Thais commemorate Oct 6 pro-democracy heros/heroines

BANGKOK, October 6 (TNA) - A ceremony was held at Thammasat University in Bangkok Saturday morning to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the October 6 massacre, in which some 46 people, mostly students, were killed during their pro-democracy demonstration against Thailand’s then military dictatorship. As part of the memorial event, presided over by Thammasat University Rector Professor Somkit Lertpaithoon and joined by the university’s alumni and the general public, a merit-making ceremony was held in which 19 Buddhist monks were offered alms by the participants. The participants also laid wreaths at the October 6, 1976 Memorial Monument, after which representatives from various parties got on a stage to deliver their speeches to praise the heroism of those who died in the pro-democracy fight. Professor Somkit said although Thailand has not yet achieved full democracy, he wants the public to understand about the country’s democratic development, noting that those who died during the massacre are a real example of people who fight for democracy. (TNA)