Red Gaurs
Encyclopedia
The Red Gaurs was a paramilitary
anti-leftist organization active in Thailand
during the 1970s, when a communist insurgency existed in both the northeast and far south. Many members were veterans of the Vietnam War
or former mercenaries in Laos
and thus fanatically anti-communist. They were heavily funded and backed by the United States
government. The US provided at least 250 million baht to help organize the Red Gaurs. King Bhumibol Adulyadej
also gave support to both the Red Gaurs as well as the Village Scouts, another patriotic anti-leftist paramilitary organization. The Red Gaurs played a key role in the 6 October 1976 massacre
of students and activists at Thammasat University
, since it regarded them as communist sympathizers.
|url= http://us.asiancorrespondent.com/bangkok-pundit-blog/is-cnn-s-coverage-really-biased
|title=Is CNN's coverage really biased?
|accessdate= 25 May 2010
|author= Bangkok Pundit
|date= 18 May 2010
|publisher= Asian Correspondent
|quote= Another Thai on 05/18/2010 05:34 am: ...The differences between these two situations are : children of "peasant scouts" who participated in beating the hell out of the students in Thammasat University are now the Red Shirt themselves, and quick, online international news coverage [of events].
}}
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
anti-leftist organization active in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
during the 1970s, when a communist insurgency existed in both the northeast and far south. Many members were veterans of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
or former mercenaries in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and thus fanatically anti-communist. They were heavily funded and backed by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government. The US provided at least 250 million baht to help organize the Red Gaurs. King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
also gave support to both the Red Gaurs as well as the Village Scouts, another patriotic anti-leftist paramilitary organization. The Red Gaurs played a key role in the 6 October 1976 massacre
6 October 1976 Massacre
The Thammasat University Massacre, or Massacre of 6 October 1976 , was an attack on students and protesters that occurred on the campus of Thammasat University and at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Students from various universities were demonstrating against the return to Thailand of Field Marshal...
of students and activists at Thammasat University
Thammasat University
Thammasat University , or in brief TU , is Thailand's second oldest university. Officially established on 27 June 1934, the university was originally named by founder Pridi Banomyong, University of Moral Science and Politics , reflecting the political fervor of the time...
, since it regarded them as communist sympathizers.
|url= http://us.asiancorrespondent.com/bangkok-pundit-blog/is-cnn-s-coverage-really-biased
|title=Is CNN's coverage really biased?
|accessdate= 25 May 2010
|author= Bangkok Pundit
|date= 18 May 2010
|publisher= Asian Correspondent
|quote= Another Thai on 05/18/2010 05:34 am: ...The differences between these two situations are : children of "peasant scouts" who participated in beating the hell out of the students in Thammasat University are now the Red Shirt themselves, and quick, online international news coverage [of events].
}}