Page 15 - Prinya Wanchupela Memorial

Prinya successfully completed his studies at Assumption College and for a short time taught
the enfant class at the College before gaining admittance to Chulalongkorn University in 1949.
His first choice of study was architecture, but his father insisted he study political science.
Perhaps he envisioned a day his son might be provincial governor. Prinya had an artistic

nature, so that thought would not have been appealing to him. He would much rather prefer
being in the company of a few kindred souls or off by himself engaged in sole pursuits.

In 1955 he transferred to the Faculty of Arts where he was a popular member of the student
body, actively participating in sports and social activities. He served as vice-president of the
student council at a time democracy was developing

in Thailand. General elections were being held and
students were carefully monitoring the proceedings.
When word got around that rigging had occurred at the
polls, the students took to the streets, and as they were
heading out for the Royal Plaza, Prinya asked a janitor

to lower the national flag to half-mast. He was hesitant,
but complied after Prinya assured him he would assume
full responsibility. At the Plaza, they were joined by

ordinary citizens anxious to voice their anger. Informed
of what was happening in Bangkok, the head of the
5th Army Region, General Sarit Thammarat, gathered
his forces and headed for the city. Soldiers atop tanks
encircled the Plaza. Wooden slippers were thrown at

them and tempers rose. General Sarit loudly announced
to his troops, “Don’t shoot. Don’t shoot my people!” The M.R. Duangcaj Chumbala

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Memories of Prinya Wanchupela
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