Pro-democracy people gathered in front of the Army Headquarter to call for the Thai military reform at an event, commemorating the suicide of the taxi driver, who hanged himself at a bridge to protest against the 2006 military coup d’état.
On Saturday late afternoon, 31 October 2015, anti-junta activists from Resistant Citizens Group and a large crowd gathered at the 14 October Memorial on Rachadamnoen Road on the 9th anniversary of Numthong Praiwan, a late Taxi driver, who committed suicide eight years ago.
The event was organised under the heavy presence of police and military officers who came to maintain security and monitor the anniversary.
After gathering at the 14 October Memorial, the activists and their supporters marched to the Headquarter of the Royal Thai Army where they called for the reform of the Thai Armed Forces.
The group urged that the military should return to their barracks and return the country to the civilian rule, saying that the military must serve the people and do not look upon people as enemies.
Moreover, the pro-democracy activists said that the military must be reformed as professional armed forces without being divided and fragmented along the lines of the military leaders, but should be united to safeguard the interests of the people not a few individuals.
Pakawadee Veerapaspong, an activist who joined the event, said “the military in ‘developed countries’ must be under civilian rule because the military and soldiers have weapons. How can we know that certain military leaders won’t use weapons to acquire power for themselves and for some others”.
Speaking of the current military government, she said “If you think that you can manage [the country], why did you become military [officers]? Why didn’t you become some sort of business managers since the first place.”
After gathering in front of the Army Headquarter briefly, the group marched back to the 14 October Memorial to commemorate the death of the late Taxi driver with pro-democracy speeches and songs.
Nuamthong Praiwan’s first attempt to suicide was in 30 September 2006 when he drive his taxi into a military tank, but he survived. Later on 31 October 2006, he hanged himself at the bridge in front of the headquarter of Thai Rath newspaper on Vibhavadi Rangsit road. His suicide note stated that he wanted to prove to a high ranking army officer who said that no one would die for their ideology.
