumphantly as they rode on trucks followed by thousands of supporters and monitored by riot police.

They are protesting against the perceived elitism and illegitimacy of the Abhisit government, which came to power via a December 2008 parliamentary vote after a controversial court ruling ousted Thaksin's allies.

Last month another court decision confiscated 1.4 billion dollars from Thaksin, whose followers are largely from the poor rural north and fervently support the populist policies he introduced before being ousted in a 2006 coup.

They began their blood drive on Tuesday morning despite hygiene concerns raised by health officials. Organisers insisted only qualified medics were collecting donations, using one needle per person.

"It doesn't hurt. I'll do any activity the leaders say, I'm willing to participate because I want a democracy," said Somsak Janprasert, 63, a retired railway official from Bangkok.

"This is a very symbolic way to express that our blood, the people's blood, is power," he said.

On Monday the Red Shirts spent several hours massed outside an army barracks on the northern outskirts of Bangkok where Abhisit and his government were holed up amid fears of violence by saboteurs.

The premier rejected the crowd's demands to dissolve parliament and call elections, and on Tuesday he again stood firm against their calls.

"A decision cannot be made between protesters and the government, because it is related to the whole country," he said on television from the barracks.

A joint session of both houses of parliament was postponed on Tuesday due to the lack of a quorum, with some lawmakers fearing for their safety in the ongoing demonstrations, parliamentary officials said.

At a separate army barracks across the city, four grenades exploded on Monday, wounding two soldiers and raising tensions. It was not clear if the attacks were linked to the Red Shirts, whose leaders denied involvement.

Since the coup that ousted Thaksin, Thailand has been rocked by protests from both supporters and opponents of the former premier, who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.

Thaksin, who was spotted over the weekend in Montenegro, made an impassioned plea to supporters by a video link to Bangkok on Monday evening for the third consecutive night, urging them to fight on.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-03-16

Published with written approval from AFP.

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[webfact]

Protesters pour blood in front of Democrat Party

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt protesters poured collected blood on the ground in front of the Democrat Party head office at 6:45 pm Tuesday.

A Brahmin poured the blood and kneeled down to perform a cursing ritual against the party.

-- The Nation 2010-03-16

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[londonthai]

good on them and good on monks who dare to join protests against the government - they might become a new symbol of a fight against the injustice, as monks became symbols for the same ideas in the other countries (vietnam, myanmar)

rituals do play role in politics as well, but won't replace a rational, scientific education and a clear political program - for that we have to wait yet.

Edited March 16, 2010 by londonthai

[chiang mai]

Do you suppose those same donors would be prepared to give blood at a Red Cross or hospital donation day in order to save lives, a rhetorical question.

[londonthai]

Do you suppose those same donors would be prepared to give blood at a Red Cross or hospital donation day in order to save lives, a rhetorical question.

I would imagine they would do it, if needed - as they did today

[PanzerJohn]

I find this quite repulsive,,it does nothing for Thailands image around the world.

[britmaveric]

Kewl display - I wouldnt do it, but I give them credit they set out and did what they said they would do. Visuals are powerful and this one is wicked.

[LuckyLew]

Do you suppose those same donors would be prepared to give blood at a Red Cross or hospital donation day in order to save lives, a rhetorical question.

I would imagine they would do it, if needed - as they did today

I would hope they would, but I highly doubt it

Today was not a blood donation in the correct sense.

It was a total waist of time and serves zero purpose.

The red shirt leaders are making themselves laughing

stocks inside and outside of Thailand.

[webfact]

Red-shirts Pour Blood at Govt House

BANGKOK: -- The pouring of blood by the red-shirt group at Government House has been carried out peacefully although the amount of blood gathered did not reach the group's objective of one million cc.

The red-shirt group left their gathering at the Pan Fah intersection to march to Government House at 4 p.m. to pour blood in a show of opposition against the government. The group aimed to send a message to the public that they are willing to spill blood for their cause so the government should be willing to dissolve the House as the group demanded. They arrived at Government House at around 4.20.

Red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn claimed to have collected 300,000 cc of blood but media estimates put it at 100,000 cc. With the donation of 10 cc per person, this puts the number of donators at around 10,000.

The blood were placed in different types of vessels including five-gallon water containers. They were mixed with saline to prevent clotting.

Officials allowed only about 50 protesters to proceed to Gate 2 to pour blood. Gate 2 is normally used as an exit for ministers. Two gallons of blood were poured as a Brahmin placed a Buddha statue, lit incense, and recited prayers.

Four thousand police and military officers have been stationed around Government House in anticipation of the red-shirts.

Officials used water fire trucks and disinfectant to dilute the blood and kill any viruses that may be distributed into sewers and public waterways. The cleaning up of the blood was carried out by 80 medical professionals from Vajira Hospital. Officials used sodium hyperchloride to pour on the blood and leave it for about five minutes for the blood to thicken and clot. Then, they scooped up the blood into black garbage bags and proceeded to repeat the process a couple of more times. Finally, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration officials used disinfectants and water to clean up the area.

After pouring blood at Government House, a number of red-shirt protesters marched on to the Democrat Party headquarters to pour blood there.

-- Tan Network 2010-03-16

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[londonthai]

it's not that often that protesters draw their blood (or go on a hunger strike or burn themselves - as Vietnamese monks did) to bring an attention of the world to their plea

[Powerband]

god, this is so primitive...but i guess is better than Pla Rah

Edited March 16, 2010 by Powerband

[beejoir]

Nice to see them clean their nice blood covered plastic bottles up!!!

[commons]

good on them and good on monks who dare to join protests against the government - they might become a new symbol of a fight against the injustice, as monks became symbols for the same ideas in the other countries (vietnam, myanmar)

rituals do play role in politics as well, but won't replace a rational, scientific education and a clear political program - for that we have to wait yet.

i'm sorry, i'm a bit intellectually handicapped, so please excuse my ignorance.

but as far as i can read your comments: to achieve democracy, it's fine for members of the sangha to transgress the Lord Buddha's vinayana? to achieve democracy, it's fine to let a hindu priest perform "rituals" & spill blood?

while, to achieve democracy, for you, it's fine "to wait yet" for a "clear political program"?

may i ask you, _what is "democracy"?_ as i said, i'm intellectually handicapped & i'd appreciate your answer.

[Cayenne]

I believe the cleaners have already cleaned it up by now. I've seen more blood on the front page of Thai Rath when they have photos of road accidents.

[brianb1944]

Do you suppose those same donors would be prepared to give blood at a Red Cross or hospital donation day in order to save lives, a rhetorical question.

I would imagine they would do it, if needed - as they did today

You didnt understand the word rhetorical? and why would a Hindu Brahmin be laying a curse, when 20,000 good Bhuddist monks were alleged to be protesting?

[nickynomatesbkk]

Let's hope they have not done the old let's add washing up liquid.

If the fire hoses hit that hard red foam party time.

[londonthai]

i'm sorry, i'm a bit intellectually handicapped, so please excuse my ignorance.

but as far as i can read your comments: to achieve democracy, it's fine for members of the sangha to transgress the Lord Buddha's vinayana? to achieve democracy, it's fine to let a hindu priest perform "rituals" & spill blood?

while, to achieve democracy, for you, it's fine "to wait yet" for a "clear political program"?

may i ask you, _what is "democracy"?_ as i said, i'm intellectually handicapped & i'd appreciate your answer.

I do not care what religious Zelots will make out of this events, those monks did not make harm to anybody and showed their stance on the moral issue

[davee58]

Repulsive people, What about the Aids or Hepatitis risk.

Londonthai @ 19:07:49

This is not a Brave gesture, what has this to do with monks burning themselves, and hunger strikes?

This is just a load of unhygenic low lifes doing what they are told to do.

No respect

[Loaded]

The OP says 'Hindu priests'. In fact this is a black magic ceremony presided over by Brahmin magic men known as phrams to Thais. It's typical Thaksin. The blood will force Abhisit and his government from office apparently. His brother lead a black magic ceremony in Chiang Mai a few years ago. Thaksin regularly consulted his astrologer and various phrams while in office.

[Dario]

I believe the cleaners have already cleaned it up by now. I've seen more blood on the front page of Thai Rath when they have photos of road accidents.

What a bunch of looneys! If I were Suthep, I would have arrested all the leaders for inciting the masses to give their blood for such a nonsense. We have seen this in history over and over, not the blood story, but "leaders" who incite the masses to do whatever they want them to do. If ever the government wants to look at people who threaten national security now, those are the ones who have to be arrested first. Anyone wants one of those looneys to steer this country?

[nimrod74741]

I find this quite repulsive,,it does nothing for Thailands image around the world.

yeah, i agree totally, disgusting image tarnishing thailands image around the world futher.

[Jonathanpattaya]

That disgusting symbolic gesture done, what is next?

[britmaveric]

What image does Thailand have to lose?

[steven100]

it's not that often that protesters draw their blood (or go on a hunger strike or burn themselves - as Vietnamese monks did) to bring an attention of the world to their plea

they certainly brought the attention of the world to their plea :

a very sick one .

a silly theatrical show .

The world will surely see this as a ridiculous act and only destroy their cause even further.

The Thais are sick and tired of the red shirt brigade. They need to go back up country and let the progress of Thailand move forward. It will be better for all in the long run ... do you think it's any good now with these silly show acts ?

I think not ...

[commons]

i'm sorry, i'm a bit intellectually handicapped, so please excuse my ignorance.

but as far as i can read your comments: to achieve democracy, it's fine for members of the sangha to transgress the Lord Buddha's vinayana? to achieve democracy, it's fine to let a hindu priest perform "rituals" & spill blood?

while, to achieve democracy, for you, it's fine "to wait yet" for a "clear political program"?

may i ask you, _what is "democracy"?_ as i said, i'm intellectually handicapped & i'd appreciate your answer.

I do not care what religious Zelots will make out of this events, those monks did not make harm to anybody and showed their stance on the moral issue

1) pls, stop immediately, calling me a "religous zelot", while i just question merit of your argumentation.

2) you say, "those monks showed their stance on the moral issue" & _i_, humbly, disagree. so what we've now, you say. "it's right" & i say, "it's wrong" - & _that_ exactly is the reason, vinayana demands monks to stay out of "worldy affairs".

3) if you believe political situation (& social involvement of monkhood) between thailand & myanmar is comparable - you've just disqualified yourself.

anything else to offer? i asked you:

but as far as i can read your comments: to achieve democracy, it's fine for members of the sangha to transgress the Lord Buddha's vinayana? to achieve democracy, it's fine to let a hindu priest perform "rituals" & spill blood?

while, to achieve democracy, for you, it's fine "to wait yet" for a "clear political program"?

[yoshiwara]

What image does Thailand have to lose?

You have just told us a lot about your relationship to Thailand.

[Old Man River]

I still worry about what Jatuporn might do. He knows this protest has failed. While I had hoped the blood drive was an exit strategy, instead it appears to be an attempt at a rallying cry. What next?

[ballpoint]

It was the lead story on the BBC news at 19:00. The reporter said something about all Thais seeing it as a powerful symbol as "the body should not be separated from the blood" and generally raved on as if all Thais would be impressed by the symbolism of it. Where does the BBC get these idiots from? My wife is not one for high emotion, but even she was extremely pissed off by this woman making out that all Thais are black magic, voodoo worshippers. If the BBC wanted to be completely fair why doesn't it get a neutral translater and randomly pick out a young, middle aged and elderly male and female from the protestors and ask them, on live television, why they are there? No doubt at least some of them would say to kick out Abhisit, but then ask them "and then what?" Let's see what the average red shirt supporter on the streets really thinks.

[DonGato]

I find this quite repulsive,,it does nothing for Thailands image around the world.

yeah, i agree totally, disgusting image tarnishing thailands image around the world futher.

100% agreed!!! what a nice example of a clean and decent city/people

...if you want to make a point, there are thousands of ways... this is disgusting...

Having someone to curse the opposition... is that the serious type of procedures they propose

if ever getting into power?... Perhalps we can ask Thinkerbell to make a dance, hopping for the

airfares to low down this year hum???

[Ponbkk]

 I thought that when trying to practice WITCHCRAFT it is pig's blood that's supposed to be thrown. Rememebr Carrie? Maybe there is still one other Thai way/western way nuance I am not informed of in regards to which blood each side uses when practicing WITCHCRAFT?

They are not giving anything they are jsut wasting things.