Half a century on, Thammasat marks 6 October with tribute

Bangkok — On the 50th anniversary of the 6 October 1976 violence, Thammasat University commemorated the tragic events with a series of memorial ceremonies. The remembrance, organized by civil society groups and the 6 October remembrance network, commenced at approximately 05:30 at the university’s Tha Phra Chan campus. A symbolic performance titled Nattakam Ramluek (Memorial Performance) kicked off the event, led by renowned artists Kage and Sinsawat Yodbangtoey.

The performance featured participants marching in unison to the rhythm of drums, while a large white cloth spread across the grass served as a backdrop. Symbolic movements accompanied the performance, accompanied by the singing of Phuea Muan Chon (For the People), with the crowd joining in. As the procession moved forward, colored smoke flares were released and performers lay on the ground, symbolizing scenes associated with the locations where people were killed during the 1976 violence.

The ceremony concluded with the reading of the names of 42 individuals who lost their lives, followed by a merit-making ceremony with 19 monks from Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit, who dedicated the merit to the deceased. Numerous dignitaries, including academics, activists, former students, and representatives of civil society, attended the event, which also saw the distribution of free copies of the book "50 Years: The Legacy of 6 October" to registered participants.