Protesters in Thailand to pour blood on parliament
Updated
The supporters of the ousted Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra have continued their protest in Bangkok and are planning to pour blood on the steps of parliament.
Negotiations have been taking place between the National Human Rights Commission and leaders of the Red Shirt movement in an attempt to solve the impasse between the Thai government and the protestors.
Presenter: Christine Webster
Speaker: Ron Corben
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CORBEN: There was a long negotiations this afternoon between with the chair woman of the National Human Rights Commission and the leadership of the Red Shirt movement with the purpose to try and find a way through the current impasse between the government and the Red Shirts. The Red Shirts are calling for the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and step down.
WEBSTER: What has been agreed to at the meeting?
CORBEN: The meeting today was trying to find a way forward through this impasse. What was agreed to was the human rights representative from the Human Rights Commission would be present at the rally to ensure that the peaceful means are adopted and also to ensure that any crackdown, if there is a crackdown by the Thai military, that it would be certainly be observed by the Human Rights Commission. Now, the idea of it is to ensure that the rally continues as peacefully as possible. Also agreed was that the rallies, the protesters would not go within 500 metres of key buildings, government buildings, United Nations, parliament and also that airports and railways would not be obstructed in any way and these messages were going to be conveyed to the government, but the talks will be continuing.
WEBSTER: At present though, it doesn't appear that that message has gone through. Are Red protesters starting to gather at parliament?
CORBEN: Well, this afternoon, they are going to be going to both Government House as well as the representatives to go to parliament with the intention of spreading blood that had been presumably donated by protesters. It's a very symbolic act against the government and as the spokesman for the protesters just said to me it would force the Prime Minister to say walk through the blood of the protesters. But as I say it is very symbolic and obviously part of their campaign to try and put pressure on the government.
WEBSTER: What has been the reaction by the government to these latest plans?
CORBEN: Well, the government has so far or initially resisted any calls for them to stand down and although there has been no contact made with the key dialogue partner within the government, nothing has come of it as yet. Basically the Prime Minister had said that yesterday that he would not be pressured into an early election under these sorts of circumstances and if elections were held, that would have to be conducted in an atmosphere that was calm. Now he did not believe that that was appropriate at this point in time.
WEBSTER: I believe that the parliament was postponed today due to a lack of accorum. Are lawmakers concerned about their safety?
CORBEN: There was a special meeting that was called by the Chair of the House for a joint sitting. There were concerns expressed by some of the representatives and party members of safety at the parliament which is not very far from where the protesters have been conducting their rally.
