Fifty years after Bangkok varsity massacre, Thai activists demand amnesty for royal insult cases

BANGKOK, Oct 6 — Thai activists gathered on Tuesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Thammasat University massacre, calling for amnesty for those convicted under the country's strict royal insult law. Around 300 people, including politicians and survivors, participated in the ceremony held at the university in Bangkok.

Section 112 of Thailand's criminal code, enacted after the 1976 killings, criminalizes insulting, defaming or threatening the king or his family, with a maximum sentence of 15 years per offense. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue that the law's broad interpretation has been used to suppress dissent. Since 2020, nearly 300 individuals have been charged under the so-called lese majeste law, many of them young people who participated in large-scale protests demanding democratic change and reform of the monarchy.

The official death toll from the massacre was 46, though survivors and witnesses believe more than 100 were killed. No state official has been held accountable for the crackdown. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul represented the government at Tuesday's event through a junior minister, who expressed condolences for the victims and emphasized the importance of allowing diverse opinions.

Thammasat survivor Wattana Chaichanasakul read the names of the deceased, a tradition observed annually to ensure their memory is not forgotten. A student present at the ceremony, Thanaporn Singlee, stressed the significance of marking the anniversary, stating that Thammasat University was a site where people died due to government actions.