October 14, 1973 uprising remembered in Thailand

BANGKOK, October 14 (TNA) - Activists, academics, politicians and relatives of lost pro-democracy demonstrators, as well as representatives of the parliament and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the general public gathered at the October 14 Memorial at Khok Wua Intersection in the heart of Bangkok on Monday morning to participate in activities marking the 40th anniversary of the October 14, 1973 uprising. The groups gave alms to 14 Buddhist monks and conducted religious ceremonies to make merits for the pro-democracy demonstrators and laid wreaths to honor the people, who sacrificed their life in the uprising. The Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had her deputy Pongthep Thepkanchana to lay a wreath on her behalf; while Democrat Chamni Sakdiset represented the opposition there. Pongthep said the killed demonstrators in the uprising dared to confront with armed troops with empty hands and the bloody incident should teach people not to support dictatorship, acknowledging, however, that it takes times for a country to achieve true democracy. As part of the event, commemorative postage stamps related to the uprising were introduced, including stamps bearing pictures of the incident. (TNA)