Historical Massacres Of The 70s - 77 People Killed And Many Hundreds Wounded!

[Stephen Cleary]

Can anyone advise books (english language) to read on some of the violence and miltary / civillian clashes of the 1970's? I have not seen very much information regarding these events anywhere.

Giles Ungpakorn, a professor at Chulalongkorn University, has written much on the political chaos of the 1970s. He is the head of the 1976 'Fact Finding Committee'.

Giles gives his view of the 1970s from a Marxist perspective. Just a few days after last year's coup, at the height of martial law, he organized a protest (at Siam Square). A controversial figure, his latest book 'A Coup For Rich' was originally (now they sell it) refused by 'Chulalongkorn University Book Store' because of his constant references to the book The King Never Smiles.

Here is an example of his work entitled 'Cleansing Democracy of Socialism' - Crushing the Thai left on the 6th Oct 1976.

Cleansing Democracy of Socialism - October 1976

Edited June 11, 2007 by stevesuphan

[ColPyat]

So do not bash me about Thai history and please welcome the fact that I let you know that there is footage available for those interested.

Alex

Don't get cranky. It was a funny comment, you have to admit.

It was one of the many massacres here in Thailand. A list of the most notable ones in the recent decades.

The 14th of October '73.

The 6th of October '76

The following black list assassinations of suspected communists, socialists, and other mostly rural activists.

The treatment of the Vietnamese boat people.

The systematic rape and pillaging of Cambodian refugees who crossed into Thailand.

Black May '92.

The 2003 drug war killings, officially 2000 victims, but maybe 4000 to 5000 victims.

In addition to that there were many smaller incidents where allegations of summary executions were made, such as in the Ratchaburi hospital case.

Not one of the perpetrators has ever been arrested or brought to trial, even though many are known, still alive, and even in this government.

Gen. Surayud himself, present Prime Minister has been involved personally in Black May, both as commanding general of the special warfare command, whose soldiers have been involved in the killing, and by having led a squad of soldiers personally into Rattanakosin Hotel, where those soldiers have kicked and rifle butted injured protesters.

Gen. Pallop Pinmanee, now special PR adviser to the ISOC, has led in the 70s a secret assassination squad (and was responsible for the Krue Sue incident, in which he ignored an order by then defense minister Gen. Chavalit not to use violence but to negotiate a solution).

etc...

[Prakanong]

google , Black May Thailand .

It wasn't Black May or 73 as the OP states.

Hok Tulaa (October 6 1976) at Thammasat

Actually you are incorrect, there was a student uprising 14 October 1973 that led to the downfall of Thanom Kittikachorn's government. google: 14 October 1973 uprising

Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachon, the Prime Minister, Field Marshall Praphat, the Police Chief and Colonel Narong, Commander 11 Infantry Regiment. Narong, Thanom's son was married to the daughter of Praphat.

Thanom had taken power from Field Marshall Sarit in 1963. In 1971, Thanom dissolved parliament and imposed one-man rule. The decade of his rule in the 1960's saw an escalation in Thai involvement in the Vietnam War. The growing US military presence in Thailand and the deployment of Thai forces in Vietnam brought on political, economic and social costs.

The early 70's was an age of growing political awareness in an increasingly educated middle-class and demands for economic progress from a society tired of a regime that had stayed too long. The plot thickened as rivalry between various military and political factions intensified.

It was against this backdrop that the tragedy on 14 October 1973 unfolded. The flames were stoked in June 1973 when student activists were expelled for anti-government activities. The confrontation reached a climax in October when 13 students led by student leader, Thirayuth Boonmi, were arrested.

Students from Thammasat University massed at the Democracy Monument demanding the release of their colleagues. Workers and the general population who were equally disgruntled with Thanom rallied in support.

Estimates of number of demonstrators exceeded 200,000, the biggest public demonstration in Thai history.

Things came to a head when the student leaders who were released were rearrested. The die was cast for a bloody confrontation on that fateful day on 14 October 1973.

When the army moved in, a massacre ensued. Students ran for their lives, many jumping for cover into nearby canals. Some sought refuge in the Royal Palace at Chitlada where the gates were opened for the fleeing students. There were tales of untold heroism as some fought back by pushing buses across roads to block tanks.

Recriminations continue to be traded between the people involved on 14 October 1973. Conspiracy theories abound; rivals out to dispose of Thanom by manipulating the students; a plot by army rivals who instigated the confrontation to discredit Thanom.

Whatever the causes, it didn't justify the brutal use of raw military might against unarmed civilians. It was to the credit of some military units that they refused to be involved in putting down the popular uprising.

In the aftermath of the bloodbath, Thanom, Praphat and Narong were asked to step down in the interest of national unity and leave the country.

Sanya Thammasak, the Rector of Thammasat University, was appointed as the civilian Prime Minister. A new constitution was drawn up and elections were scheduled for January 1975. There were hopes for a lasting and stable democracy.

In 1976, Thanom returned to Thailand to trigger another round of protests, an even greater tragedy and darker period in Thai political history. Again the events revolved around Thammasat University in the month of October.

Where are the protagonists in the 14 October 1973 revolution today? Thanom died in Thailand in 2004. Thirayuth Boonmi, the student leader is a lecturer in Thammasat University and still an outspoken critic on national issues.

The 14 October 1973 spirit lives on. The 14 October 1973 Memorial stands as a monument to the sacrifice by the brave young men and women who stood up and died for a cause.

source: ezine articles

Could be either but I know the video - it was when Thanom came back from exile - was ordained at the royal wat and the Thai Rath and Bangkok Post published faked photogratph and the right wing groups attacked the students. In 73 the palace doors were opened to save them - in 76 they were brutalised, raped and mutilated.

Everyone knows the what, where and when but not the who and why - of course we are censored here from speculation

[Prakanong]

So do not bash me about Thai history and please welcome the fact that I let you know that there is footage available for those interested.

Alex

Don't get cranky. It was a funny comment, you have to admit.

It was one of the many massacres here in Thailand. A list of the most notable ones in the recent decades.

The 14th of October '73.

The 6th of October '76

The following black list assassinations of suspected communists, socialists, and other mostly rural activists.

The treatment of the Vietnamese boat people.

The systematic rape and pillaging of Cambodian refugees who crossed into Thailand.

Black May '92.

The 2003 drug war killings, officially 2000 victims, but maybe 4000 to 5000 victims.

In addition to that there were many smaller incidents where allegations of summary executions were made, such as in the Ratchaburi hospital case.

Not one of the perpetrators has ever been arrested or brought to trial, even though many are known, still alive, and even in this government.

Gen. Surayud himself, present Prime Minister has been involved personally in Black May, both as commanding general of the special warfare command, whose soldiers have been involved in the killing, and by having led a squad of soldiers personally into Rattanakosin Hotel, where those soldiers have kicked and rifle butted injured protesters.

Gen. Pallop Pinmanee, now special PR adviser to the ISOC, has led in the 70s a secret assassination squad (and was responsible for the Krue Sue incident, in which he ignored an order by then defense minister Gen. Chavalit not to use violence but to negotiate a solution).

etc...

Careful - you will have the johnny come lately (of whome colypat is not oen) apologists on this board up in arms. Somne of them only came to find a woman recently after many years of failure at home.

[Jai Dee]

Stay on topic please.

[Prakanong]

I just bought the book, "Democracy, Shaken & Stirred" by Win Lyvarin which covers a lot of the topics in this thread.

Not read it yet and its a novel but the blurb says its recommended reading for political science students in Thailand.

It ranges from 1933 to 1992

[GuestHouse]

So should we take it that those guffawing at others for not having a comprehensive grasp of Thai history, despite posting often on TV, are themselves unaware of what happened around Loei in the 70s?

I assume this to be so since nobody seems to have mentioned the massacres that happened there, this despite that in terms of numbers of people killed they out strip any civilian killings committed by the Thai military to date.

[ColPyat]

So should we take it that those guffawing at others for not having a comprehensive grasp of Thai history, despite posting often on TV, are themselves unaware of what happened around Loei in the 70s?

I assume this to be so since nobody seems to have mentioned the massacres that happened there, this despite that in terms of numbers of people killed they out strip any civilian killings committed by the Thai military to date.

Unless you are talking about something different than the killings of suspected communists by military, Krathingdaeng and Navapon, and other militias and right wing organisations, which i have mentioned, i am not aware of what you are talking about.

[Xangsamhua]

So should we take it that those guffawing at others for not having a comprehensive grasp of Thai history, despite posting often on TV, are themselves unaware of what happened around Loei in the 70s?

I assume this to be so since nobody seems to have mentioned the massacres that happened there, this despite that in terms of numbers of people killed they out strip any civilian killings committed by the Thai military to date.

Please tell us more. I don't know about the massacres in Loei.

[A_Traveller]

So should we take it that those guffawing at others for not having a comprehensive grasp of Thai history, despite posting often on TV, are themselves unaware of what happened around Loei in the 70s?

I assume this to be so since nobody seems to have mentioned the massacres that happened there, this despite that in terms of numbers of people killed they out strip any civilian killings committed by the Thai military to date.

I'd appreciate any further clarification about this as well. Am only too aware of the airbrushing of official records in Thailand, but have to admit ignorance about this.

Regards

[Mid]

The Ghosts of Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park

[A_Traveller]

The Ghosts of Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park

Thanks for the link, aware in part but not the detail.

Regards

PS It's interesting that there is little reference to April 1948 in discussion of the 'southern insurgency'. That was air-bushed out of official reports even the 'historic' review in 1999.

/edit add PS //

Edited June 11, 2007 by A_Traveller

[Mid]

$64 ? ,

how long can you keep the lid on a boiling pot ?

[Xangsamhua]

$64 ? ,

how long can you keep the lid on a boiling pot ?

Good question. Uprisings have been put down frequently in Pattani since the Siamese annexation in 1902. It doesn't seem to have worked.

[GuestHouse]

Unless you are talking about something different than the killings of suspected communists by military, Krathingdaeng and Navapon, and other militias and right wing organisations, which i have mentioned, i am not aware of what you are talking about.

It was a lot more than that, a direct long term engagement with the Thai military. Anyway, something for you to read up on.

[ColPyat]

Unless you are talking about something different than the killings of suspected communists by military, Krathingdaeng and Navapon, and other militias and right wing organisations, which i have mentioned, i am not aware of what you are talking about.

It was a lot more than that, a direct long term engagement with the Thai military. Anyway, something for you to read up on.

Well, yes, i read a few papers on that. It was a war. My wife told me a few stories from her own childhood about it as well, as she grew up not to far, and her dad helped the communists.

The parts that made the war really ugly were the summary executions.

[A_Traveller]

One thing that did strike me, in the mid 90's, was conversations about 'incidents' a few years prior often made one realise that the same event had several colloquial names, which made it troublesome to quantify events, at least until one had x-refed the data.

Regards

[vermin on arrival]

This is an interesting thread. What I really like are all the references to good books on the topics. I'm wondering how many of these books can be purchased in country and how many must be ordered from a company like Amazon. Does anyone know where would be the best place in Thailand to look for some of these books?

[ColPyat]

This is an interesting thread. What I really like are all the references to good books on the topics. I'm wondering how many of these books can be purchased in country and how many must be ordered from a company like Amazon. Does anyone know where would be the best place in Thailand to look for some of these books?

White Lotus, a local publisher owned by a German who has been here forever, has many obscure books on all sort of obscure topics.

Bookazine has usually more controversial books than Asia books. I have ordered some from a local internet bookstore - http://www.dcothai.com/

Well, and there is Amazon.

[vermin on arrival]

This is an interesting thread. What I really like are all the references to good books on the topics. I'm wondering how many of these books can be purchased in country and how many must be ordered from a company like Amazon. Does anyone know where would be the best place in Thailand to look for some of these books?

White Lotus, a local publisher owned by a German who has been here forever, has many obscure books on all sort of obscure topics.

Bookazine has usually more controversial books than Asia books. I have ordered some from a local internet bookstore - http://www.dcothai.com/

Well, and there is Amazon.

Thanks ColPyat. And if I may impose one more time-would I need to order from White Lotus or does it have a store where items can be purchased, and if so where is it? Bookazine is a chain correct? I imagine it would be easy to find all of its info online. The local internet bookstore link is also helpful.

[ColPyat]

Thanks ColPyat. And if I may impose one more time-would I need to order from White Lotus or does it have a store where items can be purchased, and if so where is it? Bookazine is a chain correct? I imagine it would be easy to find all of its info online. The local internet bookstore link is also helpful.

I don't know if White Lotus have a store, they have a website though. They are a bit disorganized. Most of their income comes from having contracts with libraries all over the world. But local chain stores such as Asia Books or Bookazine can easily order.

[vermin on arrival]

Thanks ColPyat. And if I may impose one more time-would I need to order from White Lotus or does it have a store where items can be purchased, and if so where is it? Bookazine is a chain correct? I imagine it would be easy to find all of its info online. The local internet bookstore link is also helpful.

I don't know if White Lotus have a store, they have a website though. They are a bit disorganized. Most of their income comes from having contracts with libraries all over the world. But local chain stores such as Asia Books or Bookazine can easily order.

Ok cool. Thanks again man. Now its time for me to get off of my butt and get some of these books.

[Pakboong]

I arrived in Bangkok in early November 1973 to find that much of the blame for the October uprising was put on the Farangs. The Americans specifically for paying high wages to the rural poor to the extent that the poor were able for the first time to educate their offspring. This education apparently only served to side the newly educated rural poor with the communist left.