Activists join city trail to remember Oct 6 victims
CHAYADA KHIANNOK
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- HUMAN-RIGHTS, pro-democracy activists and general enthusiasts yesterday gathered at various iconic locations in Bangkok associated with the October 6, 1976, massacre to commemorate the students who lost their lives in the tragic event.

Yesterday's events, which started in the morning and finished in the evening, saw the participants pay tributes to the students and attend symbolic expressions and talks.

In the morning at Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus, a commemoration was held at the Sculpture Park, attended by relatives of the victims and various groups such as the Heroes of Democracy Foundation, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and the October Network Group.

Nakarin Mektrairat, deputy rector of the university's administration department, led the crowd in presenting alms to monks and laying flowers to commemorate the massacre, in which students were shot and killed by ultra-rightist groups.

Thongchai Winichakul, professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who was a student at the time, gave a speech during in which he said that if we wanted to honour those who lost their lives as victims, we should get the history resolved.

Afterwards, some of the activists made the symbolic gesture of wrapping the tamarind trees opposite the university with black cloth.

The October students were believed to have been hanged from these trees.

Prapatsorn Thongsin, a relative of a victim, said he joined the event to commemorate his brother and his friends, who believed in democracy. Forty years have passed and the families are still sad when they think about the events of that day, he said, and they have still not seen much change in society.

After the memorial session, the organisers and the relatives of the victims held a meeting to discuss next year's commemoration.

They hope the 40th-anniversary event will gain more recognition and attention from the public. Nevertheless, no concrete plans have yet been made.

Another group, calling themselves Resistant Citizens, also held a series of events at the same spot in the evening. They read poetry and had a candle-lighting ceremony to commemorate the October students at the tamarind trees.

At the Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, a talk on nationalism and ideologies was scheduled by the Thammasat students' union as part of the commemoration.

In the afternoon, a 10-member anti-coup group known as the New Democracy Movement gathered coincidentally in front of Parliament to read a statement and make some symbolic gestures to show their opposition to the new Constitution Drafting Committee, which held its first meeting yesterday.

The group said the new charter would serve only to empower the junta and it would undermine democracy.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Activists-join-city-trail-to-remember-Oct-6-victim-30270325.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-07

And nobody punished! 39 years later, Has anything changed?

"Nakarin Mektrairat, deputy rector of the university's administration department, led the crowd in presenting alms to monks and laying flowers to commemorate the massacre, in which students were shot and killed by ultra-rightist groups."

They were killed by the military and the police. I don't know who does the PR for the military in Thailand but they are clearly a genius. As a nation Thailand seems to have learned absolutely nothing from this atrocity. Just 39 years. Some of the guys who were pulling the triggers then are wearing general's uniforms now.

And nobody punished! 39 years later, Has anything changed?

Nothing really change and the ultra rightist groups are still around and all those that work for them are still unpunishable.

NOT JUST ONE,,,,,,TWO MASSACRES, by the Thai Army, killing unarmed civilians.

The first massacre was on October 14th 1973, and there were even more victims than October 6th 1976.

NOT JUST ONE,,,,,,TWO MASSACRES, by the Thai Army, killing unarmed civilians.

The first massacre was on October 14th 1973, and there were even more victims than October 6th 1976.

1992?

NOT JUST ONE,,,,,,TWO MASSACRES, by the Thai Army, killing unarmed civilians.

The first massacre was on October 14th 1973, and there were even more victims than October 6th 1976.

1992?

2010?

NOT JUST ONE,,,,,,TWO MASSACRES, by the Thai Army, killing unarmed civilians.

The first massacre was on October 14th 1973, and there were even more victims than October 6th 1976.

1992?

2010?

Left out to avoid bringing a former Prime Minister into it, or round and round we will go again.

THAMMASAT IS ALSO A THREAT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Most of the crooked lawyers I know graduated there. Their "Old Boy' network is above the law.

If you are cheated in a Thai court, (regular occurrence), what can you do?

Hire another lawyer and get cheated some more?

Go to the Lawyers Council ? Waste of time, it's part of the "Legal Mafia"

I know one lawyer who was struck off over 20 years ago, and still runs a busy law office in Bangplee, still cheating and abusing people.

Thailand urgently needs an independent body, with teeth, to regulate and clean up the deplorable Justice System.

This is the best possible legacy that General Prayuth can give the people

THAMMASAT IS ALSO A THREAT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Most of the crooked lawyers I know graduated there. Their "Old Boy' network is above the law.

If you are cheated in a Thai court, (regular occurrence), what can you do?

Hire another lawyer and get cheated some more?

Go to the Lawyers Council ? Waste of time, it's part of the "Legal Mafia"

I know one lawyer who was struck off over 20 years ago, and still runs a busy law office in Bangplee, still cheating and abusing people.

Thailand urgently needs an independent body, with teeth, to regulate and clean up the deplorable Justice System.

This is the best possible legacy that General Prayuth can give the people

News topic about commemorating students slaughtered by the army. This idiot turns it into plugging general too.

Well done.

How times change.

39 years ago it was the Army murdering people standing against it.

In 2014 it was the government which their victory ultimately put into power who were murdering innocent protesters - and it was the Army who moved in to stop it.

It may have looked like 'democracy' 39 years ago but their ideas stopped then. Just because you oppose a military government, it doesn't automatically mean you are 'democratic'. When they say 'democracy' they mean it in the same way that the Chinese do.

How times change.

39 years ago it was the Army murdering people standing against it.

In 2014 it was the government which their victory ultimately put into power who were murdering innocent protesters - and it was the Army who moved in to stop it.

It may have looked like 'democracy' 39 years ago but their ideas stopped then. Just because you oppose a military government, it doesn't automatically mean you are 'democratic'. When they say 'democracy' they mean it in the same way that the Chinese do.

This junta is more akin to the Chinese regime than any of the recent civilian governments.

For those who are unable to read Thai footage starts at around 1.44

THAMMASAT IS ALSO A THREAT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Most of the crooked lawyers I know graduated there. Their "Old Boy' network is above the law.

If you are cheated in a Thai court, (regular occurrence), what can you do?

Hire another lawyer and get cheated some more?

Go to the Lawyers Council ? Waste of time, it's part of the "Legal Mafia"

I know one lawyer who was struck off over 20 years ago, and still runs a busy law office in Bangplee, still cheating and abusing people.

Thailand urgently needs an independent body, with teeth, to regulate and clean up the deplorable Justice System.

This is the best possible legacy that General Prayuth can give the people

News topic about commemorating students slaughtered by the army. This idiot turns it into plugging general too.

Well done.

WHO'S THE IDIOT?

Who's plugging the general? I merely pointed out that some Thammasat graduates have a VERY negative effect on this country, and made a positive suggestion for improvement.

Most people on this forum have much more to fear from a corrupt Justice System which can legally harass you, steal your assets, and even wrongfully imprison you. The current government seems harmless by comparison!

THAMMASAT IS ALSO A THREAT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Most of the crooked lawyers I know graduated there. Their "Old Boy' network is above the law.

If you are cheated in a Thai court, (regular occurrence), what can you do?

Hire another lawyer and get cheated some more?

Go to the Lawyers Council ? Waste of time, it's part of the "Legal Mafia"

I know one lawyer who was struck off over 20 years ago, and still runs a busy law office in Bangplee, still cheating and abusing people.

Thailand urgently needs an independent body, with teeth, to regulate and clean up the deplorable Justice System.

This is the best possible legacy that General Prayuth can give the people

News topic about commemorating students slaughtered by the army. This idiot turns it into plugging general too.

Well done.

WHO'S THE IDIOT?

Who's plugging the general? I merely pointed out that some Thammasat graduates have a VERY negative effect on this country, and made a positive suggestion for improvement.

Most people on this forum have much more to fear from a corrupt Justice System which can legally harass you, steal your assets, and even wrongfully imprison you. The current government seems harmless by comparison!

Concur with you that we have a corrupt justice system that has not change with the current government. We are still being harassed and wrongfully imprisoned.

THAMMASAT IS ALSO A THREAT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Most of the crooked lawyers I know graduated there. Their "Old Boy' network is above the law.

If you are cheated in a Thai court, (regular occurrence), what can you do?

Hire another lawyer and get cheated some more?

Go to the Lawyers Council ? Waste of time, it's part of the "Legal Mafia"

I know one lawyer who was struck off over 20 years ago, and still runs a busy law office in Bangplee, still cheating and abusing people.

Thailand urgently needs an independent body, with teeth, to regulate and clean up the deplorable Justice System.

This is the best possible legacy that General Prayuth can give the people

So lynching students from trees is OK then?

Somehow being ripped off by a dodgy lawyer does not really begin to compare with being strung up from a tree by fascists because you dared to express a political view.

Contemptible utterly self centered post.

And nobody punished! 39 years later, Has anything changed?

At least there are now people willing to remember the events. For many years the government forbade any memorials. Then they just actively discouraged them. Then they just allowed them. I'm quite surprised at this story. It was really a horrific event, and most Thais have been reluctant to even mention it. And of course nobody has been punished, nor ever will be. Go look up the history of what it was that happened.

How times change.

39 years ago it was the Army murdering people standing against it.

In 2014 it was the government which their victory ultimately put into power who were murdering innocent protesters - and it was the Army who moved in to stop it.

It may have looked like 'democracy' 39 years ago but their ideas stopped then. Just because you oppose a military government, it doesn't automatically mean you are 'democratic'. When they say 'democracy' they mean it in the same way that the Chinese do.

This junta is more akin to the Chinese regime than any of the recent civilian governments.

How times change.

39 years ago it was the Army murdering people standing against it.

In 2014 it was the government which their victory ultimately put into power who were murdering innocent protesters - and it was the Army who moved in to stop it.

It may have looked like 'democracy' 39 years ago but their ideas stopped then. Just because you oppose a military government, it doesn't automatically mean you are 'democratic'. When they say 'democracy' they mean it in the same way that the Chinese do.

Trouble is, same people in 1976 are the ones in power today...but I doubt you worry about that

THAMMASAT IS ALSO A THREAT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Most of the crooked lawyers I know graduated there. Their "Old Boy' network is above the law.

If you are cheated in a Thai court, (regular occurrence), what can you do?

Hire another lawyer and get cheated some more?

Go to the Lawyers Council ? Waste of time, it's part of the "Legal Mafia"

I know one lawyer who was struck off over 20 years ago, and still runs a busy law office in Bangplee, still cheating and abusing people.

Thailand urgently needs an independent body, with teeth, to regulate and clean up the deplorable Justice System.

This is the best possible legacy that General Prayuth can give the people

So lynching students from trees is OK then?

Somehow being ripped off by a dodgy lawyer does not really begin to compare with being strung up from a tree by fascists because you dared to express a political view.

Contemptible utterly self centered post.

LYNCHING bent lawyers and judges would be much better, and there are a lot of them. Not homicide.....merely vermin control!

Hyped up negative news on the military. Everyday more and more BS. Look at it from both sides for once. Human rights, did you know that thatbloke Andy Hall is creating a big fuss over a 15 year old Myanmar worker at a pineapple factory? Child labour he calls it. Has this guy been to Isaan? Half the working population is 15 years old. 39 years ago this happened. Thanks for the video. Don't you have better things to do than watch stuff like this. I recommend the Vietnam war film archives. Get a life.

Hyped up negative news on the military. Everyday more and more BS. Look at it from both sides for once. Human rights, did you know that thatbloke Andy Hall is creating a big fuss over a 15 year old Myanmar worker at a pineapple factory? Child labour he calls it. Has this guy been to Isaan? Half the working population is 15 years old. 39 years ago this happened. Thanks for the video. Don't you have better things to do than watch stuff like this. I recommend the Vietnam war film archives. Get a life.

Hyped up negative news?

You should be the one getting a life.

This incident, among others, is symptomatic of the problem here, the inability of a free press to investigate and analyze events without fear of persecution or imprisonment dooms this country to repeat ad nauseam the past

I would suggest the more thinking amongst the crowd to do a Google search for the diplomatic cables from the British Ambassador at the time, detailing his discussion with an 'individual' regarding the event

They are revealing as they are shocking, but of course they cannot ever be published here in Thailand

In these YouTube video a mother and a father talk about the death of their sons at Thammasat University, the aftermath, the blaming of the victims ('they were all communists') and their fight for justice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAbgvsDvkT4#t=1518

In these YouTube video a mother and a father talk about the death of their sons at Thammasat University, the aftermath, the blaming of the victims ('they were all communists') and their fight for justice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAbgvsDvkT4#t=1518

Justice is a curious concept here in Thailand, If you are rich...drag someone along the road with your car when drunk as a skunk and kill them, no big deal. If you are poor get stopped at a pee in the pot police stop, prepare for jail

Be engaged in probably one of the more egregious outbursts of military overreach..prepare for government.

Go Figure