No political talk at Oct 6 Thammasat University ceremony

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No political talk at Oct 6 ceremony
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

Organisers choose not to take any chances even though junta mum on issue

BANGKOK: -- Organisers of the commemoration of the October 6, 1976 massacre at Thammasat University said yesterday they would not discuss politics this year, due to the state of affairs in the country after the May 22 coup.

"No political discussions. This is the condition," Vipa Daomanee, a key organiser who was also part of the incident , told The Nation. She added that the organisers had made this decision with no direct pressure from the junta.

At least 46 people were officially recognised as having been shot or lynched to death on that day back in 1976, when an ultra-royalist mob descended on the students protesting inside and outside Thammasat University. The students were accused of being communist and anti-monarchist.

Many believe the death toll is much higher than the 46 declared, as more people disappeared in the weeks and months that followed.

This year's talk, which will be held on October 5 at Thammasat University's Tha Prachan Campus, will be led by a monk who will speak about ethics and human rights, Vipa, who was a former lecturer at the university, said.

She added that a separate religious ceremony would be held the following morning.

Vipa explained that since the organisers of some political events had been pressured by the military junta, she and the rest of the organising team had decided not to directly "challenge" the interim government.

"We just want the space to hold the event. Please understand the plight of the organisers," she said.

Vipa went on to say that every commemoration of the 1976 incident had been politicised and sensitive as the student activists were seen more as having communist leanings rather than pushing for democracy.

When there's more democracy, there's less controversy, she said.

'Little space for discussion'

Vipa, who is also coordinator of the fact-finding committee of the 1976 massacre, decried the fact that there is little space in Thai society to discuss this matter publicly.

Since last year's event in Thammasat commemorating the October 14, 1973 democratic uprising as well as the play "Wolf's Bride" had to be cancelled because they were deemed to be insulting to the monarchy, the organisers this year do not wish to take any chances, another organiser Sinsawat Yodbangtoey said.

"The country's undemocratic condition has contributed to this decision," Sinsawat said.

Sinsawat said the October 6, 1976 tragedy ought to be a lesson for Thais today, including the junta and the ruling-National Council for Peace and Order. "Learning about the country's history is important," she said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/No-political-talk-at-Oct-6-ceremony-30243640.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-19

[Tokay]

Pffft. Who needs to remember history?

[NongKhaiKid]

I thought Oct 6 has been removed from text books so why schedule a PC non-event for something that didn't happen ?