the next day, on 14 October, many students found themselves unable to leave because the police had attempted to control the flow of the crowd by blocking the southern route to Rajavithi Road. Cornered and overwhelmed by the hostile crowd, the police responded with tear gas and gunfire. The military was called in, and tanks rolled down Rajdamnoen Avenue and helicopters fired down at Thammasat University. A number of students commandeered buses and fire engines in an attempt to halt the progress of the tanks by ramming into them. With chaos on the streets, King Bhumibol opened the gates of Chitralada Palace to the students who were being gunned down by the army. Despite orders from Thanom that the military action be intensified, army commander Kris Sivara had the army withdrawn from the streets. The king condemned the government's inability to handle the demonstrations and ordered Thanom, Praphas, and Narong to leave the country, and notably condemned the students' supposed role as well. At 18:10 Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn resigned from his post as prime minister. An hour later, the king appeared on national television, asking for calm, and announcing that Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn had been replaced with Dr. Sanya Dharmasakti, a respected law professor, as prime minister. October 15 to December 31 Political freedom was in full bloom. The most active movements were those of students and now the worker's union and even farmers. See also History of Thailand (1973–2001) History of Thailand Constitutions of Thailand Military history of Thailand References Further reading Direk Jayanama. Thailand and World War II (2008) 575pp; detailed history by man who served as Deputy Prime Minister in 1941, Ambassador to Japan in 1942, and a leader of the Free Thailand movement in support of the Allies Charnvit Kasetsiri. 1932: Revolution in Siam Thammasart University Press, 2000 Benjamin A. Batson. The End of the Absolute Monarchy in Siam Oxford University Press, 1984 Thawatt Mokarapong. History of the Thai Revolution Thai Watana Panich Press, 1983 Dr. Vichitvong na Pombhejara. The Free Thai Legend Saengdao, 2003 Judith A. Stowe. Siam becomes Thailand University of Hawaii Press, 1991 David K. Wyatt. Thailand: A Short History Yale University Press, 2004 Thak Chaloemtiarana. Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism Thammasart University Press, 1979 Thak Chaloemtiarana. Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism (The Southeast Asia Program Edition) Silkworm Books, 2007 Chris Baker & Pasuk Phongpaichit. A History of Thailand