A dozen anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters performed a cursing ritual by roasting chilli and salt to greet Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the headquarters of the Teachers Council Friday morning. The apparent spin-off group of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters, calling themselves the Sanam Luang Democracy Group, roasted the chilis and salt just outside the Teachers Council headquarters and succeeded only in irritating a group of teachers, some with bouquets in their hands, with the strongly unpleasant smell and acrid smoke. The teachers, who were waiting to receive Mr Abhisit metres away from the roasting scene, looked frustrated and shouted words of support for the visiting premier. Mr. Abhisit was quickly ushered into the auditorium to deliver his speech marking Teachers Day and was closely flanked by security guards to leave in a van for Government House nearby.
The anti-Abhisit protesters said they were no longer using eggs to hurl at the premier or any other Democrats who may show up in public anywhere for fear of raising food prices. They said they will turn to such traditional cursing rituals which call for the roasting of chilis and salt instead.