Gatherings marks 16th anniversary of 10 April 2010 Red Shirt protest crackdown
Photos: Ginger CatA gathering took place at the 14 October 1973 Memorial on Ratchadamnoen Road yesterday (10 April) to mark the 16th anniversary of the 10 April 2010 crackdown on Red Shirt protests, during which the military deployed live rounds against protesters gathering in the Ratchadamnoen area, resulting in the death of 26 people.Activities included ane exhibition on the April-May 2010 crackdowns, music performances, and a Buddhist ceremony in the afternoon. Flowers were placed in front of pictures of victims of the crackdown. The event concluded with a candlelit vigil.Former Red Shirt leaders, such as Thida Thavornset and Dr Weng Tojirakarn, were in attendants, along with People’s Party executives and MPs and a number of senators.In her speech, Thida said that most of the Red Shirt protesters were from the working class and the urban poor, and that the Red Shirt movement was a class struggle, which shows that the poor do not give in to a bureaucratic polity and military dictatorship that tried to interfere with democracy.The Red Shirt protests lasted 68 days, and Thida said no protest that came before ever lasted that long and had that many participants. 16 years later, cases regarding the crackdown are still ongoing. Thida asked if it would be possible for justice to be served in the remaining 4 years before the statute of limitations expire.People’s Party executive board member Picharn Chaowapattanawong said that, if no perpetrators of the 2010 crackdowns are brought to justice, similar events may happen again. He noted that the People’s Party have proposed a bill amending the Military Court Act, and that several MPs have proposed amendments to the Criminal Code so that cases involving violence by state officials will have no statute of limitations. The party is also proposing amendments to other legislations so that members of the public can file charges against state officials directly with a court instead of having to go through an independent body.Meanwhile, former People’s Party MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn said that the party intends to propose an amendment to the Military Court Act so that criminal cases involving a military officer will go to a civilian court instead of a military court. The intention, he said, is to prevent future use of military forces on citizens.The 10 April 2010 crackdown was the first in a series of military operations against Red Shirt protesters, who were protesting against the government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva. It was followed by further operations culminating on 19 May 2010. Between 10 April - 19 May 2010, 99 people died and over 1200 were injured.Another gathering took place in the evening near the Democracy Monument, involving a Buddhist ceremony and a moment of silence for the victims.Politicians affiliated with the Pheu Thai Party were in attendance, including former Red Shirt leader and former Deputy Minister of Commerce Nattawut Saikua, former Minister to the Prime Minister Office Jakkrapob Penkair, and former Minister to the Prime Minister Office Jiraporn Sindhuprai. A number of former MPs were also at the event, including Khattiya Sawatdiphol, whose father, Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, was killed while giving an interview during the May 2010 protests.Nattawut gave a speech during the event, noting that this is the second year in a row where two separate gatherings are being held to mark the anniversary of the crackdown. He said that all charges against Red Shirt protesters, including the terrorism charges against Red Shirt leaders, have been dismissed. He also noted that the student movement of 2020 wanted the Red Shirts to stand with them, which he considered a win.Nattawut said that he plans to hold anniversary events every year, and that he would like to create a website and social media account compiling the story of the Red Shirt protests. He hopes that the site would be a space for people to learn about the protest, and hopes to launch it before 19 May 2026.He also said that he has been asked if former Red Shirt activists who have joined different political parties would be reunited. He could not answer the question, as each person has different political ideas, but he hopes that time will tell.
eng editor 1
Sun, 2026-04-12 - 00:34
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April-May 2010 political violence
10 April 2010 political violence
