Gathering marks 20th anniversary of anti-coup suicide
On Saturday (31 October), a gathering took place at an overpass on Vibhavadi Road to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Nuamthong Praiwan, a taxi driver who crashed his taxi into a tank and later took his own life in protest of the 19 September 2006 military coup.
Activists, politicians, and members of the public participated in the gathering, which started at around 12.30 with live music, followed by a Buddhist merit-making ceremony. Flowers were placed around the overpass.
The rapper Elevenfinger also performed at the gathering. Before the event ended, former Red Shirt leader Thida Tavornseth led the participants in making a pledge to push for a new Constitution in line with the result of the 2026 referendum and for the repeal of laws that are relics of military coups.
After the coup, on 30 September 2006, Nuamthong crashed his taxi into a tank parked near the Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn to protest the coup. He was seriously injured..
On 31 October 2006, Nuamthong was found hanging from the overpass in front of the Thairath newspaper office on Vibhavadi Road. He had committed suicide after Akkara Thairoj, a deputy spokesperson for the military junta, expressed scepticism about his intentions by asserting that “nobody’s ideals are so great that they would sacrifice their lives for them.”
Nuamthong’s suicide note says that he voluntarily crashed his taxi and took his own life and that he dies to demand democracy, and that his suicide is also a response to Akkara’s insult. He also wrote that “I hope that in my next life, there shall be no more coups.”
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