Red-shirts call for fresh elections

The red-shirts rally in Bangkok entered its ninth day Monday. The group is supporting the ousted former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. Despite their numbers dwindling, demonstrators are vowing to continue the protests, calling for fresh elections.

The red-shirts are giving the monument of democracy a new look - their calls for fresh elections written with their own blood.

Suwichai Sriboonrueng, protester, said, "I don't think negotiations with the government will happen because both sides cannot agree on the conditions. We only want parliament to be dissolved."

The call was ruled out by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and his government's offer of negotiation was rejected by the red-shirts.

With talks in a dead lock, the crowd of demonstrators is now down to tens of thousands from its peak at more than 150 thousand on the first day of the protest on March 14th.

But the organizers say they plan to camp out near the Government House for at least another two weeks, making it impossible for the PM to perform his daily duties.

Some residents are fed up with the prolonged drama.

Wasana Pontaharn, business owner and Bangkok resident, said, "For the peace of the country, please kindly return the power to the people. Dissolution of the parliament is the only way out."

But this is not an option for Abhisit at the moment. Now everything seems to be up to the Prime Minister, who still maintains the backing of the military and a majority in parliament. There is no sign of direct talks between the protesters and the Prime Minister, who is now using a middle man to negotiate.