Politicians, army, academics remember Black May

BANGKOK, May 17 (TNA) – Representatives of political parties, the army, academics, people’s organisations, educational institutions and relatives of victims marked the 26th anniversary of the 1992 Black May on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. They laid wreaths at the Black May memorial park on Ratchadamnoen Avenue to remember a large numbers of dead and injured pro-democracy demonstrators cracked down on the avenue by the military during their protest against the government of Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon. Gothom Arya, chair of the Foundation for People’s Righteousness of May 1992, said the society should consider the incident as a lesson so that political violence would not be repeated. He also said the foundation would complete the memorial park that would teach young people that justice was a right solution of the Thai society. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva praised the fight of the pro-democracy demonstration in 1992, saying the people were exercising their constitutional rights but the movement unfortunately led to losses. The society should learn a lesson, leave conflicts behind and push for compensation for affected people, he said. When the memorial park is completed, it will become a place for people to learn Thai political history and a motivation for Thai democracy, Mr Abhisit said. Pheu Thai Party’s Worachai Hema said violence in the Black May should not recur; otherwise, the country would be damaged. He also asked security authorities to cope with pro-election demonstrators peacefully on May 22. Parinya Thewanarumitkul, deputy rector of Thammasat University, said he was pleased to see representatives of the army show up for the anniversary event. (TNA)