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Siamese revolution of 1932

The Siamese revolution of 1932 or Siamese coup d'état of 1932 (Thai: การปฏิวัติสยาม พ.ศ. 2475 or การเปลี่ยนแปลงการปกครองสยาม พ.ศ. 2475) was a coup d'état by Khana Ratsadon (the People's Party) which occurred in Siam on 24 June 1932. It ended Siam's centuries-long absolute monarchy rule under the Chakri dynasty and resulted in a bloodless transition of Siam into a constitutional monarchy, the introduction of democracy and the first constitution, and the creation of the National Assembly. Dissatisfaction caused by the economic crisis, the lack of a competent government, and the rise of Western-educated commoners fueled the revolution.

Siamese revolution of 1932
Part of the Interwar Period

Scene of a declaration of Siam as a democratic nation on 24 June 1932
Date24 June 1932 (91 years ago)
Location
Result

Coup successful

Belligerents
People's Party (Khana Ratsadon) Monarchy of Siam
Supreme Council of State
Commanders and leaders
  • Prajadhipok
  • Paribatra Sukhumbandhu
  • Damrong Rajanubhab
  • King Prajadhipok remained on the throne and compromised with Khana Ratsadon. Two coups occurred a year later, in April and June amid infighting within the government over Pridi Banomyong's socialist economic plan and a rebellion of the royalists.

    Background Edit

    Absolute monarchy Edit

    Since 1782, the Kingdom of Siam had been ruled by the Chakri dynasty. After 1868, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) reformed a medieval kingdom into a centralizing state of absolute monarchy. The monarchy started to make royal and nobility hierarchy, the Sakdina, to be the most critical aspect of Siam political system.[1] Towards 1880, Chulalongkorn asked of Europe an initiation into modern culture and showed a decided preference for England's Anglo-Saxons culture.[2] In 1910s, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) sought to legitimise absolutism through Thai nationalism, using Western approach,[3] by appointing more able commoners to the government.[4] A commoner involvement disappointed the aristocracy and nobility.[5] Rama VI carried out unpopular policies that lowered the influence of the royal family.[6]

    Mismanagement of Rama VI Edit

    During the reign of King Rama VI, the government’s fiscal health was eroded. Lavish spending on the court, inability to control the corruption of the King's inner circle, and his creation of the Wild Tiger Corps to promote modern-style nationalism were widely deemed as wasteful.[5] By 1920, fiscal mismanagement and the global economic downturn took the state budget into deficit.[7] In 1925, the most senior princes decided to demand large cuts in expenditures, especially the royal household.[7] This represented a bold challenge to the authority of the absolute monarch and reflected the severity of the fiscal malaise in Siam.[7] The critique was thus that Rama VI was not a competent absolute monarch, and that he squandered the massive political capital.

    In 1912, a palace revolt, plotted by young military officers, tried unsuccessfully to overthrow and replace Rama VI. Their goal was to overthrow the ancien régime and replace it with a Westernised constitutional system and to replace Rama VI with a prince more sympathetic to their beliefs.[8] The revolt failed and the participants were imprisoned. In reaction, Vajiravudh abandoned his attempts at constitutional reform and continued with his absolutist rule, with the minor exception of appointing some able commoners to his privy council and government.[9]

    Rise of the Western-educated "commoner" elites Edit

    Western education became popular in the reign of Rama V.[10] Although this was still largely limited to the Siamese nobility and the wealthy, new avenues of social mobility were now available to commoners and members of the lower nobility.[11] The best example of these commoner beneficiaries is Phibun Songkram who was from a peasant background. Many of the brightest Siamese students, both commoners and the nobility, were sent abroad to study in Europe. These include Pridi Banomyong, who was of Sino-Thai descent, and Prayoon Pamornmontri, the half-German son of a junior Thai official at the Siamese legation in Berlin and later a page to the crown prince who would become Rama VI.[12] They were to become prominent members of the "promoters". These Western-educated commoner elites were exposed not just to the latest scientific and technical knowledge in Europe, but also to the ideals of Western democracy, nationalism, and communism.[13]

    Prelude Edit

    The "Promoters" Edit

     
    Pridi Banomyong, leader of the civilian faction
     
    Major Plaek Phibunsongkhram, leader of the young army faction

    In February 1927, in a hotel on the Rue du Sommerard in Paris, France, a small group of seven military and civilian students assembled to debate the founding of a party to try to bring change to Siam.[14] Intent on not wanting to repeat the failure of the 1912 plot, they laid out a clear and coherent plan to change Siam. This group included two young students: one a soldier and an artilleryman Plaek Khittasangkha, the other a law student and radical Pridi Banomyong.[15] The group called themselves the "Promoters" (ผู้ก่อการ), hoping to return home to try to promote change. The Promoters realised, ironically, as the king's advisors had done, that the Siamese people were not yet ready for democracy, and most were illiterate peasants with little concern for affairs in Bangkok.[14] In Bangkok itself, the new and emerging middle class was dependent on the patronage of the aristocracy for jobs and positions. As a result, they realised that a "mass revolution" was not possible and only a military-led coup d'état was possible.[16] For this purpose a vanguard party was formed and it was named the Khana Ratsadon (คณะราษฎร) (or the People's Party).

    When the Promoters eventually returned to Siam by the end of the 1920s, they quietly expanded their lists of contacts and party membership, mostly using a personal relationship.[16] Pridi became a teacher at Chulalongkorn University, where he gathered the support of about fifty like-minded men, mostly civilians and civil servants, who also wanted to see the end of absolute monarchy.[17] It was the job of the others, such as Plaek, who had by then received the Luang title and became Luang Phibunsongkhram, to try to gather supporters within the army.[17] A young naval captain, Luang Sinthusongkhramchai, was doing the same for the navy.[14] The number of party members increased, and, by the end of 1931, it reached 102 members, separated into two branches consisting of civilians and the military.

    Four Musketeers Edit

     
    (L to R): Colonel Phraya Songsuradej, Lieutenant Colonel Phra Phrasasphithayayut, Colonel Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena and Colonel Phraya Ritthiakhaney, the revolutionary four musketeers.

    Prayoon Pamornmontri, one of the seven Promoters, himself an army officer, and former Royal Page of King Vajiravudh, took it upon himself to try to recruit for the party influential and powerful members who also wanted to see the end of absolute monarchy and power of the princes.[14] One officer he had a connection with was the Deputy Inspector of Artillery, Colonel Phraya Phahol Pholpayuhasena. An affable man and popular within the army, he immediately joined the party and gave it his support. The second senior officer was Colonel Phraya Songsuradet, considered one of the best minds of his generation and the Director of Education at the Military Academy. Both had studied abroad and were eager for change.[14] Songsuradet instantly became the party's tactician, advising it should first secure Bangkok militarily and eventually the country would follow. He also advised the Promoters to be more secretive to avoid official and police detection.[18] Eventually, he approached his friend Colonel Phraya Ritthiakhaney, commander of the Bangkok Artillery, who shared his concerns about the princes' domination over the army and eventually joined the party. Finally, they were joined by Phra Phrasasphithayayut, another discontented officer.[19] Forming what was known within the party as the "Four Musketeers" (4 ทหารเสือ, Four Tiger Soldiers), the most senior members of the party they eventually became its leaders.

    Modernized attempt of Rama VII Edit

     
    King Prajadhipok wearing khrui and chang kben, armed with krabi
     
    HRH Prince of Nakorn Sawan, the minister of interior and most powerful member in the government

    Prince Prajadhipok Sakdidej inherited a country in crisis. His brother King Vajiravudh had left the state on the verge of bankruptcy, and the fact that the state and the people were forced to subsidise the many princes and their lavish lifestyles. Prajadhipok created the Supreme Council of State to solve the problems. The council was composed of experienced senior princes, that quickly replaced the commoners appointed by Vajiravudh. The council was dominated by the Minister of the Interior, German-educated Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu, high-ranking Chakri princes had regained dominance of the government, and only four of the twelve ministries were administered by commoners or members of the lower nobility.[20] Prajadhipok turned out to be a sympathetic monarch, immediately ordered a cut in palace expenditure and travelled extensively around the country. He made himself more accessible and visible to the ever-growing Bangkok elite and middle class by carrying out many civic duties. By this time, students sent to study abroad had started to return. Faced with a lack of opportunity, the entrenchment of the princes, and the comparative backwardness of the country.[21]

    Discontent from the economic crisis Edit

    In 1930, as the Wall Street Crash and the economic meltdown reached Siam. Prajadhipok proposed the levying of general income taxes and property taxes to help alleviate the sufferings of the poor. These were rejected by the Supreme Council, who feared their fortunes would be reduced. Instead, they cut civil service payrolls and reduced the military budget, angering most of the country's educated elite.[22] The officer corps was especially disgruntled, and in 1931 Prince Boworadej, a minor member of the royal family and Minister of Defence, resigned.[23] Boworadet was not a member of the supreme council, and it was suspected that disagreement with the council over budget cuts led to his resignation.[22] The King, who openly confessed his own lack of financial knowledge, stating he was just a simple soldier, tried with little success to battle the senior princes over the issue.[22]

    Constitution denied by Rama VII Edit

    Meanwhile, the King put his efforts into the drafting of a constitution, with the help of two princes and an American foreign policy advisor, Raymond Bartlett Stevens.[24] Despite being advised that his people were not yet ready for democracy, the King was undeterred and was determined to implement a constitution before his dynasty's 150th anniversary in 1932.[25] The document was rejected by the princes in the supreme council.[25]

    On 6 April 1932, the King opened a bridge across the Chao Phraya River. The celebration was somewhat muted due to fears stemming from an alleged prophecy dating back to the days of King Rama I, which predicted the end of the dynasty on its 150th anniversary.[23] At the end of April, Prajadhipok left Bangkok for his summer holidays, leaving Prince Paribatra in charge as regent. The King went to Klai Kangwon Palace (วังไกลกังวล: translated as 'far from worries') of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.[19]

    Plan leak Edit

    Despite their precautions, word of the plan's existence eventually leaked to the police. On the evening of 23 June 1932, the director general of the police made a call to Prince Paribatra, asking for his authorisation to arrest and imprison all involved in the plot.[19] The prince, recognising names on the list that included many influential and powerful individuals, decided to delay the order for the next day.[26] That same evening, one of Luang Sinthu's supporters in the navy commandeered a gunboat from its dock on the Chao Phraya River, and by morning was aiming its guns directly at Prince Paribatra's palace in Bangkok.[26] Luang Sinthu himself mobilised 500 armed sailors ready to take the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, at the centre of the capital and part of Dusit Palace. Following them was Prayoon, who later that night took command of a cadre of young officers to seize the post and telegraph offices around the capital. One of the officers was Khuang Abhaiwongse. All communications between the princes and senior members of the administration were thus disabled.[26] Their houses were also under surveillance and guarded by both civilian and military party members.[26]

    Coup Edit

    Bangkok seizure Edit

     
    Soldiers assembled in front of the Throne Hall, 24 June 1932
     
    Troops on the street during the revolution.
     
    Tanks outside Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.

    While King Prajadhipok was residing out of Bangkok, at about 04:00 on the morning of 24 June 1932, Phraya Phahon, Phraya Songsuradet, and Phra Phrasasphithayayut were already carrying out their part of the plan.[27] Phraya Phahon and some supporters gathered near the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall waiting for the signal,[28] while Phraya Songsuradet went with a couple of the conspirators to the barracks of the First Cavalry Regiment of the Royal Guards, where most of the armoured vehicles in Bangkok were kept. On arrival, Phraya Songsuradet reprimanded the officer in charge of the barracks for sleeping while there was a Chinese uprising taking place elsewhere in the city—all the while opening the gates of the barracks and mobilising the troops. The ruse worked, and through all the confusion and panic, Phraya Prasan was able to arrest the commander of the regiment and place him in custody. Plaek Phibunsongkhram was ordered to guard him. Armoured vehicles, including some tanks, were commandeered and ordered to head toward the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, including Phraya Ritthi. Having been told weeks before that a military exercise was happening, other troops in the vicinity of Bangkok joined the plotters, thus unknowingly participating in a revolution.[28] Units loyal to the monarch shut themselves in their barracks.[29]

    By the time the infantry and cavalry arrived in the Royal Plaza in front of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall at about 06:00, there was already a crowd watching the assembled military.[28] A crowd mistook the act for a Chinese uprising or a military exercise. Phraya Phahon climbed onto a tank and read the Khana Ratsadon Manifesto, a declaration proclaiming the end of the absolute monarchy and the establishment of a new constitutional state in Siam. The Promoters cheered, followed by the military, probably more out of deference than full comprehension of what has actually happened.[30]

    In truth, Phraya Phahon was bluffing. The success of the revolution still depended on events elsewhere in Bangkok. Phraya Prasan was sent to the house of Prince Paribatra, and to other high-ranking members of the government and princes.[30] Prince Paribatra was apparently in his pajamas when he was arrested.[31] Thirteen Thai Royal Family members and twelve nobilities were arrested, in which Thai elites were traumatically distressed.[32] None, except the commander of the First Army Corps, offered any resistance. He put up a fight and was slightly wounded, but was eventually taken into custody, becoming the revolution's only casualty. About 40 officials were arrested and detained in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. One exception was the Minister of Commerce and Communications, Prince Purachatra Jayakara, Prince of Kamphaeng Phet, who escaped in a detached railway engine to warn the King in Hua Hin.[29] By 08:00 the operation was over and the Promoters had won the day.[30]

    The Khana Ratsadon forced the princes to sign a document proclaiming their commitment to peace and to avoidance of any bloodshed. The coup elicited almost no response from the populace, and the day-to-day life of the people returned to normal even before the end of the day. The rest of the country was also similarly disaffected,[33] prompting The Times in London to report that the revolution merely was "a simple re-adjustment".[34]

    By the evening of 24 June, the Khana Ratsadon were confident enough to call a senior ministerial meeting. In the meeting Pridi tried to persuade senior civil servants to support the Khana Ratsadon, asking them for support and telling them to remain united, lest the semblance of confusion lead to foreign intervention. Pridi asked the foreign ministry to dispatch to all foreign missions a document stating that the party was committed to protecting foreign lives and business and to fulfilling Siam's treaty obligations.[35]

    Khana Ratsadon manifesto Edit

    Most of the military and civil administrations offered little resistance. Accustomed to taking orders and with all lines of communication shut down, they were unable to act. The next stage of the revolution was left to the civilian side of the party. Pridi Banomyong, its leader, with the help of his supporters, blanketed the capital in the Khana Ratsadon's propaganda leaflets, pamphlets, and radio broadcasts, all supporting the revolution.[30] The text of the manifesto of the Khana Ratsadon, written by Pridi, criticised the monarch in harsh terms:

    All the People,

    When this king succeeded his elder brother, people at first had hoped that he would govern protectively. But… the king maintains his power above the law as before. He appoints court relatives and toadies without merit or knowledge to important positions without listening to the voice of the people. He allows officials to use the power of their office dishonestly… he elevates those of royal blood to have special rights more than the people. He governs without principle. The country's affairs are left to the mercy of fate, as can be seen from the depression of the economy and hardships… the government of the king has treated the people as slaves… it can be seen that from the taxes that are squeezed from the people, the king carries off many millions for personal use… The People's Party has no wish to snatch the throne. Hence it invites this king to retain the position. But he must be under the law of the constitution for the governing the country, and cannot do anything independently without the approval of the assembly of the people's representatives… If the king replies with a refusal or does not reply within the time set… it will be regarded as treason to the nation, and it will be necessary for the country to have a republican form of government.[36]

    The tone of the manifesto differed greatly from that of the telegram sent to the King signed by the three full colonels and musketeers: Phraya Phahon, Phraya Songsuradet, and Phraya Ritthi. The telegram stated, using royal language (Rachasap: ราชาศัพท์), that if the King did not wish to remain as a monarch under a constitution, the party was willing to replace him with another royal prince. Despite the language, the telegram warned the monarch in strong terms that if any member of the Khana Ratsadon was hurt, the princes in custody would suffer.[37]

    Royalty reaction Edit

     
    Siam Ratsadon Newspaper, the headline reads: "A change of government for Siamese King to be under law"

    Before the arrival of the Musketeers' telegram, the King was aware of ongoing events in Bangkok. He was playing golf at the summer villa's course with the queen, two princely ministers, and some courtiers. When an urgent message arrived, reportedly at the eighth hole, Prince Purachatra arrived to report to the King. The King and the princes discussed many options, which included fleeing the country, staging a counter-coup or full surrender.[37] However, the King had already decided before the telegram arrived. He quickly replied he was willing to remain on the throne as a constitutional monarch and that he had always favoured granting the people a constitution.[33] The King wrote of his decision of refusing to fight, "I could not sit on a throne besmirched by blood."[38] One point which the King did not concede was when the party sent a gunboat to carry him to Bangkok. He refused and travelled back to Bangkok by royal train, stating that he was not a captive of the Khana Ratsadon.[33]

    King Prajadhipok returned to Bangkok on 26 June. His first action was to grant a royal audience to the Khana Ratsadon. As the members entered the room, the King rose and greeted them by saying: "I rise in honour of the Khana Ratsadon". It was a significant gesture, as in Siamese culture the king always remains seated when their subjects offer homage, not the reverse. This led to Pridi apologising for defaming him in the manifesto. Subsequently, all known copies were pulled from circulation. The King responded to this act by affixing his royal seal on a document exonerating all members of the Khana Ratsadon for the coup.[34] The Khana Ratsadon then released all their hostages with the exception of Prince Paribatra, whom they considered too powerful. They asked him to leave the country instead. He later left for Java, never to return and died in Bandung in 1944. Other princes went into voluntary exile in other Southeast Asian countries, and some others in Europe.[39]

    The coup took place in an era when most of the population was kept out of politics and the political sphere was the domain of military and bureaucratic elites.[40][page needed] Handley suggests that there was the refusal of both Rama VI and VII, and aristocracy to share power with the new "commoner" elites, forced the "commoner" elites and some high-ranking nobility to support the Promoters' bid to seize power through military force.[41] The resulting unhappiness at the status quo due to the awareness of the ideals of Western democracy, nationalism, and communism, coupled with the mismanagement by the absolute monarchy and the deteriorating economic conditions caused by the Great Depression, triggered the 1932 revolution. The onus of the outbreak of the 1932 revolution from this perspective thus lies with the disgruntled commoner elites. who wanted radical change and were generally unwilling to compromise with the monarchy and the aristocracy, in particular with Rama VII, who was supposedly in favour of a constitutional monarchy.[citation needed]

    First constitution of Thailand Edit

     
    The granting of Siam's 'permanent' constitution on 10 December 1932 at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall
     
    King Prajadhipok signing the Permanent Constitution of Siam on 10 December 1932

    In the immediate aftermath of the revolution, Prajadhipok and the Khana Ratsadon immediately set about granting the Siamese people their first constitution. The temporary charter was signed on 27 June 1932 at 17:00. It was a draft document written by Pridi in advance.[42] The constitution began by announcing that: "the highest power in the land belongs to all people."[43] The constitution basically stripped the king of all of his ancient powers such as his power of veto, power of pardon, and the right to even confirm his own successor and heir. The constitution removed the monarchy's powers, without abolishing the office itself.[44] The constitution created a People's Committee (คณะกรรมการราษฎร, the executive) and an Assembly of People's Representatives (รัฐสภาผู้แทนราษฎร) made up of 70 appointed members.

    "Democracy" for Siam was to be given to the people in three installments. First, assembly members were to be appointed by the Four Musketeers. They would exercise power on behalf of the people, and their first session was to last six months. Second, a period when the mostly ignorant populace would learn about democracy and elections; the assembly would then be changed to be composed of half-appointed members by the Musketeers, and the other half through indirect representation. These candidates must, of course, have been examined by the Khana Ratsadon before any election. Third, the charter stated that full democratic representation in the assembly could only be achieved at the end of ten years or when more than half of the populace had gone through primary education, whichever was achieved first.[44]

    The first session of the People's Assembly convened in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on 28 June 1932.[45] The charter however did not last long. By the end of the year a new more moderate permanent constitution[46] would be signed, on 10 December. This constitution eventually gave back to the monarchy many powers it had lost in the previous charter, and the monarchy was once again held "sacred and inviolable". The Assembly of People's Representatives was expanded to include 156 members, 78 elected and 78 appointed. The democratic restrictions were removed and the government scheduled Siam's first election in October 1933.[47]

    Aftermath Edit

     
    Phraya Manopakorn Nititada addressing the crowd at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.

    Despite his lofty ideals and Western education, Pridi's version of democracy faced the same dilemma that Prajadhipok's version did: the notion simply that the country, especially the rural populace was not yet ready for it.[44] Within days, the Khana Ratsadon had turned Siam into a one-party state with communistic sounding institutions such as the "People's Assembly" and the position of "President of the People's Committee".[48] However, Khana Ratsadon showed their bipartisanship when they recommended the appointment of lawyer and Privy Councillor Phraya Manopakorn Nititada as the first President of the People's Committee and in effect the first Prime Minister of Siam, more probably out of pragmatism and shrewdness rather than any honourable intention.[45] However, infighting within the government over Pridi's "Draft National Economic Plan", the so-called "Yellow Cover Dossier",[49] and the actions of the conservative prime minister would eventually lead to the first coup d'état by Phraya Manopakorn Nititada on 1 April 1933.[50]

     
    Sesquicentennial celebrations.

    In late 1932, the King wrote to his nephew Prince Chula Chakrabongse about his decision to return to Bangkok: "...we were all quite aware that we were probably going to our death."[38] The many unsettled constitutional roles of the crown and the dissatisfaction with Phraya Phahon's seizure of power culminated in October 1933 in a counter-coup, the Boworadet Rebellion staged by royalist factions. The royalists were led by Prince Boworadet and the many others who had permanently lost their influence and positions because of the seizure of power by the Khana Ratsadon. The rebellion was a failure, and although there is no evidence whatsoever that Prajadhipok was involved, his neutrality and indecisiveness during the brief conflict led to the loss of his credibility and prestige. Three years after the revolution, King Prajadhipok abdicated the throne and left Siam never to return. He died in England in 1941, during World War II.[51] He was replaced as king by his nine-year-old nephew Prince Ananda Mahidol (King Rama VIII), who at that time was attending school in Lausanne, Switzerland.

    Legacy Edit

     
    Public perception and discourse over the 1932 revolution

    Public perception and discourse over the 1932 revolution has fluctuated over time. With the revival of the role of the monarchy initiated by the government of Sarit Thanarat in the 1960s, the state began downplaying the significance of 1932. Public observation of 24 June as National Day was abandoned in favour of King Bhumibol's birthday on 5 December. The events were glossed over by school textbooks, while views describing the actions of the People's Party as premature, and the idea that Vajiravudh and Prajadhipok had been making their own preparations for giving democracy to the people when ready were popularized.[52]

    References Edit

    1. ^ Mektrairat 2010, p. 33-34.
    2. ^ Lapomarede 1934, p. 251-252.
    3. ^ Mead (2004)
    4. ^ Vella, Walter Francis; Vella, Dorothy B (1974). Chaiyo!: King Vajiravudh and the development of Thai nationalism. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. pp. 126–175.
    5. ^ a b Stowe (1991), p. 4
    6. ^ Mead (2004), pp. 85–92
    7. ^ a b c Handley (2006), p. 37
    8. ^ Mead 2004, p. 155.
    9. ^ Stowe 1991.
    10. ^ Mead (2004), pp. 66–69
    11. ^ Mead 2004, pp. 126–153.
    12. ^ Stowe (1991), pp. 9–11
    13. ^ Stowe (1991), pp. 9–22
    14. ^ a b c d e Stowe (1991), p. 12
    15. ^ Baker & Phongpaichit (2005), p. 116
    16. ^ a b Mektrairat 2010, p. 298.
    17. ^ a b Stowe (1991), p. 13
    18. ^ Stowe (1991), p. 14
    19. ^ a b c Stowe (1991), p. 15
    20. ^ Landon (1939), pp. 20–27
    21. ^ Stowe (1991)
    22. ^ a b c Stowe (1991), p. 2
    23. ^ a b Stowe (1991), p. 1
    24. ^ Sivisanvaja & Stevens 1932.
    25. ^ a b Stowe (1991), p. 5
    26. ^ a b c d Stowe (1991), p. 16
    27. ^ Mektrairat 2010, p. 304.
    28. ^ a b c Stowe (1991), p. 17
    29. ^ a b Chakrabongse (1957), p. 160
    30. ^ a b c d Stowe (1991), p. 18
    31. ^ Chakrabongse (1957), p. 159
    32. ^ Mektrairat 2010, p. 306.
    33. ^ a b c Stowe (1991), p. 20
    34. ^ a b Stowe (1991), p. 22
    35. ^ Stowe (1991), p. 21
    36. ^ Banomyong 2000, Part II Chapter 7.
    37. ^ a b Stowe (1991), p. 19
    38. ^ a b Chakrabongse (1957), p. 161
    39. ^ Baker & Phongpaichit (2005), p. 119
    40. ^ Stowe (1991)
    41. ^ Handley (2006), pp. 35–43
    42. ^ Stowe (1991), p. 25
    43. ^ Banomyong 2000, Part II Chapter 8.
    44. ^ a b c Stowe (1991), p. 26
    45. ^ a b Stowe (1991), p. 27
    46. ^ Stowe (1991), p. 33
    47. ^ Stowe (1991), p. 34
    48. ^ Chakrabongse (1957), p. 162
    49. ^ "ย้อนรอย 'เค้าโครงเศรษฐกิจ' แผนพัฒนาเศรษฐกิจฉบับแรกที่ไม่ได้ใช้ของปรีดี พนมยงค์" [Pridi's "Draft National Economic Plan"]. prachatai.com (in Thai). 2020.
    50. ^ Lapomarede 1934, p. 257-258.
    51. ^ Stowe (1991), p. 75
    52. ^ Mark, Eugene (29 June 2017). "Time to Truly Understand Thailand's 1932 Revolution". The Diplomat. Retrieved 16 October 2020.

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    • Mead, Kullada Kesboonchoo (2004). The Rise and Decline of Thai Absolutism. United Kingdom: Routledge Curzon. ISBN 0-415-29725-7.
    • Moerman, Michel (1965). "Ethnic identification in a complex civilisation: who are the Lue?". The American Anthropologist. New Series. 67 (5): 1215–1230. doi:10.1525/aa.1965.67.5.02a00070.
    • Reynolds, Craig J. (1994). Thai Radical Discourse: The Real Face of Thai Feudalism Today. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Cornell Southeast Asia Program.
    • Reynolds, Craig J. (2006). "Feudalism as a Trope for the Past". Seditious Histories: Contesting Thai and Southeast Asian Pasts. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 9789971693350.
    • Steinberg, D. J., ed. (1971). In Search of Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.
    • Sivisanvaja, Phraya; Stevens, Raymond Bartlett (1932). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
    • Stowe, Judith (1991). Siam Becomes Thailand: A Story of Intrigue. United Kingdom: C. Hurst & Co. ISBN 0-8248-1394-4.
    • Winichakul, Thongchai (c. 1994). Siam Mapped: a history of the geo-body of a nation. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
    • Winichakul, Thongchai (2000). "The Quest for 'Siwilai': a Geographical Discourse of Civilizational Thinking in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries Siam". The Journal of Asian Studies. 59 (3): 528–549. doi:10.1017/s0021911800014327. JSTOR 2658942.
    • Van Praagh, David (1996). Thailand's Struggle for Democracy: The Life and Times of M. R. Seni Pramoj. New York: Holmes & Meier. ISBN 9780841913219.
    • Vella, Walter F. (1978). Chaiyo!: King Vajiravudh and the development of Thai Nationalism. Honolulu: The University Press of Hawaii.
    • Wyatt, David K. (2003). Thailand: A Short History. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    External links Edit

    siamese, revolution, 1932, siamese, coup, état, 1932, thai, การปฏ, สยาม, 2475, การเปล, ยนแปลงการปกครองสยาม, 2475, coup, état, khana, ratsadon, people, party, which, occurred, siam, june, 1932, ended, siam, centuries, long, absolute, monarchy, rule, under, chak. The Siamese revolution of 1932 or Siamese coup d etat of 1932 Thai karptiwtisyam ph s 2475 or karepliynaeplngkarpkkhrxngsyam ph s 2475 was a coup d etat by Khana Ratsadon the People s Party which occurred in Siam on 24 June 1932 It ended Siam s centuries long absolute monarchy rule under the Chakri dynasty and resulted in a bloodless transition of Siam into a constitutional monarchy the introduction of democracy and the first constitution and the creation of the National Assembly Dissatisfaction caused by the economic crisis the lack of a competent government and the rise of Western educated commoners fueled the revolution Siamese revolution of 1932Part of the Interwar PeriodScene of a declaration of Siam as a democratic nation on 24 June 1932Date24 June 1932 91 years ago LocationBangkok SiamResultCoup successful Establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Siam End the absolute monarchy under the Kings of SiamBelligerentsPeople s Party Khana Ratsadon Monarchy of Siam Supreme Council of StateCommanders and leadersArmy Prayoon Pamornmontri Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena Phraya Songsuradet Phraya Ritthiakhaney Phra Phrasasphithayayut Plaek Phibunsongkhram Navy Luang Sinthusongkhramchai Civilian Pridi Banomyong Prayoon Pamornmontri Khuang AphaiwongPrajadhipok Paribatra Sukhumbandhu Damrong RajanubhabKing Prajadhipok remained on the throne and compromised with Khana Ratsadon Two coups occurred a year later in April and June amid infighting within the government over Pridi Banomyong s socialist economic plan and a rebellion of the royalists Contents 1 Background 1 1 Absolute monarchy 1 2 Mismanagement of Rama VI 1 3 Rise of the Western educated commoner elites 2 Prelude 2 1 The Promoters 2 2 Four Musketeers 2 3 Modernized attempt of Rama VII 2 4 Discontent from the economic crisis 2 5 Constitution denied by Rama VII 2 6 Plan leak 3 Coup 3 1 Bangkok seizure 3 2 Khana Ratsadon manifesto 3 3 Royalty reaction 3 4 First constitution of Thailand 4 Aftermath 5 Legacy 6 References 6 1 Bibliography 7 External linksBackground EditAbsolute monarchy Edit Since 1782 the Kingdom of Siam had been ruled by the Chakri dynasty After 1868 King Chulalongkorn Rama V reformed a medieval kingdom into a centralizing state of absolute monarchy The monarchy started to make royal and nobility hierarchy the Sakdina to be the most critical aspect of Siam political system 1 Towards 1880 Chulalongkorn asked of Europe an initiation into modern culture and showed a decided preference for England s Anglo Saxons culture 2 In 1910s King Vajiravudh Rama VI sought to legitimise absolutism through Thai nationalism using Western approach 3 by appointing more able commoners to the government 4 A commoner involvement disappointed the aristocracy and nobility 5 Rama VI carried out unpopular policies that lowered the influence of the royal family 6 Mismanagement of Rama VI Edit During the reign of King Rama VI the government s fiscal health was eroded Lavish spending on the court inability to control the corruption of the King s inner circle and his creation of the Wild Tiger Corps to promote modern style nationalism were widely deemed as wasteful 5 By 1920 fiscal mismanagement and the global economic downturn took the state budget into deficit 7 In 1925 the most senior princes decided to demand large cuts in expenditures especially the royal household 7 This represented a bold challenge to the authority of the absolute monarch and reflected the severity of the fiscal malaise in Siam 7 The critique was thus that Rama VI was not a competent absolute monarch and that he squandered the massive political capital In 1912 a palace revolt plotted by young military officers tried unsuccessfully to overthrow and replace Rama VI Their goal was to overthrow the ancien regime and replace it with a Westernised constitutional system and to replace Rama VI with a prince more sympathetic to their beliefs 8 The revolt failed and the participants were imprisoned In reaction Vajiravudh abandoned his attempts at constitutional reform and continued with his absolutist rule with the minor exception of appointing some able commoners to his privy council and government 9 Rise of the Western educated commoner elites Edit Western education became popular in the reign of Rama V 10 Although this was still largely limited to the Siamese nobility and the wealthy new avenues of social mobility were now available to commoners and members of the lower nobility 11 The best example of these commoner beneficiaries is Phibun Songkram who was from a peasant background Many of the brightest Siamese students both commoners and the nobility were sent abroad to study in Europe These include Pridi Banomyong who was of Sino Thai descent and Prayoon Pamornmontri the half German son of a junior Thai official at the Siamese legation in Berlin and later a page to the crown prince who would become Rama VI 12 They were to become prominent members of the promoters These Western educated commoner elites were exposed not just to the latest scientific and technical knowledge in Europe but also to the ideals of Western democracy nationalism and communism 13 Prelude EditThe Promoters Edit Main article Khana Ratsadon nbsp Pridi Banomyong leader of the civilian faction nbsp Major Plaek Phibunsongkhram leader of the young army factionIn February 1927 in a hotel on the Rue du Sommerard in Paris France a small group of seven military and civilian students assembled to debate the founding of a party to try to bring change to Siam 14 Intent on not wanting to repeat the failure of the 1912 plot they laid out a clear and coherent plan to change Siam This group included two young students one a soldier and an artilleryman Plaek Khittasangkha the other a law student and radical Pridi Banomyong 15 The group called themselves the Promoters phukxkar hoping to return home to try to promote change The Promoters realised ironically as the king s advisors had done that the Siamese people were not yet ready for democracy and most were illiterate peasants with little concern for affairs in Bangkok 14 In Bangkok itself the new and emerging middle class was dependent on the patronage of the aristocracy for jobs and positions As a result they realised that a mass revolution was not possible and only a military led coup d etat was possible 16 For this purpose a vanguard party was formed and it was named the Khana Ratsadon khnarasdr or the People s Party When the Promoters eventually returned to Siam by the end of the 1920s they quietly expanded their lists of contacts and party membership mostly using a personal relationship 16 Pridi became a teacher at Chulalongkorn University where he gathered the support of about fifty like minded men mostly civilians and civil servants who also wanted to see the end of absolute monarchy 17 It was the job of the others such as Plaek who had by then received the Luang title and became Luang Phibunsongkhram to try to gather supporters within the army 17 A young naval captain Luang Sinthusongkhramchai was doing the same for the navy 14 The number of party members increased and by the end of 1931 it reached 102 members separated into two branches consisting of civilians and the military Four Musketeers Edit nbsp L to R Colonel Phraya Songsuradej Lieutenant Colonel Phra Phrasasphithayayut Colonel Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena and Colonel Phraya Ritthiakhaney the revolutionary four musketeers Prayoon Pamornmontri one of the seven Promoters himself an army officer and former Royal Page of King Vajiravudh took it upon himself to try to recruit for the party influential and powerful members who also wanted to see the end of absolute monarchy and power of the princes 14 One officer he had a connection with was the Deputy Inspector of Artillery Colonel Phraya Phahol Pholpayuhasena An affable man and popular within the army he immediately joined the party and gave it his support The second senior officer was Colonel Phraya Songsuradet considered one of the best minds of his generation and the Director of Education at the Military Academy Both had studied abroad and were eager for change 14 Songsuradet instantly became the party s tactician advising it should first secure Bangkok militarily and eventually the country would follow He also advised the Promoters to be more secretive to avoid official and police detection 18 Eventually he approached his friend Colonel Phraya Ritthiakhaney commander of the Bangkok Artillery who shared his concerns about the princes domination over the army and eventually joined the party Finally they were joined by Phra Phrasasphithayayut another discontented officer 19 Forming what was known within the party as the Four Musketeers 4 thharesux Four Tiger Soldiers the most senior members of the party they eventually became its leaders Modernized attempt of Rama VII Edit nbsp King Prajadhipok wearing khrui and chang kben armed with krabi nbsp HRH Prince of Nakorn Sawan the minister of interior and most powerful member in the governmentPrince Prajadhipok Sakdidej inherited a country in crisis His brother King Vajiravudh had left the state on the verge of bankruptcy and the fact that the state and the people were forced to subsidise the many princes and their lavish lifestyles Prajadhipok created the Supreme Council of State to solve the problems The council was composed of experienced senior princes that quickly replaced the commoners appointed by Vajiravudh The council was dominated by the Minister of the Interior German educated Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu high ranking Chakri princes had regained dominance of the government and only four of the twelve ministries were administered by commoners or members of the lower nobility 20 Prajadhipok turned out to be a sympathetic monarch immediately ordered a cut in palace expenditure and travelled extensively around the country He made himself more accessible and visible to the ever growing Bangkok elite and middle class by carrying out many civic duties By this time students sent to study abroad had started to return Faced with a lack of opportunity the entrenchment of the princes and the comparative backwardness of the country 21 Discontent from the economic crisis Edit In 1930 as the Wall Street Crash and the economic meltdown reached Siam Prajadhipok proposed the levying of general income taxes and property taxes to help alleviate the sufferings of the poor These were rejected by the Supreme Council who feared their fortunes would be reduced Instead they cut civil service payrolls and reduced the military budget angering most of the country s educated elite 22 The officer corps was especially disgruntled and in 1931 Prince Boworadej a minor member of the royal family and Minister of Defence resigned 23 Boworadet was not a member of the supreme council and it was suspected that disagreement with the council over budget cuts led to his resignation 22 The King who openly confessed his own lack of financial knowledge stating he was just a simple soldier tried with little success to battle the senior princes over the issue 22 Constitution denied by Rama VII Edit Meanwhile the King put his efforts into the drafting of a constitution with the help of two princes and an American foreign policy advisor Raymond Bartlett Stevens 24 Despite being advised that his people were not yet ready for democracy the King was undeterred and was determined to implement a constitution before his dynasty s 150th anniversary in 1932 25 The document was rejected by the princes in the supreme council 25 On 6 April 1932 the King opened a bridge across the Chao Phraya River The celebration was somewhat muted due to fears stemming from an alleged prophecy dating back to the days of King Rama I which predicted the end of the dynasty on its 150th anniversary 23 At the end of April Prajadhipok left Bangkok for his summer holidays leaving Prince Paribatra in charge as regent The King went to Klai Kangwon Palace wngiklkngwl translated as far from worries of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province 19 Plan leak Edit Despite their precautions word of the plan s existence eventually leaked to the police On the evening of 23 June 1932 the director general of the police made a call to Prince Paribatra asking for his authorisation to arrest and imprison all involved in the plot 19 The prince recognising names on the list that included many influential and powerful individuals decided to delay the order for the next day 26 That same evening one of Luang Sinthu s supporters in the navy commandeered a gunboat from its dock on the Chao Phraya River and by morning was aiming its guns directly at Prince Paribatra s palace in Bangkok 26 Luang Sinthu himself mobilised 500 armed sailors ready to take the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall at the centre of the capital and part of Dusit Palace Following them was Prayoon who later that night took command of a cadre of young officers to seize the post and telegraph offices around the capital One of the officers was Khuang Abhaiwongse All communications between the princes and senior members of the administration were thus disabled 26 Their houses were also under surveillance and guarded by both civilian and military party members 26 Coup EditBangkok seizure Edit nbsp Soldiers assembled in front of the Throne Hall 24 June 1932 nbsp Troops on the street during the revolution nbsp Tanks outside Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall While King Prajadhipok was residing out of Bangkok at about 04 00 on the morning of 24 June 1932 Phraya Phahon Phraya Songsuradet and Phra Phrasasphithayayut were already carrying out their part of the plan 27 Phraya Phahon and some supporters gathered near the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall waiting for the signal 28 while Phraya Songsuradet went with a couple of the conspirators to the barracks of the First Cavalry Regiment of the Royal Guards where most of the armoured vehicles in Bangkok were kept On arrival Phraya Songsuradet reprimanded the officer in charge of the barracks for sleeping while there was a Chinese uprising taking place elsewhere in the city all the while opening the gates of the barracks and mobilising the troops The ruse worked and through all the confusion and panic Phraya Prasan was able to arrest the commander of the regiment and place him in custody Plaek Phibunsongkhram was ordered to guard him Armoured vehicles including some tanks were commandeered and ordered to head toward the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall including Phraya Ritthi Having been told weeks before that a military exercise was happening other troops in the vicinity of Bangkok joined the plotters thus unknowingly participating in a revolution 28 Units loyal to the monarch shut themselves in their barracks 29 By the time the infantry and cavalry arrived in the Royal Plaza in front of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall at about 06 00 there was already a crowd watching the assembled military 28 A crowd mistook the act for a Chinese uprising or a military exercise Phraya Phahon climbed onto a tank and read the Khana Ratsadon Manifesto a declaration proclaiming the end of the absolute monarchy and the establishment of a new constitutional state in Siam The Promoters cheered followed by the military probably more out of deference than full comprehension of what has actually happened 30 In truth Phraya Phahon was bluffing The success of the revolution still depended on events elsewhere in Bangkok Phraya Prasan was sent to the house of Prince Paribatra and to other high ranking members of the government and princes 30 Prince Paribatra was apparently in his pajamas when he was arrested 31 Thirteen Thai Royal Family members and twelve nobilities were arrested in which Thai elites were traumatically distressed 32 None except the commander of the First Army Corps offered any resistance He put up a fight and was slightly wounded but was eventually taken into custody becoming the revolution s only casualty About 40 officials were arrested and detained in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall One exception was the Minister of Commerce and Communications Prince Purachatra Jayakara Prince of Kamphaeng Phet who escaped in a detached railway engine to warn the King in Hua Hin 29 By 08 00 the operation was over and the Promoters had won the day 30 The Khana Ratsadon forced the princes to sign a document proclaiming their commitment to peace and to avoidance of any bloodshed The coup elicited almost no response from the populace and the day to day life of the people returned to normal even before the end of the day The rest of the country was also similarly disaffected 33 prompting The Times in London to report that the revolution merely was a simple re adjustment 34 By the evening of 24 June the Khana Ratsadon were confident enough to call a senior ministerial meeting In the meeting Pridi tried to persuade senior civil servants to support the Khana Ratsadon asking them for support and telling them to remain united lest the semblance of confusion lead to foreign intervention Pridi asked the foreign ministry to dispatch to all foreign missions a document stating that the party was committed to protecting foreign lives and business and to fulfilling Siam s treaty obligations 35 Khana Ratsadon manifesto Edit Most of the military and civil administrations offered little resistance Accustomed to taking orders and with all lines of communication shut down they were unable to act The next stage of the revolution was left to the civilian side of the party Pridi Banomyong its leader with the help of his supporters blanketed the capital in the Khana Ratsadon s propaganda leaflets pamphlets and radio broadcasts all supporting the revolution 30 The text of the manifesto of the Khana Ratsadon written by Pridi criticised the monarch in harsh terms All the People When this king succeeded his elder brother people at first had hoped that he would govern protectively But the king maintains his power above the law as before He appoints court relatives and toadies without merit or knowledge to important positions without listening to the voice of the people He allows officials to use the power of their office dishonestly he elevates those of royal blood to have special rights more than the people He governs without principle The country s affairs are left to the mercy of fate as can be seen from the depression of the economy and hardships the government of the king has treated the people as slaves it can be seen that from the taxes that are squeezed from the people the king carries off many millions for personal use The People s Party has no wish to snatch the throne Hence it invites this king to retain the position But he must be under the law of the constitution for the governing the country and cannot do anything independently without the approval of the assembly of the people s representatives If the king replies with a refusal or does not reply within the time set it will be regarded as treason to the nation and it will be necessary for the country to have a republican form of government 36 The tone of the manifesto differed greatly from that of the telegram sent to the King signed by the three full colonels and musketeers Phraya Phahon Phraya Songsuradet and Phraya Ritthi The telegram stated using royal language Rachasap rachasphth that if the King did not wish to remain as a monarch under a constitution the party was willing to replace him with another royal prince Despite the language the telegram warned the monarch in strong terms that if any member of the Khana Ratsadon was hurt the princes in custody would suffer 37 Royalty reaction Edit nbsp Siam Ratsadon Newspaper the headline reads A change of government for Siamese King to be under law Before the arrival of the Musketeers telegram the King was aware of ongoing events in Bangkok He was playing golf at the summer villa s course with the queen two princely ministers and some courtiers When an urgent message arrived reportedly at the eighth hole Prince Purachatra arrived to report to the King The King and the princes discussed many options which included fleeing the country staging a counter coup or full surrender 37 However the King had already decided before the telegram arrived He quickly replied he was willing to remain on the throne as a constitutional monarch and that he had always favoured granting the people a constitution 33 The King wrote of his decision of refusing to fight I could not sit on a throne besmirched by blood 38 One point which the King did not concede was when the party sent a gunboat to carry him to Bangkok He refused and travelled back to Bangkok by royal train stating that he was not a captive of the Khana Ratsadon 33 King Prajadhipok returned to Bangkok on 26 June His first action was to grant a royal audience to the Khana Ratsadon As the members entered the room the King rose and greeted them by saying I rise in honour of the Khana Ratsadon It was a significant gesture as in Siamese culture the king always remains seated when their subjects offer homage not the reverse This led to Pridi apologising for defaming him in the manifesto Subsequently all known copies were pulled from circulation The King responded to this act by affixing his royal seal on a document exonerating all members of the Khana Ratsadon for the coup 34 The Khana Ratsadon then released all their hostages with the exception of Prince Paribatra whom they considered too powerful They asked him to leave the country instead He later left for Java never to return and died in Bandung in 1944 Other princes went into voluntary exile in other Southeast Asian countries and some others in Europe 39 The coup took place in an era when most of the population was kept out of politics and the political sphere was the domain of military and bureaucratic elites 40 page needed Handley suggests that there was the refusal of both Rama VI and VII and aristocracy to share power with the new commoner elites forced the commoner elites and some high ranking nobility to support the Promoters bid to seize power through military force 41 The resulting unhappiness at the status quo due to the awareness of the ideals of Western democracy nationalism and communism coupled with the mismanagement by the absolute monarchy and the deteriorating economic conditions caused by the Great Depression triggered the 1932 revolution The onus of the outbreak of the 1932 revolution from this perspective thus lies with the disgruntled commoner elites who wanted radical change and were generally unwilling to compromise with the monarchy and the aristocracy in particular with Rama VII who was supposedly in favour of a constitutional monarchy citation needed First constitution of Thailand Edit nbsp The granting of Siam s permanent constitution on 10 December 1932 at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall nbsp King Prajadhipok signing the Permanent Constitution of Siam on 10 December 1932In the immediate aftermath of the revolution Prajadhipok and the Khana Ratsadon immediately set about granting the Siamese people their first constitution The temporary charter was signed on 27 June 1932 at 17 00 It was a draft document written by Pridi in advance 42 The constitution began by announcing that the highest power in the land belongs to all people 43 The constitution basically stripped the king of all of his ancient powers such as his power of veto power of pardon and the right to even confirm his own successor and heir The constitution removed the monarchy s powers without abolishing the office itself 44 The constitution created a People s Committee khnakrrmkarrasdr the executive and an Assembly of People s Representatives rthsphaphuaethnrasdr made up of 70 appointed members Democracy for Siam was to be given to the people in three installments First assembly members were to be appointed by the Four Musketeers They would exercise power on behalf of the people and their first session was to last six months Second a period when the mostly ignorant populace would learn about democracy and elections the assembly would then be changed to be composed of half appointed members by the Musketeers and the other half through indirect representation These candidates must of course have been examined by the Khana Ratsadon before any election Third the charter stated that full democratic representation in the assembly could only be achieved at the end of ten years or when more than half of the populace had gone through primary education whichever was achieved first 44 The first session of the People s Assembly convened in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on 28 June 1932 45 The charter however did not last long By the end of the year a new more moderate permanent constitution 46 would be signed on 10 December This constitution eventually gave back to the monarchy many powers it had lost in the previous charter and the monarchy was once again held sacred and inviolable The Assembly of People s Representatives was expanded to include 156 members 78 elected and 78 appointed The democratic restrictions were removed and the government scheduled Siam s first election in October 1933 47 Aftermath Edit nbsp Phraya Manopakorn Nititada addressing the crowd at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall Despite his lofty ideals and Western education Pridi s version of democracy faced the same dilemma that Prajadhipok s version did the notion simply that the country especially the rural populace was not yet ready for it 44 Within days the Khana Ratsadon had turned Siam into a one party state with communistic sounding institutions such as the People s Assembly and the position of President of the People s Committee 48 However Khana Ratsadon showed their bipartisanship when they recommended the appointment of lawyer and Privy Councillor Phraya Manopakorn Nititada as the first President of the People s Committee and in effect the first Prime Minister of Siam more probably out of pragmatism and shrewdness rather than any honourable intention 45 However infighting within the government over Pridi s Draft National Economic Plan the so called Yellow Cover Dossier 49 and the actions of the conservative prime minister would eventually lead to the first coup d etat by Phraya Manopakorn Nititada on 1 April 1933 50 nbsp Sesquicentennial celebrations In late 1932 the King wrote to his nephew Prince Chula Chakrabongse about his decision to return to Bangkok we were all quite aware that we were probably going to our death 38 The many unsettled constitutional roles of the crown and the dissatisfaction with Phraya Phahon s seizure of power culminated in October 1933 in a counter coup the Boworadet Rebellion staged by royalist factions The royalists were led by Prince Boworadet and the many others who had permanently lost their influence and positions because of the seizure of power by the Khana Ratsadon The rebellion was a failure and although there is no evidence whatsoever that Prajadhipok was involved his neutrality and indecisiveness during the brief conflict led to the loss of his credibility and prestige Three years after the revolution King Prajadhipok abdicated the throne and left Siam never to return He died in England in 1941 during World War II 51 He was replaced as king by his nine year old nephew Prince Ananda Mahidol King Rama VIII who at that time was attending school in Lausanne Switzerland Legacy EditMain article Khana Ratsadon Legacy nbsp Public perception and discourse over the 1932 revolutionPublic perception and discourse over the 1932 revolution has fluctuated over time With the revival of the role of the monarchy initiated by the government of Sarit Thanarat in the 1960s the state began downplaying the significance of 1932 Public observation of 24 June as National Day was abandoned in favour of King Bhumibol s birthday on 5 December The events were glossed over by school textbooks while views describing the actions of the People s Party as premature and the idea that Vajiravudh and Prajadhipok had been making their own preparations for giving democracy to the people when ready were popularized 52 References Edit Mektrairat 2010 p 33 34 Lapomarede 1934 p 251 252 Mead 2004 Vella Walter Francis Vella Dorothy B 1974 Chaiyo King Vajiravudh and the development of Thai nationalism Honolulu University of Hawaii Press pp 126 175 a b Stowe 1991 p 4 Mead 2004 pp 85 92 a b c Handley 2006 p 37 Mead 2004 p 155 Stowe 1991 Mead 2004 pp 66 69 Mead 2004 pp 126 153 Stowe 1991 pp 9 11 Stowe 1991 pp 9 22 a b c d e Stowe 1991 p 12 Baker amp Phongpaichit 2005 p 116 a b Mektrairat 2010 p 298 a b Stowe 1991 p 13 Stowe 1991 p 14 a b c Stowe 1991 p 15 Landon 1939 pp 20 27 Stowe 1991 a b c Stowe 1991 p 2 a b Stowe 1991 p 1 Sivisanvaja amp Stevens 1932 a b Stowe 1991 p 5 a b c d Stowe 1991 p 16 Mektrairat 2010 p 304 a b c Stowe 1991 p 17 a b Chakrabongse 1957 p 160 a b c d Stowe 1991 p 18 Chakrabongse 1957 p 159 Mektrairat 2010 p 306 a b c Stowe 1991 p 20 a b Stowe 1991 p 22 Stowe 1991 p 21 Banomyong 2000 Part II Chapter 7 a b Stowe 1991 p 19 a b Chakrabongse 1957 p 161 Baker amp Phongpaichit 2005 p 119 Stowe 1991 Handley 2006 pp 35 43 Stowe 1991 p 25 Banomyong 2000 Part II Chapter 8 a b c Stowe 1991 p 26 a b Stowe 1991 p 27 Stowe 1991 p 33 Stowe 1991 p 34 Chakrabongse 1957 p 162 yxnrxy ekhaokhrngesrsthkic aephnphthnaesrsthkicchbbaerkthiimidichkhxngpridi phnmyngkh Pridi s Draft National Economic Plan prachatai com in Thai 2020 Lapomarede 1934 p 257 258 Stowe 1991 p 75 Mark Eugene 29 June 2017 Time to Truly Understand Thailand s 1932 Revolution The Diplomat Retrieved 16 October 2020 Bibliography Edit Baker Christopher Phongpaichit Pasuk 2005 A History of Thailand United Kingdom Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 81615 7 Banomyong Pridi 2000 Pridi by Pridi Selected Writings on Life Politics and Economy Silkworm Books ISBN 978 974 7551 35 8 Batson Benjamin A 1984 The End of Absolute Monarchy in Siam Singapore Oxford University Press Chakrabongse HRH Chula Prince of Thailand 1957 Twain Have Met An Eastern Prince Came West United Kingdom G T Foulis amp Co a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Coast John 1953 Some Aspects of Siamese Politics New York Institute of Pacific Relations Handley Paul M 2006 The King Never Smiles A Biography of Thailand s Bhumibol Adulyadej New Haven and London Yale University Press Keyes Charles 1987 Thailand Buddhist Kingdom as Modern Nation State Boulder Westview Press Kobkua Suwannathat Pian 1995 Thailand s Durable Premier Phibun through Three Decades 1932 1957 Kuala Lumpur Oxford University Press Kruger Rayne 1964 The Devil s Discus Great Britain Cassel amp Company Ltd Landon Kenneth Perry 1939 Thailand in Transition A brief survey of Cultural Trends in the five years since the Revolution of 1932 Chicago Illinois The University of Chicago Press Lapomarede Baron de 1934 The Setting of the Siamese Revolution PDF Pacific Affairs 7 3 251 259 doi 10 2307 2750737 ISSN 0030 851X JSTOR 2750737 Mektrairat Nakarin 2010 Siamese revolution of 1932 karptiwtisyam ph s 2475 in Thai 5 ed Samesky faediywkn ISBN 9786169023869 Mead Kullada Kesboonchoo 2004 The Rise and Decline of Thai Absolutism United Kingdom Routledge Curzon ISBN 0 415 29725 7 Moerman Michel 1965 Ethnic identification in a complex civilisation who are the Lue The American Anthropologist New Series 67 5 1215 1230 doi 10 1525 aa 1965 67 5 02a00070 Reynolds Craig J 1994 Thai Radical Discourse The Real Face of Thai Feudalism Today Ithaca Cornell University Press Cornell Southeast Asia Program Reynolds Craig J 2006 Feudalism as a Trope for the Past Seditious Histories Contesting Thai and Southeast Asian Pasts Seattle University of Washington Press ISBN 9789971693350 Steinberg D J ed 1971 In Search of Southeast Asia Kuala Lumpur Oxford University Press Sivisanvaja Phraya Stevens Raymond Bartlett 1932 An Outline of Change in the Form of the Government Rama VII s Constitution PDF Archived from the original PDF on 5 October 2011 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Stowe Judith 1991 Siam Becomes Thailand A Story of Intrigue United Kingdom C Hurst amp Co ISBN 0 8248 1394 4 Winichakul Thongchai c 1994 Siam Mapped a history of the geo body of a nation Honolulu University of Hawaii Press Winichakul Thongchai 2000 The Quest for Siwilai a Geographical Discourse of Civilizational Thinking in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries Siam The Journal of Asian Studies 59 3 528 549 doi 10 1017 s0021911800014327 JSTOR 2658942 Van Praagh David 1996 Thailand s Struggle for Democracy The Life and Times of M R Seni Pramoj New York Holmes amp Meier ISBN 9780841913219 Vella Walter F 1978 Chaiyo King Vajiravudh and the development of Thai Nationalism Honolulu The University Press of Hawaii Wyatt David K 2003 Thailand A Short History New Haven Yale University Press External links EditThai Revolution of 1932 Archived 16 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine Undermining the 1932 Revolution Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siamese revolution of 1932 amp oldid 1179641999, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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