Silent Coup (Thailand)

Silent Coup (Thailand)

Thailand's Silent Coup of November 29, 1951 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.

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. [cite book|title=Thai Politics: Extracts and Documents 1932-1957|author=Thak Chaloemtiarana|publisher=Social Science Association of Thailand] In January 1951 the civilian parties forced the prime minister, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, to replace two military ministers with civilian politicians. 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. [cite book|title=The Background of the November 29 Coup D'Etat in Thailand|author=Office of Intelligence Research|publisher=USNA]

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 entirely 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. [cite book|title=November 29 Coup d'etat - Comments of Sang Phathanothai|author=Rolland Bushner|publisher=UNA]

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 remaining positions in the administration.

The coup

In the end, the Coup Group chose to disregard Phibun as well as the king. On November 26 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 and Sarit Thanarat, and Air Chief Marshal Fuen Ronnaphakat - pressed him in person. Phibun again angrily rebuffed them, but by then the Coup Group was getting desperate. The king planned to return from Lausanne in two days to resume 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, [cite book|title=Thailand: A Short History|author=David K. Wyatt|publisher=Silkworm Books] they announced over the radio 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. [cite book|title=November 29, 1951 Coup d'etat and Plans of the New Government|author=Rolland Bushner|publisher=UNA]

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. [cite book|title=Thai Politics: Extracts and Documents 1932-1957|author=Thak Chaloemtiarana|publisher=Social Science Association of Thailand]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Japanese occupation of Thailand — History of Thailand Prehistory …   Wikipedia

  • 2006 Thai coup d'état — Thailand This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Thailand …   Wikipedia

  • South Thailand insurgency — The southern provinces of Thailand showing the Malay Muslim majority areas Date November 7, 2004– on …   Wikipedia

  • 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état — Mauritania This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Mauritania Constitution President …   Wikipedia

  • List of films shot in Thailand — This is a list of foreign films shot in Thailand. See also: List of Thai films Dozens of foreign films been shot in Thailand, with the kingdom either playing itself or standing in for a neighboring country, such as Vietnam or Cambodia.The… …   Wikipedia

  • Manhattan Rebellion — The Manhattan Rebellion of June 1951 was the Royal Thai Navy s long expected attempt to overthrow the government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram. The rebels defeat resulted in the near complete dismantling of the navy, as well as the rise… …   Wikipedia

  • Thammasat University massacre — 6 October 1976 Massacre 6 October 1976 Massacre Memorial in Thammasat University, Bangkok Location Thammasat University …   Wikipedia

  • Plaek Pibulsonggram — Plaek Pibunsongkhram จอมพล แปลก พิบูลสงคราม Pibunsongkhram at Hyde Park, New York, 1955. 3rd Prime Minister of Thailand In office December 16, 1938 – August 1, 1944 Apr …   Wikipedia

  • Phraya Manopakorn Nititada — พระยามโนปกรณ์นิติธาดา 1st Prime Minister of Siam In office June 28, 1932 – June 20, 1933 Monarch Rama VII …   Wikipedia

  • Alexander M. Haig — Portrait Alexander Meigs Haig jr. (* 2. Dezember 1924 in Philadelphia, USA) ist ein ehemaliger General der US Army und NATO Oberbefehlshaber in Europa. Er war außerdem Stabschef des Weißen Hauses unter den Präsidenten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”