On Oct. 6, 2026, 50 years after the October 6, 1976 events, Thammasat University’s Tha Phra Chan campus held a commemoration under the title “Thammasat and the Struggle for Democracy.” In the morning, alms were offered to 19 monks and wreaths were laid at the Historic Sculpture Garden, with representatives of the government, the opposition, students and bereaved families attending (The Standard, Siam Rath, Thammasat University). A live performance, “Nattakam Lamnam: 50 Years of October 6,” ran from early morning, with art and music activities continuing into the evening (The Standard, Prachatai). Varasarn Press reports that the campaign to repeal National Administrative Reform Council Order No. 41 has more than 60,000 names.
The event is a deep wound in Thai politics. That both the government and the opposition came to remember it suggests that memory and accountability remain public issues.
Anyone interested in this history should read sources from several sides, such as university documents, academic work and testimony from those involved, and check figures against reliable sources.
The organizers see an open commemoration as a way to preserve memory and guard against forgetting political violence.
Some argue there should be clear policy proposals, such as opening records and compensation, rather than a ceremony alone.
The commemoration is a starting point, but the question that follows is whether there will be legal proposals or the opening of records. Watch when the campaign to repeal Order No. 41 is submitted to Parliament or the government.
The Standard · Siam Rath · Prachatai · Thammasat University · Varasarn Press (Oct. 6–7, 2026)
Thammasat marks 50 years since October 6, 1976; government, opposition, students and bereaved families attend
A merit-making ceremony and wreath-laying at the sculpture garden at Tha Phra Chan, followed by performances and music from early morning into the evening; attendees raised the three-finger salute
Thammasat University’s Tha Phra Chan campus held “Thammasat and the Struggle for Democracy” on Oct. 6, marking 50 years since the October 6, 1976 events, when students were dispersed by force inside the university and a coup followed the same day. In the morning, alms were offered to 19 monks and wreaths were laid at the Historic Sculpture Garden. Representatives of the government, the opposition, students and bereaved families attended (The Standard, Siam Rath, Thammasat University).
The Artists for Peace group, the Chaiwana Foundation and their network staged a live performance, “Nattakam Lamnam: 50 Years of October 6,” from early morning, while Prachatai reports that art, music and civil-society activities continued into the evening, closing with music and the raising of the three-finger salute.
Varasarn Press reports that the campaign “Erase the Legacy of the October 6 Coup” has closed its list at more than 60,000 signatories, to propose repealing National Administrative Reform Council Order No. 41. The figure comes from a single source, and we have not seen whether the proposal has been submitted to Parliament.
In the reports we checked, there is no new policy proposal or timetable from the government or Parliament. What can be confirmed is that the commemoration was held openly, with representatives from both the government and the opposition attending.