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Thailand November 1947 Coup
In November 1947, the so-called Coup d'Etat Group, led by two
retired generals and backed by Phibun, seized power from the
civilian government. Pridi, who had recently returned from his
world tour, fled the country again and eventually took refuge in
China. The coup leaders appointed an interim government headed by
Khuang and promised a new constitution. General elections held in
January 1948 confirmed support for the junta, particularly the
Phibun faction. In order to placate conservative civilian
supporters, Khuang was retained as prime minister until he proved
too independent in his policies. In April 1948, Phibun--by then a
field marshal--forcibly removed Khuang from office and took over
as prime minister.
For the next three years Phibun struggled to maintain his
government against numerous attempted coups by rival military
factions. To build support, he allowed disaffected political
groups, including Khuang's conservative Democrat Party, to
participate in drafting a new constitution, which was promulgated
in 1949. When leaders of an anti-Phibun army group were arrested
in October 1948, supporters of former prime ministers Pridi and
Khuang in the navy and the marines were not seized. In February
1949, a revolt allegedly sponsored by Pridi supporters in the
marines and navy was suppressed after three days of fighting. In
June 1951, marine and navy troops again rebelled and abducted
Phibun. The revolt, which was put down by loyal army and air
force units, resulted in a serious cutback of navy strength and a
purge of senior naval officers.
Phibun's policies during his second government (1948-57) were
similar to those he had initiated in the late 1930s. He restored
the use of the name Thailand in 1949. (In reaction to
extreme nationalism, there had been a reversion to the name
Siam in 1946.) Legislation to make Thai social behavior
conform to Western standards--begun by Phibun before the war--was
reintroduced. Secondary education was improved, and military
appropriations were substantially increased. The Phibun regime
was also characterized by harassment of Chinese and the tendency
to regard them as disloyal and, after 1949, as communists.
Phibun's anticommunist position had great influence on his
foreign policy. Thailand refused to recognize the People's
Republic of China, supported UN action in Korea in 1950, and
backed the French against communist insurgents in Indochina.
Phibun's Thailand was regarded as the most loyal supporter of
United States foreign policy in mainland Southeast Asia.
Data as of September 1987
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