Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, backed by a formidable military force, rejected an ultimatum to dissolve parliament yesterday as tens of thousands of red-shirted protesters vowed to continue their push to oust the government.
They later set another deadline, threatening to pour more than 940 liters of blood drawn from their ranks at Government House, the seat of government, if their renewed demand was rejected by 6pm today.
If the crowd stays at its peak of 100,000 protesters, each would have to donate two teaspoons of blood to meet the goal. Organizers said they were requesting between 0.01 liter and 0.1 liters from each protester.
PHOTO: AFP
“The blood will be taken from the body and democratic soul of the Red Shirts,” said a protest leader, Nutthawut Saikua, referring to the popular name for the protesters.
He said they would start recruiting medical staff for the blood drive this morning.
A Red Cross official expressed concern over the hygiene of drawing blood from so many people and noted that such a large quantity “could save a lot of lives,” if it weren’t destined to be spilled.
In the first reported violence of the protests, two soldiers were wounded when four grenades exploded inside the compound of the First Infantry Regiment, known as the King’s Own Bodyguard, army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.
He did not blame the demonstrators, who were not in the area, but said there has been intelligence that some elements had been planning such attacks.
The grenades were fired from an M-79 launcher, he said.
Abhisit, the key target of the massive demonstration, earlier said he could not give in to the protesters’ demand to dissolve parliament by midday, but left room for compromise.
The demonstrators marshaled around the heavily defended 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters where Abhisit has been hunkered down in recent days, but after the deadline passed they began a march back to their main encampment.
“Asking for the dissolution of parliament before noon in exchange for a halt to the demonstrations, we all agreed it can’t be done. However, it doesn’t mean the government coalition parties and I won’t listen to their ideas,” Abhisit said on national TV.
The protesters believe Abhisit took office illegitimately with the connivance of the military and other parts of the traditional ruling class who were alarmed by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s popularity, particularly among the poor.
“Our goal is not to remain entrenched in the government. Like all Thais, we’d like to see the country move forward,” Abhisit said.
“The government must listen to the demonstrators. Although the demand can’t be met by noon, we are willing to hear what they say,” he said.
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