MUSICAL CHAIRS FOLLOWS NATIONAL TRAGEDY
In 84 years since the end of absolute monarchy, the royal institution has sometimes been exploited by conflicting parties for their own ends, writes
Abrupt changes of government have been part of Thailand’s democracy for the past eight decades. Since a group of overseas-educated civilians and military officers changed the system of government in Siam from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy on June 24, 1932, Thailand has had 19 constitutions, 25 attempted and successful coups and 29 prime ministers.
Throughout the 84 years of the country’s roller-coaster democracy, the monarchy has occasionally been exploited by conflicting parties for their own ends.
The most tragic incident concerned the death of King Ananda Mahidol. Three of his pages, believed to be close to former prime minister Pridi Banomyong, were sentenced to death by the Supreme Court after a six-year trial ordered by then premier Field Marshal Plaek Phibulsonggram, a friendturned-foe of Pridi’s.
King Ananda was named monarch in 1935 at the age of 10 after his uncle King Prajadhipok abdicated. He spent many of the succeeding years in Switzerland until his death aged 20.
King Ananda and younger brother Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej had arrived in Thailand along with their mother on Dec 5, 1945. The King had been due to depart for the US in June 1946.
On June 9, 1946, the day he died, the 20-yearold King rose at 6am in Boromphiman Mansion in the Grand Palace complex and took some medicine to relieve stomach pains, according to a government statement.
It was not known what transpired between then and when his body, lying next to a Colt .45 pistol, was discovered by his personal attendant about 9am, according to the Supreme Court’s verdict dated Oct 13, 1954.
The 18-year-old Prince Bhumibol was confirmed as successor by the legislature that evening and a Council of Regency was set up to guide him.
A radio announcement said the King was accidentally killed while toying with his pistol, according to author Sulak Sivaraksa in his book titled Powers That Be: Pridi Banomyong through the rise and fall of Thai democracy.
Soon after his death, rumours spread that Pridi was behind the death, according to the book.
On Nov 1, 1946, Bangkok Radio read an initial
report on the death by the appointed Commission of Inquiry that the King had either committed suicide or been assassinated. The commission, including judges and high-ranking royals, dismissed the theory that King Ananda’s death was accidental, according to the Bangkok Post.
The inconclusive nature of the report failed to lift a cloud of suspicion surrounding the death, which had, in the words of a Bangkok Post editorial, “resulted in rumours covering every person and every political and social group in the nation”.
Nearly a year later, police arrested two women on charges of having defamed Pridi after they claimed they were promised 200,000 baht to spread rumours he was involved in the death of King Ananda. The purpose of the rumours was to undermine the government headed by Pridi, who became prime minister after a general election in January 1946.
Two months after the King’s passing, Pridi resigned on Aug 21 citing health issues and also saying he “could not continue any longer fighting perpetual intrigue”, according to the next day’s report in the Bangkok Post.
The outgoing premier said when he first took office he had spent nearly 24 hours a day on matters of the state. Now, ‘’this perpetual struggle against intrigue takes up more than 80% of my time”, the Post quoted him as saying.
Thamrong Nawasawat was named prime minister soon afterwards. His cabinet included many of the same ministers who worked under Pridi.
The short-lived Thamrong government was toppled in a bloodless coup by the self-proclaimed Coup Group headed by Lt Gen Phin Choonhavan and Pol Lt Gen Phao Sriyanond and backed by Field Marshal Plaek.
The junta said the action was necessary to protect royal prestige and end the endemic corruption that had tarnished the constitution signed by the late King Ananda.
The regent, Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi, quickly signed off a new constitution, which was seen as strengthening the monarchy.
Pridi and Thamrong, accused of plotting the overthrow of the monarchy, managed to escape. After spending a week taking refuge at navy headquarters, the elder statesman was spirited out of Thailand to Singapore by British and American agents.
The ruling junta began arresting members and supporters of Pridi’s Free Thai movement, an underground resistance group loyal to Pridi set up to oppose Japanese occupation during World War II.
Field Marshal Plaek became prime minister again five months after the Coup Group gave Khuang Aphaiwong a 24-hour ultimatum to quit.
Field Marshal Plaek, who was to spend nine years in power, kicked off a delayed Criminal Court trial for the alleged murder of King Ananda on Sept 28, 1948.
The three defendants, named just six weeks earlier, were Chaleo Patoomros, former private secretary to the King, Chit Singhaseni and Butr Patamasrin, bedchamber attendants who were at the tragic scene on June 9, 1946.
The trio were charged with having had knowledge of the assassination plot and not reporting it to the authorities. Chit and Butr were additionally accused of collaborating with unnamed people alleged to have shot the King and then assisted in the escape of the assassin.
Three years after the trial, the five-judge Criminal Court on Sept 27, 1951, found Chit guilty of falsifying evidence and tampering with the handgun allegedly used in the killing and sentenced him to death, even though he was outside the King’s room when the fatal shooting occurred and had been cleared of being the assassin.
Chaleo and Butr were acquitted for lack of evidence.
The prosecution appealed against the notguilty verdict handed down on Butr and Chaleo, while Chit and the defence team appealed against the guilty verdict.
Three years later, the Supreme Court ruled on Oct 13, 1954, that King Ananda had been assassinated and found the trio guilty of involvement in the regicide.
All three were sentenced to death and executed by firing squad at Bang Kwang prison on Feb 17, 1955. They insisted on their innocence to the end.
Following the trial, the minister of interior, Vice Adm Sunawin Vivadh, told the Bangkok Post he believed the Supreme Court had given a fair judgement and he should not interfere with justice by requesting a royal pardon.
The trio were not the last casualties of political shenanigans in Thai democratic history.