October 14: The great, unfolding lesson

But, generally, they share the same knowledge or perceptions of one of the bloodiest days in the Kingdom’s political history. The country was craving freedom. The government was corrupt. The street protests were massive, symbolic and fuelled by idealism. Historically speaking, “October 14” is luckier than most its younger counterparts.

Fast forward 2014 and the term “uprising” no longer carries that unifying significance. Street protests nowadays can be massive, but call them symbolic or idealistic and you will risk being branded blind, misguided or just plain stupid. If the days leading up to October 14, 1973 were dark, are we living in an even darker age? Once a population with a clear goal, one that many were willing to die for, what have we become?

On the bright side, Thailand has moved on quite remarkably from that day. The country’s economic standing is currently not too bad in the region, although it remains a cause for concern. We don’t have to gasp for air playing catch-up with the neighbours when it comes to modernisation. As for “freedom”, that depends on where you stand, as Thais are probably divided along ideological lines on the subject.

On the not-so-bright side, Thailand’s political evolution since that day has been very painful. Coups, bloodbaths, “uprisings” and parliamentary turmoil have marked the past 41 years. Since the “Day of Great Tragedy”, as His Majesty the King put it, more lives have been lost and more tears have been shed. Economic progress has been disrupted. Moreover, the past few years have seen an ideological divide on an unprecedented scale. Democracy, the very thing that united the country against a dictatorial regime in 1973, has become a subject that seriously threatens national harmony.

Even remembering October 14 means different things to different people nowadays. Some liken it to the red-shirt actions of 2010, while others see similarities with last year’s massive crowds of protesters seeking to overthrow the “Thaksin regime”. But make no mistake, October 14 remains a “pure” historical event that stands on its own. 

The difficult thing is how to make sense of modern-day political upheavals.

In the 1970s, the picture was much clearer. The Thanom Kittikachorn government was dictatorial and corrupt, so it was an uprising against dictatorship and corruption all at once. Today, the two scourges have become separated. The red shirts are very much against dictatorship, whereas their opponents see corruption as the real problem. If it’s the country’s head and heart fighting, the battle has become a war that is still raging, albeit silently thanks to the latest coup, in May.

And there have been some big ironies along the way. Student activism that helped spark the 1973 uprising was anti-American, hated capitalism and was accused of links with socialism or even communism. Those student activists have now parted ways with each other and many of their leaders now espouse contrasting ideologies. America nowadays offers some kind of political standard to many of those seeking to keep the “October spirit” alive. China, once feared by the status quo as an inspiration to activists, is now frowned upon by those who must have been its ideological allies in the 1970s.

At the end of the day, though, October 14’s legacy is that Thais simply won’t tolerate political oppression and exploitation any longer. America, China, democracy or communism are just words that add spice when a status quo battles those struggling for a freer and more transparent political system. When masses take to the streets, the status quo should take note, because it’s a sign that something is seriously wrong.

There is just one group of Thais where the street protests of 2010 and last year are concerned. We all were there, watching in confusion as the Rajprasong rally and the satellite protests of the anti-Thaksin movement developed. Everyone sees what he wants to see, so the knowledge and perspectives of the events differ greatly and dangerously. Are we regressing, or are we simply growing up? Amid the despair we must feel, there is no choice but to dig deep for new hope.

As Thailand heads down a perilous path towards another round of political reform, uncertainties abound. But yesterday marked the anniversary of an event that showed Thais have it in them to fight for liberty and clean politics. Many of those who joined hands on that day in 1973 have since drifted apart and all have been challenged by things they couldn’t have foreseen 41 years ago. But if we connect all the dots, we will see the bright side. And the bright side is that the great turmoil that followed the October 14 uprising and is still unravelling today is part of a valuable education, of which every single one of us is a student.