6 October 1976

Dozens slaughtered at Thammasat, government toppled

Police, soldiers and mobs of right-wing extremists stormed the campus of Thammasat University, beating, killing and raping students hours before the military staged a coup, in one of the darkest days in Thai history.

The country’s turbulent three-year experiment with democracy was over. The violence began just before dawn as police and military units, along with mobs of Red Gaurs, Nawapon and Village Scouts gathered outside the university. Their emotions whipped up by a photo they believed showed students hanging the Crown Prince in effigy, and Army Radio chants of ‘kill them, kill them’, police and others began shooting into the university where students had been demonstrating against the return of Thanom Kittikachorn. Some students reportedly returned fire.

The mobs poured in, unleashing their fury upon the students. Young people were dragged to Sanam Luang, beaten and hanged from trees to cheers and taunts. Right-wing fanatics mutilated bodies and burned unconscious victims alive.

Hundreds of surrendering students, including young women, were forced to strip to their waists and crawl before soldiers and police who kicked and beat them. Thammasat rector Dr Puey Ungphakorn, fearing police persecution, resigned and fled into exile. Officially, 46 died, although students claimed the true toll was far higher. Hundreds were wounded, and over a thousand arrested. At 6pm, state-run media announced a coup, a curfew, and the formation of a military council to run the country.

6 October 1976

Dozens slaughtered at Thammasat, government toppled

Police, soldiers and mobs of right-wing extremists stormed the campus of Thammasat University, beating, killing and raping students hours before the military staged a coup, in one of the darkest days in Thai history.

The country’s turbulent three-year experiment with democracy was over. The violence began just before dawn as police and military units, along with mobs of Red Gaurs, Nawapon and Village Scouts gathered outside the university. Their emotions whipped up by a photo they believed showed students hanging the Crown Prince in effigy, and Army Radio chants of ‘kill them, kill them’, police and others began shooting into the university where students had been demonstrating against the return of Thanom Kittikachorn. Some students reportedly returned fire.

The mobs poured in, unleashing their fury upon the students. Young people were dragged to Sanam Luang, beaten and hanged from trees to cheers and taunts. Right-wing fanatics mutilated bodies and burned unconscious victims alive.

Hundreds of surrendering students, including young women, were forced to strip to their waists and crawl before soldiers and police who kicked and beat them. Thammasat rector Dr Puey Ungphakorn, fearing police persecution, resigned and fled into exile. Officially, 46 died, although students claimed the true toll was far higher. Hundreds were wounded, and over a thousand arrested. At 6pm, state-run media announced a coup, a curfew, and the formation of a military council to run the country.