Popular revolt against the government of un-elected military strongman Gen. Suchinda Kraprayoon. Hundreds of thousands gather on Sunday, May 17, 1992, at Sanam Luang.
As the day grows dark, folk rocker "songs for life" frontman Ad Carabao performs for the protestors at Sanam Luang.
After the peaceful gathering, tens of thousands march toward Government House, only to be confronted by riot police at the halfway point,
Opposition leader Chamlong Srimuang appeals for calm.
Mayhem and violence erupt over the next several hours.
Somehow, this guy acquires a riot-police helmet and standard-issue wicker shield during the melee.
Police and other government vehicles are targeted.
Just 10 feet from me, a policeman smashes a brick against this guy's face. His crime? He came to retrieve his motorcycle from behind police lines.
Protestors commandeer a firetruck from nearby station and coast it towards police lines. Police gather and charge back.
The people score another point.
By 2am of the 18th, with word of large army units approaching, this anything-but-intrepid photographer has seen enough and heads home to clean up, cool off, and sleep.
I sit it out at a safe distance that day as the Army, under the command of coup leader Gen Suchinda’s brother-in-law, Gen Issarapong Noonpakdi, kills nearly a hundred of the demonstrators, injures several hundred, and carts off thousands more. The following morning I sneak back into the now cordoned off Sanam Luang and
A block away from
Another tempting target, the
Soldiers fired on this bus when protesters, some of whom were on the roof, attempted to drive it into army positions near the Royal Hotel on
Manning the perimeters during the three-day operation, soldiers keep protesters and onlookers out of the central area.
“Suchinda the dog” (in Thai). Graffiti is rare in
Krungthep (
On May 20, King Bhumibol Adulyadej intervenes. Suchinda and Chamlong, leader of the Palangdharma Party, are called on the royal carpet.
Editorial staff of daily newspaper The Nation watch as the King works his magic on live TV (belatedly, in the opinion of many). Suchinda resigns four days later.
(Nation chief editor Thepchai Yong, white shirt, in foreground.)
