Bangkok: Red Shirts Dump Blood on Thai PM's Doorstep

by Barbara McPherson | March 17, 2010 at 09:39 am

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Protesters known as Red Shirts collected litres of their blood and poured it onto the pavement in front of Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's home. This is the second of "blood sacrifices" that the Red Shirts have made. Previously bags of excrement were thrown at the residence.
At its peak about 100 000 Red Shirts were in Bangkok urging the prime minister to dissolve parliament which they say was installed with the aid of the military. The former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was removed from office in 2006 by a military coup.
Thaksin Shinawatra lives in exile.
The conflict between the Red Shirts who are calling for a dissolving of parliament and the Yellow Shirts who are currently in power has been ongoing since 2006. Thailand is a democracy with a constitutional monarchy. It has been experiencing unrest and separatist action during the past few months.
U.S. State Department Advice to Travelers

The Department of State advises all U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Bangkok to monitor events closely, to avoid any large public gatherings, and to exercise discretion when moving about Bangkok. All demonstrations are unpredictable, and any demonstration can turn violent without warning.

far south of Thailand is increasingly dangerous and U.S. citizens are urged to avoid non-essential travel there.
Thai-Cambodian border area remains dangerous because of border disputes
Laos border area is dangerous and the Chiang Mai area is pointed out as particularly so.
Thai/Burma border area is the scene of frequent armed conflicts.