Thailand's most unmemorable day: 14 October 1973

 

 

There are not many major political dates or civil wars in Thailand. However, October 14, 1973 is one of the most significant event happened due to the struggling of democracy and is an event that non of any Thai civilization want it to happen again and try to forget about it. Flashing back around 40 years ago, Thailand was ruled under but it was temporarily ruled by a branch of government. However, governments at that time were weak and scrawny that the military had to take responsibility protection the people. In other words, Thai was originally democracy but during this time, it was overruled under dictatorship. They started to rule people under dictatorship and suffered Thai populaces based on scores of their casualties. It is worse in this case of situation, since Thanom Kittchakorn, the general, told his armed forces that they have the right to do anything they want, even the right to kill any citizens they dislike.

Conversely, people could not live their life under dynamisms and dictated government-like. As a result, 500,000 Thai inhabitants gathered together as one and started to protest towards the military for their rights and demand for democracy as their politic system, once again. Citizens and university students led this demonstration; most students are from Thammasat University since the protest occurred near Thammasat Unicersity. Not so long after people start to protest and attempts to recall their rights back, Thanom presided over an exploitive military and establish massacring protestors which the event is called: Origin of the “Thammasat University Massacre”. This happened due to the Thais’ objection towards the Thanom Kittchakorn and his militants team. These anger the dictated side and make them fear about getting overthrown so they decided to assassinate and destroys all the protestant members. In addition, the military troops argued that they are not wrong conferring that they are protecting Thailand from these communist protestors, which are the threats of out country.

I truly believe that both sides: the militants and the protestors have done a very effective actions towards the history of Thailand, that sometimes, I think it is too much to handle. First of all, how the military side acts and overcome power is very radical. They not have the rights to do everything they want to just because they own weapons, and others do not. Because militaries are stronger than normal populaces as in their fighting skills, powers, and armed weapons, this is a great advantage for them because they can simply takes over with total dominance at anytime if there was no opposing them. This can later on lead to rebellions and a significant revolution in the country itself. However, I am for and supports the protestors since they are not asking or doing anything wrong but asking for rights that they are supposed to have back. I believe that what they did can be rebels and effective, however this will need supports from many civilians. Since they have many protestors than the amount of military had, they will finally get what belongs to them back and can overthrows them totalitarian militaries out.

As the politic issues are going badly in Thailand, King Rama IX could not handle anymore damages from the militants towards his populaces, so he ends this massacre by exiling the main armed frontrunners (starters) to four different countries, included Thanom Kittikachorn for backstabbing and assassin Thailand.

As a result of 14^th century, or the Thammasat University Massacre, approximately 77 innocent populaces were killed, more than 850 are injured and massive disappeared. During they are exiled, King Rama IX has given the honor to a group of (weak) government temporarily while Thailand is repairing their politics, economics, and social units. After that, a new official politics government, voting and democracy; which he is a great guy in rebuilding Thailand and develops it further more have elected Chuan Leekpai as their government. Chuan Leekpai is Thailand’s 20^th government. He play a significant role in anting corruption and get rid of corruptions out of Thailand. As well, he plays a huge role in reforming Thailand’s economics and human rights. He makes the market economies between Thailand and other coutnries growth even more trogly on selling national assets and natural resources. In addition, he was known as Mr. Clean, which indicates his respects, and hard work he has done towards the country, not just to get profits from himself. He is one of the best Thailand’s government at all time. As well, Rama IX gives his honor in visiting and healing each injured individuals in different public hospitals and provide funeral ceremonies for all death bodies which was located in the North of Sanam Luang or the Royal field and releases left over bones (after burning death bodies) into Chao Praya River with admirations and respects. In fact, this event does not affect the economic level as much, but socials and politics since this is one of the greatest civil war in Thailand’s history that cause huge damages to Thai citizens up to today. 

 

Pictures From the War

Thanom Kittkachorn

Chuan Leekpai

http://www.dipity.com/aimeaimee/Thailand-Massacre/

Primary Sources:

• Mrs. Joy L'Huillier
• Ms. Darawan Unsombut
• Mrs. Pussadee Kusomrosananan
• Mr. Songrit Kusomrosananan
• Mrs. Nichapa Srisuk  
• Pye, Lucian. Asian Power and Politics. United States 
• of America: Harvard University Press, 
• 2004. 107-110. Print.
 

 

• Neher, Clark. Southeast Asia: Crossroads of the World
•  (2nd edition). Illinois: Norther Illinois University, 
• 2004. 138-144, 178-180. Print. 
 

Secondary Sources:

• http://atcloud.com/stories/20003
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thammasat_student_uprising#The_1973_democracy_movement
• http://www.thaiworldview.com/art_hist.htm
• http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B9%8C_14_%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2
• http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99_14_%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2
• http://www.14tula.com/
• http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99_%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A2
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuan_Leekpai