March 1977 Thai coup d'état attempt

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March 1977 coup attempt in Thailand
Date26 March 1977; 44 years ago (1977-03-26)
Location
Thailand
Result

Failed military takeover

Belligerents
Thailand 9th Infantry Division
Thailand Royal Thai Army
Commanders and leaders
Thailand
Thailand 		Thanin Kraivichien
Thailand Sangad Chaloryu
Strength
300
Casualties and losses
1 () 2 ( and an enlisted army)

The March 1977 Thai coup d'état attempt was a military coup attempt against the military government of Thanin Kraivichien and junta leader Sangad Chaloryu, by on 26 March 1977, but failed within 12-hours. Chalard was executed one month later without trial, in retaliation of the killing of , close friend of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Background[]

Thailand descended into political chaos in 1976, with anti-leftist groups growing increasingly violent. The military pressured Kukrit Pramoj to dissolve parliament. Elections were scheduled on 14 April. The months leading up to the election were particularly eventful: The head of the Socialist Party was assassinated, the Red Gaur attempted to bomb the headquarters of the New Force Party (a leftist party), and the Chart Thai Party was established with the slogan "Right Kills Left". Seni Pramoj's Democrats won the most seats in the election, and formed an unstable coalition government. Kris Sivara was named defense minister, but died a week later. His death has been called "...sudden and strange..."[1]

military faction, included son of Chalard , visited Prime Minister Seni Pramoj at Seni's house in June 1976. Royal Thai Army dismissed them on involving with the government of Seni amid rumor of a coup. Right-wing extremist group also tried to end left-wing movements of students.[2]

Sangad Chaloryu staged a coup on the 6 October 1976 amid the massacre in Thammasat University, a turbulence caused by Thanom Kittikachorn return to the country after fleeing on the end of the 1973 Thai popular uprising. In January 1977, Praphas Charusathien also returned as a layman, but no conflict occurred. Military factions fought their ways to a top position, seeking larger role in politics. One of military factions consisted of former Thanom mentee, and another faction was led by Chalard, former deputy commander of the Royal Thai Army and former army commander of Thai military in the Vietnam War. Both factions tried to staged a coup in October 1976 but Sangad did first, they also received nothing from the current Thanin Kraivichien's government.[3]

Chalard denied to report for duty to Sangad military junta, he was dismissed on 10 October through announcement in the public radio. Chalard entered monkhood in a Bangkok Buddhist temple for five months, stated that he wanted to control himself, his monk name was "Sirihiranyo." The death of Kris and the dismiss of Chalard had developed serious political conflict further.[2]

Coup[]

Before dawn on 26 March 1977, Chalard Hiranyasiri, four middle-level army officers, and 300 army personnels from 9th Infantry Division in Kanchanaburi province led by Chalard son, Sawin Hiranyasiri,[4] seized Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) building, the Radio Thailand station, and three small military stations in Bangkok.[3] , close friend of King Bhumibol Adulyadej[5] and popular commander of King's Guard in Bangkok, and an enlisted man, were killed,[6] refusing to cooperate coup plot with Chalard.[4] One person was injured after two tanks smashed through the army base's main gate.[6] They staged the reason for the coup attempt that "the general conditions of national security, the economy and social conditions have been deteriorating."[4]

At 11:00 am, the military junta government arrived at the radio station and ordered the rebels to surrender.[4] The government of Thanin announced that the coup leaders would be granted exile abroad if they release the two army general hostages, but the Defence Minister explained after that they had to be tried by the military court.[7]

In the afternoon, electric power was cut off in the area of the radio station and the ISOC building.[4] Meanwhile, the government was continuing to broadcast all day over radio and television. The rebels held ISCO building until after dark, in which Chalard had negotiated their exile with Serm Na Nakorn. The rebel soldier surrendered one by one, turned over their M16 rifle to the government soldiers around the building compound.[6]

At 10:00 pm Thanin government announced peaceful end of the coup attempt, and relaying 'deep sorrow' of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit,[4] in which Thanin read a letter from Queen Sirikit to the widow of Arun.[6] Twenty persons were arrested alleging related to the failed coup.[7] The coup attempt leaders were allowed to leave the country on exile,[4] but they were arrested 12 hours later. They had been detained without able to contact anyone.[5]

Aftermath[]

Kriangsak Chamanan and Prime Minister Thanin Kraivichien approved an order to execute Chalard. King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed orders stripping Chalard of all military ranks, according to palace sources.[5]

Chalard was executed by the junta without a trial on 22 April 1977. Before Chalard execution, he was not allow to see his wife and Sawin. Sawin and coup attempt leaders were sentenced to life in prison. Fourteen persons related to the rebels were sentenced to lengthy terms such as , a prominent television commentator, and Raksat Wattanapanich, the Director-General of the Department of Public Relation.[7]

See also[]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Chambers 2016, p. 4.
  2. ^ a b Bamrungsuk 2017.
  3. ^ a b Darling 1978, p. 155.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Andelman 1977a.
  5. ^ a b c Andelman 1977b.
  6. ^ a b c d Simons 1977.
  7. ^ a b c Darling 1978, p. 156.

Sources[]

  • Andelman, David A. (27 March 1977a). "Thai Coup Attempt, Mostly Just a War Of Words, Is Foiled". The New York Times.
  • Simons, Lewis M. (27 March 1977). "Coup Attempt in Thailand Collapses From Ineptitude". Washington Post.
  • Darling, Frank C. (1978). "Thailand in 1977: The Search for Stability and Progress". Asian Survey. 18 (2): 153–163. doi:10.2307/2643309. ISSN 0004-4687.
  • Andelman, David A. (22 April 1977b). "Thai General Is Shot Without Trial for Leading Coup". The New York Times.
  • Chambers, Paul (2016). "Under the Boot: Military-Civil Relations in Thailand since the 2014 Coup" (PDF). City University of Hong Kong. Southeast Asia Research Centre (SEARC) Working Paper Series No. 187. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  • Bamrungsuk, Surachart (7 April 2017). "40 ปี รัฐประหาร 26 มีนาคม (1) รำลึก "พลเอกฉลาด หิรัญศิริ"" [40 Years Coup 26 March Chalard Hiransiri Memorial]. มติชนสุดสัปดาห์ (in Thai).
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