6 October 1976 Massacre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Massacre of 6 October 1976 was a violent crackdown on leftist students and protestors that occurred in the grounds of Thammasat University and at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, Thailand. Students from various Bangkok universities were demonstrating against the return to Thailand of Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn, who had been forced from power three years previously but had recently entered the country as a Buddhist monk. The protests began at Sanam Luang, but soon moved onto the nearby campus of Thammasat University, forcing the university to suspend its examinations.
The attack and massacre was led by Thai military and police units, but especially by the brutal right-wing paramilitary Red Gaur and the royalist Village Scouts. It was sparked by a mock hanging of a student protestor, inspired by the murder by hanging of three demonstrators in Nakorn Pathom. However, a photo of the student in the mock hanging was retouched to create a resemblance a member of the Royal Family, and the altered photo was printed by two Bangkok newspapers. This doctored photo inflamed the rightwing and caused their violent response.
Officially, 46 people died in the crackdown, which saw protestors shot, beaten and bodies mutilated, though the actual death toll was probably much higher. The massacre led immediately to a military coup against the democratic government of Prime Minister Seni Pramoj. The King eventually acknowledged the coup, which led to the appointment of Tanin Kraivixien as Prime Minister.
[edit] Further reading
- David Morell and Chai-Anan Samudavanija, "Political Conflict in Thailand: Reform, Reaction, Revolution"
- Bryce Beemer, Forgetting and Remembering "Hok Tulaa", the October 6 Massacre
