In the 1970s , Chaturon was one of the leaders of the leftist , pro-democracy students movement that initiated the October 1973 popular uprising against military dictatorship . After the 1976 Thammasat University massacre and return to authoritarian rule , he joined the illegal Communist Party of Thailand . He later fled to the United States , where he furthered his academic studies , earning a master 's degree in economics
Thammasat University massacre
Thammasat University massacre
Chaturon Chaisang