Black May ( 1992 ) Black May ( ; , literally " Black May " ) is a common name for the 17 – 20 May 1992 popular protest in Bangkok against the government of General Suchinda Kraprayoon and the bloody military crackdown that followed . Up to 200 , 000 people demonstrated in central Bangkok at the height of the protests . The military crackdown resulted in 52 officially confirmed deaths , many disappearances , hundreds of injuries , and over 3 , 500 arrests . Many of those arrested allegedly were tortured . Background . On February 23 , 1991 , Army Commander Suchinda Kraprayoon overthrew the government of Chatichai Choonhavan . The coup - makers , who called themselves the National Peace - Keeping Council ( NPKC ) , appointed Anand Panyarachun as Prime Minister . Anand ' s interim government promulgated a new constitution and scheduled parliamentary elections for March 22 , 1992 . A government coalition with 55 % of the lower house was formed and appointed General Suchinda as Prime Minister . Massive public protests immediately followed . On May 9 , Suchinda responded by saying he would support a constitutional amendment making individuals who had not been elected to Parliament ineligible for the premiership . Tensions dissipated ; however , the truce was short - lived . Popular protests . On May 17 , 1992 the two leading government parties announced that , while they supported the constitutional amendment , they also favoured transitional clauses that would permit Suchinda to serve as prime minister for the term of the Parliament . As it became clear the government parties would not honour their word , plans went ahead for a strike on Sunday 17 May . May 17 . Obviously concerned about the people ' s mounting anger , the Interior Minister ordered provincial governors to prevent people from travelling to Bangkok to join the rally . Suchinda threatened to sack the Governor of Bangkok for allegedly assisting the anti - government rallies of the previous week , while the army hastily arranged a competing " Anti - Drought Musical Festival " to be held at the Army Auditorium . Radio stations were banned from playing recordings by several popular singers who had voiced their support for the demonstrations . Nevertheless , the rally was the biggest since the downfall of the Thanom regime in October 1973 . At its peak , 200 , 000 people filled Sanam Luang , overflowing on to the encircling streets . At about 8 : 30pm , Chamlong Srimuang and Dr . San Hatthirat led the protesters on a 2 - kilometre march to Government House , to demand Suchinda ' s resignation . As they reached the intersection of Rachadamnoen and Rachadamnoen Nok Avenues , they were halted at Phan Fa Bridge , which had been barricaded with razor wire by the police . At 11 : 00pm a group of demonstrators attempted to break through the barricade , but were repulsed by water cannon from four fire trucks blocking the way . The protesters then tried to commandeer one of the fire trucks , but were beaten back by riot police armed with batons . Protestors replied with stones and Molotov cocktail s . Chamlong used a loudspeaker to urge the marchers not to attack the police , but his words were ignored . In this initial clash , about 100 protesters and 21 policemen were injured . May 18 . By midnight two fire engines had been set on fire , and the situation was spiralling out of control . Some 700 troops had been called in and the fighting fanned out from Phan Fa Bridge . At 12 : 30 AM Suchinda declared a state of emergency , making gatherings of more than ten people illegal . The government urged people to go home , as hospitals in the area were already receiving the injured , including four with gunshot wounds who died that night . Chamlong remained near Phan Fa Bridge and the nearby Democracy Monument . About 4 : 00 AM , soldiers threatened the nearly 40 , 000 protesters by firing M16 rifle s into the air . An hour and a half later , they began firing again . By the morning , the army brought in more troops , and crowds grew larger at other sections of the city . Early on the afternoon of May 18th , Suchinda publicly accused Chamlong of fomenting violence and defended the government ’ s use of force . Shortly afterward , troops firing continuously in the air moved in to surround Chamlong . He was handcuffed and arrested . However , the crowds did not disperse , and the violence escalated . After government troops secured the area around Phan Fa Bridge and the Democracy Monument , protests shifted to Ramkhamhaeng University in the east of the city . By evening of 19 May , some fifty thousand people had gathered there . Royal intervention . Early on the morning of 20 May , the very popular Princess Sirindhorn addressed the country on television , calling for a stop to the violence . Her appeal was rebroadcast throughout the day . That evening , her brother , Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn , broadcast a similar appeal . Finally , at 9 : 30 pm , a television broadcast of King Bhumibol Adulyadej , Suchinda , and Chamlong was shown , in which the King demanded that the two men put an end to their confrontation and work together through parliamentary procedures . Suchinda released Chamlong and announced an amnesty for protesters . He also agreed to support an amendment requiring the prime minister to be elected . Chamlong asked the demonstrators to disperse , which they did . On 24 May 1992 , Suchinda resigned as Prime Minister of Thailand . Press censorship . The front page of the " International Herald Tribune " ' s 20 May 1992 issue was blacked out with felt tip pen , as was an editorial of the " Bangkok Post " of the same date , though other articles relating to the demonstrations remained untouched . The English - language newspaper " The Nation " and two Thai - language newspapers were shut down on May 21 though the order was rescinded a few hours later . Aftermath . The violence resulted in 52 officially acknowledged deaths , hundreds of injuries , and many disappearances . Over 3 , 500 people were arrested ; hundreds of them were women and children . Many arrested claimed to have been tortured ; some were beaten , left to sit in sweltering sunlight , soaked in gasoline and threatened with immolation , and left to go hungry . A House of Representatives Special Committee and a Fact - Finding Committee led by Sophon Rattanakorn shared the same conclusion : the government of General Suchinda used excessive force to crack down on the rally . Some facts from the investigation , such as names of military officers and military units responsible for rounding up , killing , and torturing of protesters were revealed to the public . It is believed these facts were recorded on the report of the Defense Ministry ' s Fact Finding Committee led by General Pichit Kullawanit , and is still kept from the Thai public . The military constitution of 1992 remained in place until 1997 , when a replacement was drafted and promulgated . Chamlong later apologized for his role in the events : " I wanted a peaceful rally , " he said . " I can ’ t deny some responsibility for the damage and loss of life . I feel deeply sorry for those families whose members were killed in the incident , for those people who were injured and their families . " Nevertheless , he noted that " we were right in what we have done . " He then retired from politics . Suchinda was later appointed Chairman of Telecom Asia ( today known as True ) , a company which received a concession to install 2 million telephone lines in Bangkok during the Anand government . Anand became Chairman of Saha - Union Group , which had received an Independent Power Producer concession during his government .