Silent Coup (Thailand)

Last updated

Silent Coup (Thailand)
Date29 November 1951
Location
Thailand
Result Coup successful
Belligerents
Flag of Thailand.svg Government of Thailand Flag of Thailand.svg National Military Council of Thailand
Commanders and leaders

Flag of Thailand.svg Plaek Phibunsongkhram

Flag of Thailand.svg King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Flag of Thailand.svg Gen. Phao Siyanon

Flag of Thailand.svg Field Marshal Phin Chunhawan

Flag of Thailand.svg Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat

Flag of Thailand.svg Air Chief Marshal Fuen Ronnaphakat

Thailand's Silent Coup of 29 November 1951, otherwise known as the Radio Coup, consolidated the military's hold on the country. It reinstated the 1932 constitution, which effectively eliminated the Senate, established a unicameral legislature composed equally of elected and government-appointed members, and allowed serving military officers to supplement their commands with important ministerial portfolios.

Contents

Prelude to the coup

Having defeated the navy in the Manhattan Rebellion, the army-led Coup Group turned its attentions toward the remaining civilians in government. Although the military was in control of the army, politicians and legislators continued to annoy the generals. Throughout 1950 and the following year, the civilians and military men bickered over spoils and offices, and, despite its monopoly on the use of force, the Coup Group lost some political battles. [1] In January 1951 the civilian parties forced the prime minister, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram (Phibun), to replace two military ministers with civilians. Similarly the Senate remained a royalist stronghold. In one October session senators sharply attacked the government for its violent suppression of the Manhattan Rebellion. In November the upper house blocked a bill to increase the military voice in elections. [2]

The Coup Group quickly decided that rewriting or amending the constitution was the only way to get rid of these irritants. Because the 1949 constitution drafted by the palace-backed Democrats barred active government officials—including military and police officers—from the cabinet, the Coup Group found it objectionable.

In August and October 1951 the powerful police chief, Phao Sriyanond, travelled to Switzerland to persuade the young King Bhumibol to accept a constitution more amenable to the military. On the first trip, the king apparently failed to object to the proposal, but Phao returned to Thailand empty-handed. In November the Coup Group decided to proceed without the king's approval. [3]

By then the generals' only obstacle was Phibun. Because his strength lay in the multiplicity of political groups and his ability to play one off the other, the field marshal resisted all efforts by the Coup Group to remove civilians from their positions in the administration.

The coup

In the end, the Coup Group chose to disregard Phibun as well as the king. On 26 November they sent a representative to the prime minister to suggest reverting the 1949 constitution to the less democratic and anti-royalist one of 1932. The proposal was immediately rejected by Phibun, but, three days later, nine leading members of the Coup Group—among them Phao Siyanon, Field Marshals Phin Chunhawan, Sarit Thanarat, and Air Chief Marshal Fuen Ronnaphakat—pressed him in person. Phibun again angrily rebuffed them. By then the Coup Group was getting desperate. The king planned to return from Lausanne in two days to assume his royal duties and the generals could not risk a dangerous confrontation with the monarch. Therefore, that evening, while the king was en route from Singapore to Bangkok, [4] they announced the dissolution of parliament, reinstatement of the 1932 constitution, and formation of a provisional government. Phibun initially refused to join the new government but, after much negotiating, accepted the fait accompli. The next morning he signed on again as prime minister. [5]

Aftermath

As with the Manhattan Rebellion, it was Phao who gained the most from the coup. His visits to the king indicate that he probably led the coup, and, most likely because of this role, he was able to take advantage of the civilians' defeat more readily than the other Coup Group members. While Phao's rival, Sarit, entered the cabinet as deputy minister of defence unaccompanied by close supporters, the Phao-Phin clique captured five cabinet slots. Phao's own appointment as deputy minister of the interior gave him effective control over this politically powerful ministry that allowed him to ruthlessly eliminate parliamentary opposition. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Thailand</span>

The Tai ethnic group migrated into mainland Southeast Asia over a period of centuries. The word Siam may have originated from Pali, Sanskrit श्याम, or Mon ရာမည, with likely the same root as Shan and Ahom. Xianluo was the Chinese name for the Ayutthaya Kingdom, merged from Suphannaphum city-state, centered in modern-day Suphan Buri; and Lavo city-state, centered in modern-day Lop Buri. To the Thai, the name of their country has mostly been Mueang Thai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarit Thanarat</span> Prime Minister of Thailand from 1959 to 1963

Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat was a Thai general who staged a coup in 1957, replacing Plaek Phibunsongkhram as Thailand's prime minister until Sarit died in 1963. He was born in Bangkok, but grew up in his mother's home town in Isan-speaking northeastern Thailand and considered himself from Isan. His father, Major Luang Ruangdetanan, was a career army officer best known for his translations into Thai of Cambodian literature. He had partial Chinese ancestry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaek Phibunsongkhram</span> Prime Minister of Thailand, 1938–44 and 1948–57

Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, locally known as Marshal P., and contemporarily known as Phibun (Pibul) in the West, was a Thai military officer and politician who served as Prime Minister of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and 1948 to 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prime Minister of Thailand</span> Head of government of Thailand

The prime minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The prime minister is also the chair of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy. Prior to the 2014 coup d'état, the prime minister was nominated by a vote in the Thai House of Representatives by a simple majority, and is then appointed and sworn in by the king of Thailand. The house's selection is usually based on the fact that either the prime minister is the leader of the largest political party in the lower house or the leader of the largest coalition of parties. In accordance with the 2017 Constitution, the Prime Minister can hold the office for no longer than eight years, consecutively or not. The post of Prime Minister is currently held by Pheu Thai Party politician and former CEO of Sansiri, Srettha Thavisin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pridi Banomyong</span> Prime Minister of Thailand in 1946

Pridi Banomyong, also known by his noble title Luang Praditmanutham, was a Thai statesman and professor. He led Thailand while serving in multiple ministerial posts, as regent, and as prime minister. He led the civilian wing of Khana Ratsadon, and helped found the University of Moral and Political Sciences and the Bank of Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Thailand (1932–1973)</span> Period of modern Thai history

The history of Thailand from 1932 to 1973 was dominated by military dictatorships which were in power for much of the period. The main personalities of the period were the dictator Luang Phibunsongkhram, who allied the country with Japan during the Second World War, and the civilian politician Pridi Phanomyong, who founded Thammasat University and was briefly prime minister after the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatichai Choonhavan</span> Prime Minister of Thailand from 1988 to 1991

Chatichai Choonhavan was a Thai army officer, diplomat and politician. From 1986 to 1991, he was the chairman of the Thai Nation Party and served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from August 1988 until the 1991 coup d'état.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khuang Aphaiwong</span> Prime Minister of Thailand, 1944–45, 1946 and 1947–48

Khuang Aphaiwong, also known by his noble title Luang Kowit-aphaiwong, was the founder of the Democrat Party and three times the prime minister of Thailand: from August 1944 to 1945, from January to May 1946, and from November 1947 to April 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phao Siyanon</span>

Police General Phao Siyanon was a director general of Thailand's national police who was notorious for his excesses against political opponents. He eventually fled the country and died in exile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena</span> Prime Minister of Siam from 1933 to 1938

Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena, born as Phot Phahonyothin, was a Thai military leader and politician. He became the second prime minister of Siam in 1933 after ousting his predecessor in a coup d'état. He retired in 1938 after serving five years as prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rambai Barni</span> Queen consort of Siam (1904–1984)

Rambai Barni, formerly Rambai Barni Svastivatana, was Queen of Siam as the wife of King Prajadhipok of Siam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of Thailand</span>

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand provides the basis for the rule of law in Thailand. Since the abolition of the absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand has had 20 charters or constitutions, an average of one roughly every four years. Many changes followed military coups, reflecting the high degree of political instability in the country. After each successful coup, military regimes abrogated the existing constitution, generally without public consultation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phin Choonhavan</span> Thai military officer

Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan was a Thai military leader and Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. Phin was a leader of several coups against the government, most notably the 1947 coup. During the Second World War, he commanded the Phayap Army's 3rd Division before being made military governor of the Shan States, which Thailand had occupied during the Burma Campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army General Staff plot</span>

The Army General Staff plot was a failed 1948 attempt to overthrow the Thai government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Military Council of Thailand</span> Group of Thai military officers responsible for the 1947 coup

The National Military Council was the group of military officers that planned and carried out a coup d'état in November 1947 in Thailand. Their prestige and influence were quickly enhanced by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram's return to politics. They would however outlast him and dominate Thai politics for the next two decades. Most would eventually receive high ranks, becoming generals and field marshals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boworadet Rebellion</span> Attempted coup in Siam (1933)

The Boworadet rebellion was a 1933 Thai rebellion led by royalist Prince Boworadet, as a result of the conflicts between the previous royalist regime and the succeeding constitutional regime led by Khana Ratsadon, following the Revolution of 1932. The Boworadet rebellion was eventually defeated by the Siamese Government.

The Songsuradet rebellion also known as the Rebellion of 18 corpses was the claimed pretext for a political purge on 29 January 1939 by the government of Thai Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram (Phibun) against his political enemies and rivals, which named Phraya Songsuradet as the alleged leader of a plot against Phibun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1947 Thai coup d'état</span>

The coup d'état of 8 November 1947 was a military coup d'état that took place in Thailand on the evening of 8 November 1947, ending in the early morning hours of 9 November. The coup ousted the government of Pridi Banomyong front man, Luang Thamrong, who was replaced by Khuang Aphaiwong, royalist supporter, as Prime Minister of Thailand. The coup was led by military supreme leader, Phibun, and Phin Choonhavan and Kat Katsongkhram, allied with the royalists to regain their political power and Crown Property back from the reforms of the Siamese revolution of 1932. The influence of the People Party ended as Pridi left the country on exile.

National Socialist Party was a short-lived pro-military political party in Thailand. It was founded on 21 December 1957 by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat.

The 1948 Thai coup d'état was a military coup on 6 April by the 1947 coup group. Khuang Aphaiwong, royalist allied, was forced to resign from prime minister, and was replaced by Phibun, the junta leader.

References

  1. 1 2 Thak Chaloemtiarana. Thai Politics: Extracts and Documents 1932-1957. Social Science Association of Thailand.[ full citation needed ]
  2. ↑ Office of Intelligence Research. The Background of the November 29 Coup D'Etat in Thailand. USNA.[ full citation needed ]
  3. ↑ Rolland Bushner. November 29 Coup d'etat - Comments of Sang Phathanothai . UNA.[ full citation needed ]
  4. ↑ David K. Wyatt. Thailand: A Short History. Silkworm Books.[ full citation needed ]
  5. ↑ Rolland Bushner. November 29, 1951 Coup d'etat and Plans of the New Government. UNA.[ full citation needed ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.