Red Shirt protesters to create blood art as follow-up to huge procession

Published on Friday 19 March 2010 20:54

PROTESTERS in Thailand have announced a full weekend of anti-government activities starting with a massive procession through Bangkok followed by "blood painting", their latest shock tactic aimed at forcing new elections.

Thousands of Red Shirt protesters remained camped yesterday in the historic heart of the capital – the starting point of today's planned demo which is set to loop the capital and wind through Bangkok's central business district.

"It will be a massive caravan," said Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the movement formally known as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. "Protesters will travel around Bangkok on thousands of vehicles."

They want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections – a demand he has rejected.

The protests – by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption – started last Sunday.

In an attempt to dramatise their demands, thousands of Red Shirts lined up this week to donate blood to their cause.

Most of it was splattered at Mr Abhisit's office, but protest leaders plan to use what is left over to create a massive work of art.