Towards the Miracle of the Pink Land: Development of PSU Pattani’s Student Movement from Koto Case Protest to Post Incident of 6 October 1976

Abstract

This article analyzed memoirs and narrative stories of the former student who studied at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Pattani Campus. They were social and political activists during the period of pre- and post- incident 6 October 1976, The article explained the social, political, and community movements which were the context of PSU during its inception period. The findings showed that the incidents of protest about murdering a group of villagers and dumping bodies in to Saiburi river (at the Koto bridge) were the critical turning point for the student movement to learn and gradually developed knowledge, mood, feelings as well as relationships in conducting activities with friends from different institutions in both inside and outside the region, resulting in strong social and political consciousness. The learning processes could be related to mainstream discourse of the movements of students, gardeners, farmers and labors throughout the country during this period.