Bangkok, August 23, 1951.

Prime Minister Pridi Banomyong has been assassinated. The grenade that ended Pridi’s life threw Thailand into chaos. As the political parties debated on what had to be done, two major leaders fought over the position of Prime Minister: Thawan Thamrongnawasawat, a former naval officer and then a politician that was ousted in 1947, and Plaek Phibunsongkhram, a man often seen as a machiavellian leader, mastermind of the 1947 coup and extremely charismatic.

The lack of a de jure Prime Minister was agonizing. Phibun discretely met with a dozen military and political figures who were profoundly concerned about Thawan’s leadership. The main concerns stem from a lack of firmness regarding the communist threat in both Burma and China. Phibun, on the other hand, had already promised that he was committed to protecting the monarchy and the country, proposing a ban on the Communist Party and a restoration of the preeminence of the Armed Forces.

The absence of a Prime Minister had cast a long shadow over the nation. Many political leaders were deeply concerned about what would be the outcome of the silent power struggle currently ongoing. Phibunsongkhram had a series of discrete meetings, talking with influential military and political figures who shared his view that Thawan’s leadership would go. The core of their apprehensions was centered on Thawan’s lack of resolve in addressing the communist threat of Burma and China, while Phibun piqued their fear by commenting on the tactics that the Burmese had employed against Pakistan. He created a complex and convincing narrative that he was a staunch defender of the monarchy and of Thailand itself. He cited his cultural revolution. He cited his bold proposals to save thailand: ban the Communist Party and purge its leadership, and restore the Armed Forces’ prominence in the country.

On that same day, Phibun also arranged a meeting with the King, Rama X. He emphasized the imminent and grave threats posed by communism and the ultra-royalist terrorist factions in the country. He painted a terrifying picture to the king of brutal massacres perpetrated by the Chinese against landlords. He argued that either side saw the monarchy as weak, and would either overthrow or assassinate Rama and his family. In a fiery speech, Phibun argued that his leadership was a historical choice. If he was not selected, Thailand would surely fall to communism and all Thai men, women, and children would be subject to sadistic, bloodthirsty rituals.

Phibun then went on to pledge the King - in his infinite knowledge - to sign off on a state of emergency, granting the Prime Minister ample powers to save Thailand from the Sino-Burmese conspiracy and its elements within Thailand. In his military uniform and white hair, Phibun often looked down at the ground with a somber look in his eyes. He mentioned that it was only through these means that he would be able to save Thailand and everything in it. It was enough for Rama. Phibunsongkhram was to be Prime Minister.

The Machtergreifung | Bangkok, August 24, 1951.

“As I stand before you, I stand as the chosen leader of our great nation, entrusted with a sacred duty. It was bestowed upon me by History itself. It is the duty to protect our Thailand from the sinister forces that seek to destroy all we hold dear. Let there be no doubt, gentlemen, that we are living in dangerous times. Communism looms large. It threatens to snuff out our way of life. Our culture. Our heritage. Our independence. It seeks to turn us into slaves and behave as animals. It seeks to cage, whip, torture, and end us.

If it were not for the brilliant decision of our beloved King, Rama X, this could have been happening this very day. If not for my appointment and for the brilliance of the Thai people, it is, without a doubt, a sincere possibility that today, Chinese troops would be over our borders. Nevertheless, the threat shall come to pass. This power bestowed upon me gives me the greatest of strengths. It allows me to do what I have labored to do my entire life. It allows us, the Thai people, alongside our unstoppable army, to stand as the bulwark against this insidious menace. It is only through the unstoppable strength of arms and the resolve of a united front that we are able to walk through these treacherous waters and times. I have seen the horrors that communism brings - we all have. Open any newspaper and see the bodies of children. The artillery barrages. The marches of hideous, gaunt demon-men who walk with a rifle in one hand, grenade in the other, eager to tear us to shreds. I will not let that plague infest our land.

It makes me glad to say that we do not stand alone in our steadfast crusade against communism, my fellow countrymen. The beasts of communism have their rotting carcasses held up by the Soviets. Our bulwark against it is found in our steadfast ally, the United States of America. It is the only nation, my friends, that shares our beloved commitment to freedom and democracy. It is only us and them against the forces of darkness. Together we shall win this war.

I declare, here and now, that with this power that is granted to me, that no one else can stop us. No one else has the vision, the strength, and the unwavering determination that we do. The time is now to rally together and cast aside our petty divisions and personal ambitions. I encourage, nay, demand, that we all march forward as one, with unyielding resolve, to build a Thailand that is strong, prosperous, and free from the scourge of communism.

Many men have declared that myself - even men from my own party - seek power for its own sake. This is not the case and let no one tell you so with a straight face. They are lying. It is only through my love for Thailand that I have accepted this role. I did not ask for it. I have never asked for any role in this world that has not been granted to me by History itself. Let it not judge me by my words. I am not a man of words. I am a man of action. We, the Thais, are a people of action. Therefore, let us act together for a better future.

Long live Thailand and our people! Long live our beloved democracy! Long live freedom for all the peoples in the world! Together, and only together, we shall conquer all challenges and emerge victorious!”

Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram was sworn into office, alongside his cabinet, by King Rama X. In Parliament, the PM held a long speech about the dangers of communism and the necessity for immediate action. He called for the unity of all Thais and the combined actions of all anti-communist nations of the world towards containment.

On that same day, a large board with the photographs of every member of Phibun’s cabinet was published in every newspaper, alongside a list. It contained the following:

The Crackdown | Bangkok, August 26-30, 1951.

Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Phibun issued a series of decrees. He reinstated the cultural mandates, placing a strong emphasis on collaboration with foreigners. On August 27, Phibun enacted Mandate 13, titled On all Thai Peoples. This rather concise mandate drew inspiration from Pan-Thaiism principles, asserting that all Thai people should study the history and borders of the Rattankosin Kingdom and embrace it as a positive influence on all the peoples of Indochina.

On August 28, the government officially banned both socialism and communism within the country. The national police force and the intelligence apparatus launched an unprecedented crackdown, resulting in over 620 arrests across the nation by the end of the day. Phibunsongkhram targeted all politicians with any connection to socialism. On August 29, he accused his former rival, Thawan Thamrongnawasawat, of having ties with the People’s Republic of China and collaborating to overthrow the legitimate government of Thailand. By August 30, over 1,950 individuals had been arrested on charges of collaborating with China and Burma, as well as supporting communist and socialist ideologies.

The Reaction | Thailand, September 1951.

The crackdown and the takeover of the government by Phibunsongkhram occurred immediately after the first fully democratic elections in Thailand. Consequently, the month of September has been marked by widespread protests. People protested the government's actions in banning the communists and socialists, and in return, they faced a severe crackdown. Although no casualties were reported, the September 10 Protests in Bangkok resulted in another 62 arrests.

On September 16, the government extended its emergency powers by expediting judicial processes and curtailing the rights of the population to a legal trial and defense. Meanwhile, in northeast Thailand, the Isan region, which is a stronghold for key members of Pridi and Thawan's constituency, is growing restless. They have vehemently protested the government's actions, with Isan politicians discreetly contacting the Kingdom of Laos to seek its support against Phibunsongkhram.

The crackdown on September 10 was the breaking point for the Communist Party of Thailand. After the assassination of a police officer on September 17, the CPT launched an insurgency in rural areas of Thailand, particularly in the northeastern territory of the nation. A news report from September 22 declared that the insurgents numbered in the thousands and were gradually but surely organizing themselves.

Summary

• Plaek Phibunsongkhram is the new Prime Minister of Thailand, having been granted emergency powers by Rama X.

• The Phibun government has launched a major crackdown on communists and socialists in Thailand, purging it of these elements and arresting most of its major opposition.

• The Isan and its representatives within Thailand have expressed concerns with the Phibun government to the Laotian government.

• The Communist Party of Thailand has decided to launch an insurgency in the northeastern regions of the country. Their current numbers are unclear but are in the thousands.