Students at Chiang Mai University and local activists gathered on 10 April to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the 10 April 2010 crackdown on Red Shirt protesters in Bangkok, which killed 26 people and injured over 800.

The students handed out leaflets containing information about the April-May 2010 crackdown and displayed a photobook about the Red Shirt movement. They then held a candlelit vigil for the victims of the crackdown and sang the protest song “Ashes of the Fighters,” often associated with the Red Shirt protests.

“We don’t want to just remember [them],” said one of the activists. “We want to reclaim justice and human dignity. We want to reclaim the lives and souls of the Red Shirts.”

Another gathering took place in Bangkok, attended by former Red Shirt leaders and representatives of political parties. Meanwhile, student organizations issued statements calling for an end to state violence and justice for the victims. The Ramkhamhaeng University Student Council released a statement noting that none of those responsible for the crackdowns against the Red Shirts have been brought to justice, while victims’ families have not been compensated. Some protesters are still imprisoned.

The Student Council therefore called on the government to hold accountable anyone responsible for the crackdown and ensure that every victim’s family is compensated for damages.

26 student organizations from Thammasat University, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Mahidol University, and Chiang Mai University also issued a joint statement condemning the crackdown as a serious crime by the state which should not been seen as normal. They vowed to demand justice for the Red Shirt protestors and to not allow such violence to happen again.

The 10 April 2010 was the first in a series of military operations against Red Shirt protesters, who were protesting against the government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva. The military deployed live rounds against protesters in the Ratchadamnoen area, killing 26 people. It was followed by further operations culminating on 19 May 2010. Between 10 April - 19 May 2010, 99 people died and over 1200 were injured.