Red Gaurs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Red Gaurs (Thai: กระทิงแดง Krathing Daeng) were a paramilitary anti-leftist paramilitary organization active in Thailand during the 1970's. Many were veterans of the Vietnam War or former mercenaries in Laos and thus fanatically anti-communist. They were heavily funded and backed by the US1. The US gave at least 250 million baht to help organized the Red Gaurs2. King Bhumibol Adulyadej also played a key role in both the Red Gaurs as well as the Village Scouts, another anti-leftist paramilitary organization3. The Red Gaurs played a key role in the 6 October 1976 massacre of students and activists at Thammasat University, since it viewed them as communist sympathizers.
[edit] References
1. Michael Leifer, Dictionary of the Modern Politics of South-East Asia, Published 2001, Routledge, ISBN 0415238757
2. "From 14th to 6th of October" Collected Articles by Puey Ungpakorn, Saneh Chamarik, Benedict Anderson, Edited by Charnvit Kasetsiri and Thamrongsak Petchlert-anan (Language: Thai), p.299
3. Paul M. Handley, "The King Never Smiles" Yale University Press: 2006, ISBN 0-300-10682-3
