Bloody May or Black May (Thai: พฤษภาทมิฬ) is the popular name for the 17-20 May 1992 popular protest in Bangkok against the government of General Suchinda Kraprayoon and the the bloody military crackdown that followed. Up to 200,000 people demonstrated in central Bangkok at the height of the protests. The military crackdown resulted in 52 officially confirmed deaths, many disappearences, hundreds of injuries, and over 3,500 arrests. Many of those arrested were tortured. The Bangkok Skytrain at sunset on Thanon Narathiwat Ratcha Nakharin with Empire Tower at the back. ... Suchinda Kraprayoon was Prime Minister of Thailand from 7 April 1992 until 24 May 1992. ...

Background

On 23 February 1991, Army Commander Suchinda Kraprayoon overthrew the government of Chatichai Choonhavan. The coup-makers, who called themselves the National Peace-Keeping Council (NPKC), appointed Anand Panyarachun as Prime Minister. Anand's interim government promulgated a new constitution and scheduled parliamentary elections for 22 March 1992. February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Suchinda Kraprayoon was Prime Minister of Thailand from 7 April 1992 until 24 May 1992. ... General Chatichai Choonhavan (5 April 1920—6 May 1998) was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1988–1991. ... Anand Panyarachun (born August 9, 1932) was Thailands Prime Minister twice, between 1991-1992 and once again in 1992. ... The following is a list of Prime Ministers of Thailand: Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, (1932-1933) General Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena, (1933-1938) Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, (1938-1944) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1944-1945) Tawee Boonyaket, (1945) Seni Pramoj, (1945) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1946) Luang Praditmanutham, (1946) Rear Admiral Thawal Thamrong Navaswadhi... The National Assembly (Rathasapha) is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. ...

A government coalition with 55% of the lower house was formed, which appointed General Suchinda as Prime Minister. Massive public protests immediately followed. On 9 May, Suchinda responded by saying that he would support a constitutional amendment making individuals who had not been elected to Parliament ineligible for the Premiership. Tensions dissipated.

Popular protests

The truce was short-lived. On 17 May 1992 the two leading government parties announced that, while they supported the constitutional amendment, they also favored transitional clauses that would permit Suchinda to serve as prime minister for the life of the current Parliament. By that evening, 200,000 demonstrators filled Sanam Luang to call for Suchinda to resign. Chamlong Srimuang led the protestors on a 2 KM march to Government House. As they reached the intersection of Rachadamnoen and Rachadamnoen Nok Avenues, they were halted at Phan Fa Bridge, which had been barricaded with razor wire by the police. After negotiations failed, some protestors stampeded and broke through the barricade. The police retaliated with water cannons and clubs after protestors tried to commandeer one of the fire trucks. Stones and molotov cocktails were soon flying. Chamlong used a loudspeaker to exhort the marchers not to attack the police, but his words were lost in the unrest. May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Sanam Luang Sanam Luang (Thai : สนามหลวง) is an open field in front of the Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. ... Chamlong Srimuang (Thai: จำลอง ศรีเมือง, born 5 July 1935) is a controversial Thai activist and former politician. ...

Over the next several hours, hundreds of troops arrived to quell the protest. Just after midnight, Suchinda declared a State of Emergency, making gatherings of more than ten people illegal. Chamlong remained near Phan Fa Bridge and the nearby Democracy Monument. Around 4:00 a.m., soldiers threatened the nearly 40,000 protesters by firing M16 rifles. An hour and a half later, they began firing again. By the morning, the army moved more troops in, and crowds grew even larger at other sections of the city. The Democracy Monument, Bangkok The Democracy Monument (in Thai: Anusawari Prachathipatai) is a public monument in the centre of Bangkok, capital of Thailand. ... M16 or M-16 may be: M16 rifle M16 (connector) M16 (knife) M16 (pitrilysin family), a peptidase M16 plotting board M-16 scow Eagle Nebula, a Messier object and open cluster in the Serpens constellation John Bell Williams Airport (M16 IATA airport code), in Raymond, Mississippi NOTE: M16 is sometimes...

Early on the afternoon of 18 May, Suchinda publicly accused Chamlong of fomenting violence and defended the government’s use of force. Shortly later, troops, firing continuously in the air, moved in on the crowd surrounding Chamlong. The troops handcuffed and arrested Chamlong.

The crowds did not disperse, and the violence escalated. After government troops had secured the area around Phan Fa Bridge and the Democracy Monument, protests shifted to Ramkhamhaeng University across the city. By the evening of 19 May, some fifty thousand people had gathered there.

Royal intervention

Early on the morning of 20 May, Princess Sirindhorn addressed the country on television, calling for a stop to the unrest. Her appeal was rebroadcast throughout the day. In the evening, her brother, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, broadcast a similar public appeal. Then at 9:30 pm, a television broadcast of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Suchinda, and Chamlong was shown, in which the King demanded that the two put an end to their confrontation and work together through parliamentary processes. Following the broadcast, Suchinda released Chamlong and announced an amnesty for protestors. He also agreed to support an amendment requiring the prime minister to be elected. Chamlong asked the demonstrators to disperse, which they did. On 24 May 1992, Suchinda resigned. May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (Thai full name: สมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา เจ้าฟ้ามหาจักรีสิรินธร รัฐสีมาคุณากรปิยชาติ สยามบรมราชกุมารี – Som det phra thep phra rat raat cha su daa Chao fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Ratha si ma ku na korn pi ya chat Siam ba rom ma raat cha ku maa ree)is a princess of Thailand, of the Chakri Dynasty. ... HRH Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn of Thailand Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (born July 28, 1952) is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King (Rama IX) of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit. ... Bhumibol Adulyadej (Thai: ; IPA: ; Royal Institute: Phumiphon Adunyadet;  ) (born December 5, 1927), officially styled the Great (Thai: มหาราช, Maharaja) and also known as Rama IX, is the current King of Thailand. ...

Press censorship

The front page of the International Herald Tribune 20 May 1992 issue was blacked out, as was an editorial of the Bangkok Post of the same date. Three other newspapers were shut down on May 21. The International Herald Tribune (www. ... The Bangkok Post is one of three daily English-language newspapers published in Bangkok, Thailand. ...

Aftermath

The violence resulted in 52 deaths, hundreds of injuries, and many disappearences. Over 3,500 people were arrested; hundreds of them were women and children. Many arrested were tortured; some were beaten, left to sit in sweltering sunlight, soaked in gaoline and threatened with immolation, and left to starve.

A House of Representatives Special Committee and a Fact-Finding Committee led by Sophon Rattanakorn shared the same conclusion: the government of General Suchinda used excessive force to crack down on the rally. Some facts from the investigation, such as names of military officers and military units responsible for rounding up, killing, and torturing of protestors were revealed to the public. It is believed that these facts were recorded on the report of the Defense Ministry's Fact Finding Committee led by General Pichit Kullawanit, and are kept secret to this day from the Thai public.

The military constitution of 1992 remained in place until 1997, when a replacement was drafted and promulgated.

Chamlong later apologized for his role in the events: "I wanted a peaceful rally," he said afterwards. "I can’t deny some responsibility for the damage and loss of life. I feel deeply sorry for those families whose members were killed in the incident, for those people who were injured and their families." Nevertheless, he noted that "we were right in what we have done." He later retired from politics.

Suchinda was later appointed Chairman of Telecom Asia (today known as True), a company which received a concession to install 2 million telephone lines in Bangkok during the Anand government.

Anand became Chairman of Saha-Union Group, which had received an Independent Power Producer concession during his government. An Independent Power Producer is a privately-owned power producer (power plant). ...

References

• 1992 biography of Chamlong Srimuang
• Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, "Political disharmony in Thai society"
• Physicians for Human Rights, "Bloody May: Excessive Use of Lethal Force in Bangkok: The Events of May 17-20, 1992"

External links

• Remembering Black May 1992 — an in-depth recounting of the events that led up to the demonstration and all the way through to the aftermath
• Black May 1992 — a brief timeline of Black May