Council for a Community of Democracies

Red Shirts’ Bloody Anti-Government Demonstration
March 16, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

On March 16, protestors in Thailand, known as the Red Shirts, gathered outside of the office of the Prime Minister in Bangkok to demonstrate against the government. According to BBC News, the Red Shirts who are supporters of deposed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, say that the country’s current leadership is illegitimate because Thaksin was ousted in a coup in 2006.
The Red Shirts poured containers of their own blood, which had been collected earlier in the day, in front of the gate of the Government House – the location of the Prime Minister’s office. Red Shirt leader, Veera Musikapong, was the first individual to donate blood. Veera stated: “This blood is a sacrificial offering. To show our love for the nation, to show our sincerity.” Somsak Janprasert, who also donated blood, remarked: “This is a very symbolic way to express that our blood, the people's blood, is power.” The symbolic blood splashing was broadcast on national television.

The Red Shirts, who are calling for current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to quit office, said that more blood demonstrations would take place at all six entrances of the Government House if their political demands continued to be ignored by the Thai government. Abhisit has already stated that he will not resign from office, and remarked that the government has abstained from taking action against the protestors. The Red Shirts’ international spokesman, Sean Boonpracong, said blood donations were given by at least 20,000 individuals, Voice of America reported.

An article by the New York Times noted that the bloodletting demonstration was “civil” compared to previous Red Shirt actions. In April 2009, the Red Shirts threatened to blow up a natural gas truck, attacked a car carrying the prime minister, and raided a hotel full of regional foreign leaders forcing them to leave the country.
In addition, demonstrating also took place outside of military bases. The Red Shirts believe that the government and the military are thwarting democracy.

Sources:

Voice of America - Thai Protesters to 'Shed' Blood Against Current Government

BBC News - Thai red-shirts splash blood in anti-government protest

New York Times - Protesters Dump Blood at Thai Government Site

For previous news on Thailand, please see: http://ccd21.org/news/asia/thailand_UDD_protest.html