October 1973 democracy uprising ceremony held

BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) – Representatives of pro-democracy groups and politicians Saturday morning participated in the 33rd anniversary commemorating Thailand's bloody October 14, 1973 student-led uprising which helped topple the military regime under Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn.

The ceremony began with alms offered to 33 monks at the October 14 Memorial on Rajdamnoen Avenue as families of persons killed in the uprising as well as those who took part in the original event also attended.

Among the politicians present at the ceremony were Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of Democrat Party, Somsak Prisnanantakul, deputy chief of Chart Thai Party, and Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin.

Praise was expressed in memory of fallen heroes.

Mr. Apirak said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would cooperate with the Oct 14, 1973 committee in building a museum to inform the next generations about building democracy in the country in a constructive way.

Anti-graft campaigner Rosana Tositrakul, who leads the Women for Constitution group, said that under the democratic system, people should be permitted to scrutinise the government because even good politicians could become corrupt.

Meanwhile, the wife of missing human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, said democracy was frequently used to justify military coups and this could be seen when government officials killed innocent people in the past four or five years while more than 20 activists were kidnapped and no one took responsibility.

Mrs. Angkana said democracy was then used as a tool for stripping rights and freedom as wrongdoers had never been punished.

Lawyer Somchai disappeared in Bangkok in March 2004 while providing legal services in defending a group of Muslims charged with plotting attacks in the insurgency-plagued south of the country.

He went missing after publicly accusing police of torturing his clients while in custody.

TNA