Phumtham reflects on 50 years since 6 Oct 1976, noting that conflict only cut short democracy. He points to an important lesson: society must not allow differing views to turn into hatred.
6 Oct 2026 GMT+7 Phumtham Vechayachai a leader of the Pheu Thai Party, postedon his personal Facebook pagestating that he remembers the 50th anniversary of 6 Oct 1976 and stresses that learning from the past to move forward means passing on truth and lessons, not anger and hatred.
Phumtham recounted that in the early morning of 6 Oct 1976, violence was used against protesters at Thammasat University, resulting in many deaths, injuries, and arrests. That evening, a coup ended parliamentary politics following the 14 Oct 1973 events. Fifty years later, people may have differing views on the past, but one thing Thai society must not deny is that when hatred is created and dissenters become enemies, violence follows. When political conflicts end through force, democracy is cut short and society’s learning is severed.
“I believe the remembrance of 6 Oct 1976 should not pass on anger or hatred, should not judge winners or losers, nor use past losses for current political gain. What we should do is face the truth honestly, honor the victims with dignity, and recognize the dreams of the youth then who sought democracy and justice.”
The key lesson is society must not let differing opinions turn into hatred. Those who disagree are not enemies and must not be made targets of violence. Democracy may be imperfect, with conflicts, mistakes, and needed reforms, but it grows only when people and society can continuously learn from their errors. If every crisis is cut short by force or coups, the country must keep restarting. What is lost is not just a government or constitution, but time, opportunities, and the democratic progress of the entire nation.
The 50 years since 6 Oct 1976 should lead Thai society forward—from memory to lessons from conflict, from accepting differences born of past wounds, toward rules that allow Thai people to coexist. Our generation’s duty is not to pass on hatred and grudges from the past, but to pass on truth and lessons. If we do so, remembering 6 Oct will not be merely looking back 50 years ago, but a shared commitment that we will not let differences justify violence, nor allow democracy to restart again due to extrajudicial power. This may be the best tribute to those lost that day, letting their past help build a better future for the next generation.