Revolutionary Council (Thailand)

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The Revolutionary Council ( Thai คณะ ปฏิวัติ , RTGS Khana Patiwat ; sometimes translated as "Revolutionary Party" or "Revolutionary Group ") was an organization in Thailand that Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat used after he came to power in 1957/58.

Revolutionary Council after the 1957 coup

Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat

Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat formed a first Revolutionary Council during his coup against the then ruling Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram in September 1957. This coup d'état had the express approval of King Bhumibol Adulyadej , who himself imposed martial law , Sarit the title of "Defender of Bangkok" and the law awarded to countersign decrees in the name of the king . The king declared that he had "benevolently stated" that "the aim of the Revolutionary Party to protect the people, ensure the well-being of the nation and promote the prosperity of the country is noble."

While the political scientist Thak Chaloemtiarana estimates that the king probably had no choice but to submit to Sarit's coup, the Bhumibol biographer Paul Handley argues that the speed with which the monarch gave his blessing was due to his complicity in the coup speak. Members of the Privy Council contacted the embassies of Western countries to assure them that Sarit was a reliable royalist and anti-communist and had the full support of the palace.

Subsequently, Field Marshal Sarit initially stayed in the background, he put the constitution back into force and had new elections held. The Revolutionary Council initially dissolved again. The Unionist Party (Sahaphum) , which the coup leaders had founded, only narrowly won the elections. Sarit's confidante Thanom Kittikachorn became prime minister of an unstable government. The establishment of the “National Socialist Party” (Chat Sangkhomniyom) , with which the government camp wanted to convince previously independent MPs to defeat, did not bring greater stability either. In by-elections in March 1958, the party suffered a defeat.

Revolutionary Council after the 1958 coup

On October 19, 1958, Sarit suddenly returned to Thailand from England, where he had had his cirrhosis of the liver treated. The next day, soldiers occupied the government buildings, Thanom resigned as prime minister and the Revolutionary Council led by Sarit seized power. Thanom stood by Sarit as deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Council, the other members were also military. The Revolutionary Council proclaimed martial law, suspended the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly. The office of Prime Minister remained vacant until February 9, 1959. The Revolutionary Council ruled by decrees - 57 in all - which it called "notices" and "orders". Suspected communists were arrested en masse, as were newspaper editors. Meetings of more than five people were prohibited. Bookstores were closed and unions fought. According to Sarit, these authoritarian measures were necessary in order to decisively counter the emerging communism and subversion in the country. At the same time, the Revolutionary Council declared that it would remain loyal to the monarchy.

The Revolutionary Council also decreed more popular measures: lowering the price of electricity, the price of iced coffee, sugar and coal, the supply of free drinking water, the holding of flea markets on Sundays and the expansion of professional fields that only Thai people (and not foreigners) can do. could be exercised, from 13 to 27. Other organizations reacted to these measures with price cuts, either under pressure from the Revolutionary Council or voluntarily, in order to emulate its popular model. Telephone charges, rail fares and school fees fell.

Sarit also acted brutally against arsonists, whom he sentenced to death on the spot in several cases. In the name of "order and decency" (khwam riap-roi) , the streets of the capital were regularly cleaned, beggars evicted or arrested. In addition, the Revolutionary Council took action against (alleged) petty criminals and gang criminals whom it referred to as anthaphan (“crooks” or “hooligans”). According to Decree No. 21, they could be detained for 30 days without being charged with any specific crime. With Decree No. 43 correctional institutions were introduced, in which “crooks”, prostitutes, but also young people who behaved inappropriately were to be educated to lead a “decent” life.

On January 28, 1959, Sarit put an interim constitution with 20 articles into force. The most important of these was Article 17, which gave the head of government practically unlimited powers and laid the basis for his dictatorial rule. According to this, the Prime Minister could "whenever he deems it appropriate to prevent acts that undermined the security of the kingdom or the throne", enact decrees with the force of law. These were automatically considered lawful, no one could appeal against them, and no institution was allowed to review them. On February 9, 1959, the King appointed Sarit Prime Minister. The Revolutionary Council was then dissolved.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ quoted from Paul M. Handley: The King Never Smiles. A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej. Yale University Press, New Haven (CT) 2006, p. 138.
  2. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, p. 82.
  3. ^ Paul M. Handley: The King Never Smiles. A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej. Yale University Press, New Haven (CT) 2006, p. 138.
  4. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, pp. 88-89.
  5. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, p. 90.
  6. ^ A b Tōru Yano: Some Characteristics of Political Leadership in Thailand. Sarit Thanarat's “Revolutionary Party Edicts”. 1972, p. 233.
  7. ↑ a b Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, p. 96.
  8. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, p. 97.
  9. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, pp. 96-97.
  10. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, pp. 121-122.
  11. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. The Politics of Despotic Paternalism. Cornell Southeast Asia Program, Ithaca (NY) 2007, ISBN 978-0-8772-7742-2 , pp. Xi, 127-128.
  12. ↑ Tyrell Haberkorn: In Plain Sight. Impunity and Human Rights in Thailand. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison (WI) / London 2018, ISBN 978-0299314408 , pp. 55-57.