| It is widely believed that the 1932 coup was the | | | | for a national assembly of 70 appointed members |
| first coup in Thailand. It wasn't; the first coup was | | | | in the first stage. This was to be followed six |
| in 1912, when a group of junior officers, fired by | | | | months later, with half the assembly appointed |
| the Chinese revolution a year earlier, tried to seize | | | | and half elected. |
| power. They failed. The 24 June 1932 coup, | | | | The final stage called for full elections when the |
| however, succeeded and brought an end to | | | | half the population had completed primary |
| absolute monarchy in Thailand. | | | | education or within ten years which ever was |
| The seeds of the 1932 coup were first being | | | | sooner. On 10 December 1932 the permanent |
| sown in the early 1920's, during the reign of King | | | | constitution came into force. |
| Rama VI or King Vajiravudh (1910 - 1925). That | | | | The 1932 coup ended 150 years of absolute |
| was when Thailand started experiencing severe | | | | monarchy under the Chakri dynasty and |
| fluctuations in rice production which had a severe | | | | irreversibly changed the face of Thai politics. |
| impact on state revenues. Coupled with | | | | Within a year in June 1933, another coup forced a |
| extravagant state expenditures, this caused a | | | | change of government. This trend of coups was |
| huge trade deficit and foreign debt. | | | | to persist for the next seven decades. |
| In 1925, when King Rama VII or King Prajadhipok | | | | In October 1933, a rebellion by provincial garrisons |
| ascended the throne, the economy continued to | | | | led by Prince Boworadet, a former Minister of |
| deteriorate as the deficit grew. With the rise of | | | | War, brought the country to the brink of civil war. |
| nationalism and economic socialism, some of the | | | | Government troops led by Lieutenant-Colonel |
| educated urban class was starting to question the | | | | Phibun Songkhram defeated the rebels. |
| status quo. | | | | Relations between the government and the |
| The Great Depression of the 1930's hit Thailand | | | | royalists deteriorated further as a result of this |
| like a thunderbolt. From 1930 - 1932, rice prices | | | | royal rebellion. On 2 March 1935, King Rama VII |
| fell by more than 60% and land prices by 90%! | | | | abdicated leaving many to ponder on his profound |
| Economic belt-tightening and tax increases hit the | | | | observation that Thailand in 1932 was not ready |
| state employees and urban middle-class in | | | | for democracy. |
| Bangkok hardest. | | | | 24 June 2007 - 75 years later |
| To make matters worse, Thailand ill-advisedly | | | | Until 1957, 24 June was the National Day. After |
| stayed on the gold standard when others floated | | | | Field Marshall Phibun Songkhram, the last of the |
| their currencies. This caused Thai rice, the main | | | | Promoters, was disposed off in a coup in 1957 by |
| export, to cost more than rice sold by countries | | | | Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat, 24 June was dropped |
| off the gold standard. The overvalued Thai baht | | | | as a national holiday. The move was an attempt |
| resulted huge outflows of gold from the country. | | | | to scrub 24 June 1932 and all those involved from |
| Against this backdrop, the Promoters, a group of | | | | the collective memory. |
| military officers and civilians staged the 1932 coup | | | | But our history frequently returns to haunt us. |
| on 24 June 1932. The Promoters consisted of | | | | After 75 years, 18 coups and 17 constitutions |
| two factions; | | | | (the 18th constitution is currently in draft), the |
| - the People's Party, a group of young intellectuals | | | | country is back under military rule after the coup |
| educated overseas led by a young French | | | | on 19 September 2006. |
| educated lawyer, Pridi Banomyong | | | | The course of political history has gone through |
| - and the military faction led by military officers | | | | another familiar cycle of |
| Phraya Phahon Yothin and Phibun Songkram, 114 | | | | coup-constitution-elections-coup. With the growing |
| members in all. All three men were to be Prime | | | | fatigue over the current political morass, the |
| Ministers in the next 15 years. | | | | memory of 24 June 1932 is revived, a cry for a |
| The 1932 coup swiftly launched at dawn was | | | | real change. |
| over by noon the same day! Many people were | | | | But after the elections, when events enter a new |
| hardly aware of it. King Rama VII acceded to the | | | | cycle, will 24 June 1932 fade away again only to |
| demands to avoid bloodshed and agreed to serve | | | | be recalled annually by academics and selected |
| as the constitutional monarch. | | | | groups? |
| The transition to constitutional government called | | | | |