PHOTOS

13 OCT 2010

This Day In History: Student Uprising

Thirty-seven years after the events of the October 14, 1973 student uprising we take a look back through some of the most striking images captured at the time. Photos by Bangkok Post.

11

This Day In History: Student Uprising — The "Three Tyrants" Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn (pictured), his son Col. Narong and Field Marshall Prapass Charusathiara's abuse of power was the main catalyst that led to the October 1973 student uprising.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — Under the leadership of student activist Thirayuth Boonmi the National Student Centre of Thailand protested for a revision of the constitution. Later Khun Thirayuth was himself arrested, which led to further protests.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — Tensions came to a head when thousands of students gathered in protest at Thammasat University and Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — Many of the students carried signs depicting His Majesty the King, who they felt supported their actions.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — The student protestors were joined by famers and labourers who would in later years suffer the wrath of rightist groups for their involvement.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — On October 13, 1973 the students were finally released and the protests seemed to be over. However, unable to deal with the crowds effectively the police turned to their weapons to control the burgeoning mass.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — Later the army was brought in and opened fire on the students, forcing them to duck for cover.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — In response the protestors used what weapons they find to respond to the ongoing violence.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — Some commandeered garbage trucks to ram into oncoming tanks.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — To help resolve matters, His Majesty the King opened Chitralada Palace as a place of refuge for the protestors. In this picture is Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother.

This Day In History: Student Uprising — Once the violence subsided, those arrested were taken away by security forces along with the bodies of the dead. To this day it is not known where they were taken.