OCTOBER UPRISING: Soldiers: It won'

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OCTOBER UPRISING

Soldiers: It won't be repeated

But most are against heroes' monument


Wassana Nanuam

Soldiers say the 25th anniversary of the October 14, 1973 uprising, in
which troops shot unarmed protesters, is a bitter memory and will never be
repeated.
Officers say today's army has turned over a new leaf and shares the
democratic ideals of those who brought down the military regime of Thanom
Kittikachorn and Prapass Charusathiara. Soldiers will never turn their
rifle sights on fellow Thais in the same way, they promised.
Senior officers said the army had done its best to shake off its notorious
image as killers of the innocents. For years it had carried the emotional
pain and guilt of upholding undemocratic military dictatorships.
The famous flickering black and white film footage of activists fleeing a
hail of bullets on Ratchadamnoen Avenue was still a terrible reminder of
the army's role in suppressing public aspirations.
"We hate being hated by people. This sentiment runs deep in their souls,"
said one officer, who like most of his colleagues did not want to be named.
New Army Commander-in-Chief Surayud Chulanont said uprisings like that in
1973 would never happen again since the military was no longer involved in
politics.
Gen Surayud has himself given up his senate seat and has promised to avoid
socialising with politicians. Army personnel have also been barred from
commenting on politics. Views can only be given via spokesmen such as the
army secretary and the directorate chiefs.
Looking back on 1973, officers said they were pleased the uprising had led
to more democracy, but they do not cherish the memory of the bloodshed.
"The military is hurt every time events of this nature, be it the October
14 uprising or the May 1992 bloodshed, are commemorated or talked about," a
lieutenant-general said.
Gen Chainarong Noonpakdee, the deputy supreme commander who was on the
now-defunct National Peace-keeping Council accused of suppressing the 1992
activists, said what happened in 1973 "must be prevented at all costs".
However, he defended the army's handling of the uprising, saying there was
no democracy in those days. The military must now adapt to the times, now
that there was more democracy, and wash their hands of politics. Senior
officers must adopt a lower profile.
Speaking about the Black May bloodbath, Gen Chainarong said: "I always
regret the unfortunate event that occurred."
Army secretary Maj-Gen Pathompong Kesornsuk said the force would follow
army chief Gen Surayud's stern warning to stay out of politics.
But in spite of the military's more democratic leanings most soldiers are
upset to see the Heroes' Monument, honouring those who died in 1973, being
built at Khok Wua intersection, off Ratchadamnoen Avenue. It was near here
that many protesters were shot.
They see the monument as divisive and say it will generate further bitterness.
A 1996 Defence Ministry study carried out under Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
said the memorial should not be built because it would set in stone the
army's role in suppressing democracy. It failed to take into account the
fact that the army had moved on since 1973.
Many officers agreed there were better ways of expressing a love for
democracy.
"We don't want the construction to go ahead. The site will just tear apart
the soldiers' hearts," said Lt-Gen Lertrat Rattanavanich, the assistant
army chief-of-staff.
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