1981 Thai military rebellion

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1981 Thai military rebellion
Date 1 April 1981; 40 years ago (1981-04-01) Location Thailand Result Failed military takeover
Belligerents
First Regional Army	Second, Third, Fourth Regional Army Royal Thai Navy  Royal Thai Air Force Supported by: Monarchy of Thailand
Commanders and leaders
Manoonkrit Roopkachorn	Prem Tinsulanonda Arthit Kamlang-ek
Units involved
	21st Infantry Regiment

The 1981 Thai military rebellion was a military coup attempt to consolidate power the government of Prem Tinsulanonda, staged by Thai military leaders of Class 7 on 1 April 1981, but counter-coup by Prem, Arthit Kamlang-ek, support by the royal family on 3 April let them become rebellion instead.

Background[]

Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School Class 7 field officers called 'Young Turks', including Manoonkrit Roopkachorn, , and Chamlong Srimuang, involved in 1976 Thai coup d'état as significant force and helped Kriangsak Chamanan become prime minister. Later when Kriangsak became unpopular, they strongly supported and helped Prem Tinsulanonda, the northeast army leader, became Prime Minister of Thailand in 1980. Prem realized that he should not depend on Class 7 only, he began to seek for another classes' support.^[1]

Prelude[]

On 31 March 1981, Class 7 leaders visited Prem in the night to ask him lead a coup on 1 April but Prem refused. Arthit Kamlang-ek, a deputy commander of the 2nd army region, acknowledged of the coup plan. Arthit telephoned Queen Sirikit. Sirikit then ordered coup planning group to let Prem to the royal palace.^[1]

Coup[]

On 1 April 1981, Class 7 leaders led by , deputy commander-in-chief of the army, staged a coup and calling themself 'Revolutional Council'. Manoonkrit, secretary-general of the group, procaimed reasons as selfish politicians, social justice problem, and economics problem.^[1]

Prem went to Suranari base of the 2nd army region in Nakhon Ratchasima Province with Thai Royal Family, included King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the morning, and setup counter-coup with an assistance from Arthit. The influence of Royal Family helped Prem to get support from the second, third and forth regional armies, the Royal Thai Navy, and the Royal Thai Air Force. The 21st Infantry Regiment, the Queen guards, secretly entered Bangkok on 3 April and arrested coup attempt leaders.^[2]

See also[]

• 1991 Thai coup d'état

References[]

Citations[]

Sources[]

• Tamada, Yoshifumi (1995). "Coups in Thailand, 1980-1991:". Japanese Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. Kyoto: Kyoto University. 33 (3): 317–339. doi:10.20495/tak.33.3_317.