Thread by @NatDeeRed

[THREAD] 6 OCT 1976 marked as the one of darkest days of Thai modern history. This day known as "the 6 October event" or "Thammasat University massacre". That day Thai state forces and far-right groups were raiding the university in name of anti-communist. #Thailand #6oct #6ตุลา

After the uprising in 14 OCT 1973, Thailand became the liberal democratic country after the junta PM Thanom Kittikachorn resign and leaving Thailand and the constitution of 1974 was drafted and used.

However, due the fear of communism and military influences from the past juntas they created many of the far-right groups such as; Village Scouts (Luksuea Chaoban), Nawaphon movement, and Red Gaurs (Krathing Daeng). All of them urge to protect nation, religion and monrachy.

Moreover, most of media are owned by or under the influence of Royal Thai Forces. Which make the media have to represent anything that military wanted. [Picture: Political comic of Thairath newspaper on 13 Sep 1976 mocking students]

The fear of communism in Thailand grew stronger after the "Fall of Saigon" in 1975 including with the neighbour countries (Laos and Cambodia) became communist. More over, Thai farmers and workers strikes and students protest became more common in Thailand.

The tension started when Thanom Kittikachorn preferred to return to Thailand to ordain to be monk which made the students, especially one who had fought on 14 Oct to take him down from power, displeased. [Picture: Thanom Kittikachorn, junta leader of Thailand between 1963 - 1973]

There were many students' protest of Thanom's return. Many people who held, attended, and announced were attacked by other people many times. Until one day, 2 Electricians who put on announcement posters were killed and hanged in front of the housing estate door (in picture).

That case became infamous case in Thailand in that time because police cannot find the culprit. On 4 Oct in the afternoon, Thammasat Univ. students made a remembrance of their death and perform the show mocking the infamous case.

Next day, 2 newspaper published the part of the mocking show when the students mocking of the hanging of 2 electricians. However, one of performers was look like....... which made the military and right-wing groups displeased even the Army Radio DJ told listener to "KILL THEM".

At dusk on 5 Oct, some 4,000 people from far-rights groups as well as military and police personnel gathered outside Thammasat University where around 2,000 students were inside and protesting. [Picture: Thammasart University at present day]

From the night of 5 Oct till the morning of 6 Oct, there were several fights with small arms outside the university between students and far right groups. The heavy weapons were used at 5:00 hrs. when the M-79 grenades lands in the middle of university football field.

7:00 hrs. Police Border Patrol completely sieged the university and started to raiding the university. There were students who armed guns, but they're not able to fight against police, military, and far right groups who were fully armed.

Even students inside the university asked them to cease, but the police commander made the university became the "free firing zone". Many students were killed, while students who survived were arrested.

The dead bodies of students were humiliate by beating, stabbing, hanging on the tree, put to burn together, etc. Some of those bodies were not completely death too. [The infamous picture of the man beating a dead body which hanged on the tree while others were laughing.]

Evening of 6 Oct 1976, Thai military forces seized control of the country led by Admiral Sa-ngad Chaloryu which made the Thai most democratic period in Cold War comes to an end and turned Thailand into an ultra-right wing state.

Result of that event: The students who survived the 6 Oct event and people who against the ultra-right government went joined Communist Party of Thailand to fight against the government. Also, the Thai government intense the fight against communist by any mean necessary.

Many crime cases those happened that day remained unsolved until today. Almost no part of this day were written down in the mainstream students history books. Only a memorial event inside the Thammasat University or small events outside. [Picture: Memorial Monument of 6 Oct 1976]

Finally, not many people today remember and know what happen in that with made this event become the forgotten part of Thai history. [Footage of 6 Oct events by @AP ]

Links for further reading:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thammasat… - Wikipedia
doct6.com/learn-about/how - Doccument of Oct 6 [Thai]
time.com/4519367/thaila… - Time
indianexpress.com/article/world/… - The Indian Express
theguardian.com/theguardian/19… - The Guardian

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