Thailand Marks 16 Years Since Deadly 2010 Red Shirt Crackdown
Thailand Marks 16 Years Since Deadly 2010 Red Shirt Crackdown
BANGKOK, April 12, 2026 — Activists, former protest leaders and lawmakers gathered in Bangkok on Thursday to mark the 16th anniversary of a deadly military crackdown on Red Shirt demonstrators in 2010, one of the most violent episodes in Thailand’s recent political history.
The event was held at the 14 October 1973 Memorial on Ratchadamnoen Road, where participants paid tribute to victims of the April 10, 2010 operation, when security forces used live ammunition against protesters, resulting in 26 deaths.
Commemorative activities included an exhibition on the April–May 2010 crackdown, musical performances and a Buddhist ceremony. Attendees laid flowers before portraits of those killed and concluded the event with a candlelit vigil.
Among those present were prominent former Red Shirt leaders Thida Thavornset and Weng Tojirakarn, alongside members of the People’s Party, lawmakers and senators.
The April 10 crackdown marked the beginning of a broader military campaign against protesters opposing the government of then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The unrest escalated over the following weeks, culminating in a final operation on May 19, 2010.
Between April 10 and May 19, a total of 99 people were killed and more than 1,200 injured, according to official figures.
The anniversary comes as Thailand continues to grapple with the legacy of political divisions, with activists calling for accountability and remembrance of those who lost their lives during the unrest.
