A coup d’etat occurred in Thailand on 8 November 1947, where an army-nominated civilian government replaced the constitutionally-elected civilian government. The ‘Coup Group’ overthrew the government of Pridi Banomyong’s man, Luang Thamrong, and was replaced by Khuang Aphaiwong, a royalist supporter and founder of the Democratic Party.
Coup d’etat refers to the sudden and violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group. The essential condition for a successful coup is complete or partial control of the armed forces, police, and other military elements.
Unlike a revolution, which usually involves many people fighting for fundamental changes in social, economic, and political aspects, a coup is a change of power from the top down, leading to the sudden replacement of key figures in the government. Typically, a coup does not result in significant changes in a country’s basic economic and social policies, nor does it result in a significant redistribution of power among political factions.
Coup Thailand in 1947
The coup leader was led by military supreme leader Phin Choonhavan, Kat Katsongkhram, and Field Marshal Pibul Songgram (Phibun). Phibun was the former prime minister who declared war on Britain and the United States in January 1942. At the time, he was still considered by many in the West to be a militarist figure and a dictator accused of collaboration with Tokyo from the beginning.
Just six months after the coup, he returned to serve as Prime Minister of Thailand. Even more astonishing is that he remained in power for nearly ten years, serving as a loyal and trustworthy ally of the United States, the very power that played a central role in the West’s victorious coalition against militarism and fascism. This decisive coup marked a significant turning point because it not only reestablished Pibul with his changed approach to Thai foreign policy but also brought a new generation of military politicians into the Thai political scene who would influence the government for the next three decades.
Over the next three years, Phibun faced many challenges in maintaining his government as rival military factions attempted coups. In an effort to win support, he allowed disaffected political groups, including Khuang’s conservative Democratic Party, to participate in the drawing up of a new constitution, which was officially established in 1949. When the leaders of the anti-Phibun military faction were arrested in October 1948, supporters of former prime ministers Pridi and Khuang in the navy and marines were not arrested. In February 1949, an uprising allegedly supported by Pridi’s supporters in the Marines and Navy was crushed after three days of intense conflict. Then, in June 1951, the maritime and naval forces rebelled again and captured Phibun. The uprising was crushed by loyalist army and air force units, resulting in a significant reduction in naval strength and the withdrawal of senior naval officers.
Related to foreign influence?
After the Second World War, the US and USSR (Soviet Union) were in an ideology competition (Cold War) where both parties were trying to uphold their ideology and influence in the world. The US, led by the Harry Truman cabinet, wanted to prevent the influence of communism through the Bretton Woods system for financial and commercial relations in promoting capitalism after the Second World War. This coup also intensified Thai-American relations as the US became more involved in Thailand’s political and economic development.
Right after the coup in 1947, the USA took a sturdy stance towards the Coup Group, especially its leaders. The American ambassador in Bangkok stated to Washington that the annulment of the prevailing charter became unlawful, stating, “The status of the present regime, therefore, is wholly illegal and is based solely on force.” As a result, the US authorities avoided officially spotting the brand-new regime. However, this poor response might persist for a short period.
In the spring of 1948, there was a sudden shift in the United States political stance closer to the Coup Group and its authorities. This extrade became even more significant as it took place properly after the Coup Group, disenchanted with the overall performance of the civilian authorities ordinarily hooked up to soothe the USA and British governments, suddenly disregarded the Khuang authorities and appointed Phibun as the brand new premier. Less than a month after Phibun assumed power, the US authorities formally diagnosed his authorities and commenced supplying sizable financial and navy help to Thailand.
During Phibun’s 2nd authority from 1948 to 1957, his rules carefully reflected the ones he had added inside the overdue 1930s. He reinstated the name “Thailand” in 1949, reverting from the term “Siam” that had been followed in 1946 as a reaction to intense nationalism. Legislation aimed toward aligning Thai social conduct with Western norms, first of all, added via way of means of Phibun earlier than the war, changed into reintroduced. There had been additionally first-rate upgrades made in secondary education and an enormous growth in navy funding.
The Phibun regime changed into marked via way of a stance of suspicion toward the Chinese community, viewing them as probably disloyal and, specifically after 1949, as capability communists. Phibun’s robust anti-communist stance notably inspired his overseas coverage. Thailand declined to understand the People’s Republic of China, supported UN intervention in Korea in 1950, and supplied aid to the French for their combat in opposition to communist insurgents in Indochina. Phibun’s Thailand became visible as one of the most steadfast supporters of the United States’ overseas coverage in mainland Southeast Asia.
