17 March 2010 / AP, BANGKOK
Thai protesters poured several jugs of their own blood on the front gate of the government headquarters Tuesday in a symbolic sacrifice to press their demands for new elections.
Thousands of red-shirted demonstrators formed long lines to have their blood drawn by nurses, a day after their leaders vowed to collect 1 million cubic centimeters of blood -- 264 gallons (1,000 liters) -- to spill at Government House. A few teaspoons of blood were drawn from the veins of each volunteer and then transferred into dozens of large plastic water jugs that were passed overhead through the crowd of cheering protesters before being delivered to Government House, the prime minister’s office. Riot police allowed protest leaders to approach the white iron front gate and pour out the blood, which oozed under the gate as national television broadcast the images live. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has not entered his office at Government House since the protests started on Friday. “The blood of the common people is mixing together to fight for democracy,” Nattawut Saikua, one of the protest leaders, told cheering supporters. “When Abhisit works in his office, he will be reminded that he is sitting on the people’s blood.”
