On 6th October 1976, at least forty-six people, most of whom were students, were killed in a military massacre at Thammasat University in Bangkok. The massacre remains one of the most shocking moments in Thailand’s modern history, though it’s also part of a cycle of military violence, with similarly brutal suppressions of pro-democracy protesters in 1973 (also at Thammasat), 1992 (‘Black May’), and 2010.
The Thammasat students had been protesting against the return from exile of Thanom Kittikachorn, who had been prime minister during an extended period of military rule. On 25th September 1976, two anti-Thanom activists (Choomporn Thummai and Vichai Kasripongsa) were hanged by the police, and on 4th October 1976 a group of Thammasat students staged a reenactment of the event. One of the students who posed as a hanging victim bore a resemblance to Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn (who is now King Rama X), and on its front page on 6th October 1976, the Dao Siam (ดาวสยาม) newspaper printed his photograph and accused the students of hanging the Prince in effigy.
Military-owned radio stations demonised the students as Communists who should be killed, and militia groups (the Village Scouts, Nawaphon, and Red Gaurs) joined the police and army in storming Thammasat. A photograph by Neal Ulevich, of a man ready to hit a corpse hanging from a tree with a folding chair, has come to symbolise the extreme violence and prejudice of the massacre. (The photo was reprinted in Moments.)
Today, the Thai Film Archive in Salaya will commemorate the anniversary of the massacre with an event ironically titled ลืมเสียเถิดอย่าคิดถึง (‘forget it, don’t think about it’). Four films that address the tragedy will be screened: They Will Never Forget, directed by Ooka Ryuuchi; Pirab (พีเจ้น), by Pasit Promnampol; The Two Brothers (สองพี่น้อง), by Patporn Phoothong and Teerawat Rujenatham; and By the Time It Gets Dark (ดาวคะนอง), by Anocha Suwichakornpong. A similar event, 41 ปี 6 ตุลา ปกป้องประชาธิปไตยประชาชน (‘41 years since 6th Oct., protecting people’s democracy’), is taking place simultaneously at Thammasat.
The Thammasat students had been protesting against the return from exile of Thanom Kittikachorn, who had been prime minister during an extended period of military rule. On 25th September 1976, two anti-Thanom activists (Choomporn Thummai and Vichai Kasripongsa) were hanged by the police, and on 4th October 1976 a group of Thammasat students staged a reenactment of the event. One of the students who posed as a hanging victim bore a resemblance to Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn (who is now King Rama X), and on its front page on 6th October 1976, the Dao Siam (ดาวสยาม) newspaper printed his photograph and accused the students of hanging the Prince in effigy.
Military-owned radio stations demonised the students as Communists who should be killed, and militia groups (the Village Scouts, Nawaphon, and Red Gaurs) joined the police and army in storming Thammasat. A photograph by Neal Ulevich, of a man ready to hit a corpse hanging from a tree with a folding chair, has come to symbolise the extreme violence and prejudice of the massacre. (The photo was reprinted in Moments.)
Today, the Thai Film Archive in Salaya will commemorate the anniversary of the massacre with an event ironically titled ลืมเสียเถิดอย่าคิดถึง (‘forget it, don’t think about it’). Four films that address the tragedy will be screened: They Will Never Forget, directed by Ooka Ryuuchi; Pirab (พีเจ้น), by Pasit Promnampol; The Two Brothers (สองพี่น้อง), by Patporn Phoothong and Teerawat Rujenatham; and By the Time It Gets Dark (ดาวคะนอง), by Anocha Suwichakornpong. A similar event, 41 ปี 6 ตุลา ปกป้องประชาธิปไตยประชาชน (‘41 years since 6th Oct., protecting people’s democracy’), is taking place simultaneously at Thammasat.
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