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TheSongsuradet rebellion (Thai:กบฏพระยาทรงสุรเดช;RTGS: Kabot Phraya Songsuradet) also known as theRebellion of 18 corpses (กบฏ 18 ศพ) was the claimed pretext for a politicalpurge on 29 January 1939 by the government ofThai Prime MinisterPlaek Phibunsongkhram (Phibun) against his political enemies and rivals, which namedPhraya Songsuradet as the alleged leader of a plot against Phibun.
Phraya Songsuradet was a member of thePeople's Party who played a crucial role in theSiamese revolution of 1932 and subsequently became an important member of the new Thaiconstitutional government. The roots of the conflict began during thecoup d'état of June 1933, whenPhraya Phahon Phonphayuhasena oustedPhraya Manopakorn Nititada and replaced him asprime minister. As with many other supporters of Phraya Mano, Songsuradet was permanently barred from politics by the new premier. He spent the next two years exiled inSri Lanka.
During, before, and after the coup, conflicts arose between Songsuradet and Phibun, who were both ministers of state[clarification needed] and members of thePeople's Committee.
When Phibun succeeded Phraya Phahon as prime minister on 11 September 1938, there was much resistance to his premiership due to his dictatorial style and cronyism. This, coupled with his role in suppressing theBoworadet Rebellion, resulted in threeassassination attempts, two by gunmen and one by poisoning.
In 1938, Songsuradet, by then having retired from politics for five years (but not yet from the army) was commander of the military school inChiang Mai. On 16 December he was commanding a military exercise by his students inRatchaburi Province, west of the capital. On that date he received orders from Bangkok stripping him of his command of all units as well as his rank and titles and forcing him to retire from the army without pension. He was also expelled from the country. Fearing death, Songsuradet complied, and with hisaide-de-camp, Captain Samruad Kanjonsit (สำรวจ กาญจนสิทธิ์), he escaped toCambodia.
Actions against the "rebellion", however, did not end there. In the early hours of 29 January 1939 Phibun, with the help of hisMinister of Interior and director of theRoyal Thai Police, ordered the arrest of a further 51 suspects (suspected of being Songsuradet sympathizers). The persons arrested includedinter aliaPrince Rangsit, Prince of Chainat (a son of KingChulalongkorn), GeneralPhraya Thephatsadin (a 62-year-old former commander of theSiamese Expeditionary Force during theFirst World War), andPhraya Udompong Phensawad [th]), a former minister of state. Others arrested included politicians such as members of thePeople's Assembly and many were military officers and aristocrats. A further 20 suspects were arrested by the end of the day, including one of Phibun's servants.
A specialtribunal was created by Phibun to try those purportedly involved in the so-called "rebellion" and the assassination attempts on Phibun. Seven were released for lack of evidence, 25 were imprisoned for life, and 21 were to be executed by firing squad. However, three were pardoned due to their honorable records and services to the nation. The three included Prince Rangsit and Phraya Thepahatsadin, who were instead imprisoned for life. The other 18, however did not share that fate. They were incarcerated atBang Kwang Central Prison. Eventually they were executed by firing squad in installments of four prisoners a day.
Songsuradet, having escaped toCambodia, lived the rest of his life in abject poverty, making a living by sellingconfectionery in the streets ofPhnom Penh. He died in 1944. Many of the other suspects who were imprisoned by Phibun were eventually pardoned byKhuang Abhaiwongse when he became prime minister in 1944.
The rebellion was in effect Phibun's own version ofthe Night of the Long Knives. By 1938 he had consolidated his power to such an extent that he had become virtual dictator of the country, changing its name from "Siam" to "Thailand" in June 1938. He was able to accomplish this using brutal tactics and the absence of any credible opposition. KingPrajadhipok had by then been succeeded byAnanda Mahidol, who was only 13 years old and studying inSwitzerland. The tribunal which Phibun had set up to try the suspects was packed with judges appointed by him and his government. There were no lawyers present and no witnesses were called. Historians[1] agree today that the men executed were mostly innocent and were not a part of a plot to kill Phibun or overthrow his government. Phibun was eventually removed in 1944. Four years later he returned and served as prime minister from 1948–1957. He died in 1964.
Payap Rojanavipat, one writer was arrested and imprisoned for this rebellion called the period of this event "Black Age" and he recorded his incarceration and witnessed the execution in the book of the same title.[1]
| Rebellions, revolts, and revolution | |
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| Coups and coup attempts | |
| Popular revolts | |
| Protests and crises | |
