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Updated Wednesday, March 17, 2010 5:24 pm TWN, By THANYARAT DOKSONE, AP



	A supporter of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra holding blood in plastic bags, walk to the residence of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to spill blood at its front gate in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, March 17, 2010. (AP) More Photos (2)

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Thai protesters hurl own blood at PM's house

More than 100,000 demonstrators, including many from the poor northeast and north, gathered in Bangkok on Sunday, vowing to continue their protest until victory. But Abhisit has rejected their demands to dissolve Parliament, saying only that he will listen to the protesters and leaving the situation in a stalemate.

The protesters consist of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption, and pro-democracy activists who opposed the army takeover. They believe Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the connivance of the military and other parts of the traditional ruling class.

Thaksin, who lives overseas to escape a two-year jail sentence for abuse of power, remains widely popular among the poor who are grateful for the cheap medical care, low-interest loans and other measures his government enacted to reduce poverty.

On Tuesday, thousands of Red Shirts formed long lines to have their blood drawn by nurses to spill at Government House, the prime minister's office. Leaders claimed to have collected 80 gallons (300,000 cubic centimeters). Hundreds of protesters then traveled to the nearby ruling Democrat Party headquarters and splashed several more jugs of blood on the pavement outside.

Surat Horachaikul, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, said he believed the protest organizers lacked plans for their next step and that the protests might end in a few days.

"If nothing comes out of this rally, the government is likely going to become more stable," he said.

Despite continued anxiety over possible violence, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and Thai baht currency have remained stable.

Many Bangkok residents say they are tired of the years of turmoil that have hurt the economy.

"I want the protest to stop as soon as possible. My business would be better, I hope," said Suwan Pana-ngham, a downtown food vendor.

But other residents cheered the protesters as they approached Abhisit's house.

"These people represent the majority of Thais," said Chavalita Nittayasomboon, a 29-year-old company employee. "They might not be educated, but they have their dreams of having a better quality of life."

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Comments

March 17, 2010 johnny.brian@

"Pouring of own blood" was kind of ironic. Instead used in hospital or emergency to save life, they used it against government.