Thai Red Cross: Red Shirt's 'Blood Protest'

The blood-spilling campaign of Thailand's anti-government Red Shirt protesters to pressure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to bow to their House dissolution demand is prompting more citizens to donate their blood to the Thai Red Cross, helping to raise a sufficient blood supply for patients and emergency needs.

Dr. Soisaang Phikulsod, director of the Thai Red Cross Society National Blood Centre, commented that the blood donations collected by the Red Shirts to splash at Government House, the ruling Democrat Party headquarters and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s home, could not be described as a blood donation since the action is not meant to help save lives of the people but instead is being done for a political cause.

She noted that the current use of blood in the symbolic red shirt movement in their fight for democracy prompted a surprisingly large number of people to donate their blood at Red Cross service centers. The Red Cross usually has a lack of donated blood during this time of the year which is the drought season and summer school break, she said.

Many people made phone calls to the Red Cross, saying it is regrettable that gallons of blood was thrown as a waste in the protest and wanting to donate their blood for the Red Cross.

The daily amount of blood supplies reache 1,600 units for patients in hospital and about 1,000 units stored for emergency cases during the mass rally, putting Thailand on top of Asia in terms of blood donation without incentives.

“Some people, who used to donate their blood, are motivated by the pictures of the Red Shirts having their blood drawn, so they decide to donate their blood,” said the director.

The Red Cross hopes the number of blood donors remains high until April when there is a long holiday period, she said. Blood may be needed during Thai traditional New Year or Songkran holiday as the number of road accidents is likely to increase as a large number of people travelling to their hometown to celebrate the water-splashing festival with their family and relatives.