| Rebellion of the Sergeants | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 2nd Infantry Division |  Phraya Phahon CabinetRoyal Thai Army | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sawas Mahamad | Phraya PhahonPlaek Phibunsongkhram | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Sawas Mahamad † | |||||||
TheRebellion of the Sergeants was a militarycoup attempt against the government ofPhraya Phahon by a group ofarmy sergeants, led bySawas Mahamad on 3 August 1935, but the plot was leaked. Sawas was executed and twelve plotters were sentenced from sixteen years to life imprisonment.
In March 1935,King Prajadhipok announced his abdication while still in Europe, the new nine-year-old kingAnanda Mahidol was still inSwitzerland.[1] A group ofarmy sergeants who in charge of an armory, led bySawas Mahamad, plotted a revolution plan against the government ofPhraya Phahon. The plot started at the2nd Infantry Division in command of Major Luang Prahanripu, located in currentMinistry of Education office. They planned to kill important military officers and government officials, includedPridi Banomyong, and the regent, PrinceAditya Dibabha,[2] to arrest Phraya Phahon andPlaek Phibunsongkhram, and to take overMinistry of Defence Headquarter. They planned to releasepolitical prisoners and force them to join the group. In the end of the plot, they would bring Prajadhipok back to the throne.[3]
The plot leaked to the government by one of the group of sergeants. The plotters were arrested on 3 August.[4][5] On 10 August, fifteen plotters were held by the government.[1] The special secretmilitary court conducted trials against around 100 sergeants.[6]
The court, without a lawyer,[4] sentenced Sawas Mahamad to death, eight to life imprisonment, three to twenty years, and one to sixteen years. Eleven accused officers pleaded guilty.[2]
| Rebellions, revolts, and revolution | |
|---|---|
| Coups and coup attempts | |
| Popular revolts | |
| Protests and crises | |
