Bloody May: Excessive Use of Lethal Force in Bangkok: The Events of May 17-20, 1992

A bloodless military coup toppled a popularly-elected government in Thailand in February 1991. A year later, one of the leading generals declared himself prime minister, sparking massive political opposition from a broad-based pro-democracy movement. Hundreds of protesters demanded the general's ouster and called for constitutional changes. The government responded by opening fire on a May opposition rally, resulting in 52 deaths, hundreds of injured, and many disappearances. Physicians and health workers were prevented from reaching the wounded and the police shot at ambulances. This report investigates the allegations of excessive force and violations of medical neutrality.

October 1992
43 pages