Looking back at Pridi and a controversial slice of Thai history

10 May 2000

IN the latest report in a series on late Thai statesman Pridi Banomyong's birth centennial anniversary, the Political Desk takes a look at the most controversial aspects of his political life.

It is extremely sensitive, and few people in Thailand would want to discuss it in public, but to really commemorate the centennial anniversary of Pridi Banomyong, the leader who brought greater upheaval to Thailand than almost any other leading citizen, the tragic death of King Rama VIII has to be included in the picture.

It is a great mystery, a big, murky part of Thai history that many have come to admit is likely to remain so for ever.

And in the middle of it is Pridi's name.

He was accused of masterminding the assassination, though he was never charged, and evidence emerged later to back his staunch protest of innocence.

Pridi had to go into exile and, despite the efforts of his followers to secure him an honorable place in history, never got a chance to clear his name.

To his opponents, a man who led a revolution that ended absolute monarch was a convenient suspect when a country's beloved king died of a gunshot wound.

To his supporters, Pridi was a victim of political propaganda that took advantage of an incident which until now has remained inexplicable. He was a "too perfect" piece of jigsaw that only made the whole picture look surreal.

To some analysts, he was just a loser in a highly complicated political struggle that entangled him, rival politicians and the military, as well as the country's highest institution.

To mark the centennial anniversary, The Nation's Political Desk has compiled the following chronology, which includes only factual events concerning King Rama VIII's death:

- June 8, 1946: Pridi, the World War II hero, becomes prime minister for the second time.

This came at a time when King Rama VIII was reportedly upset with political developments.

There were rumours of attempts by Pridi to put political pressure on the King and of the King wanting to abdicate in favour of his younger brother.

- June 9, 1946: Death of King Rama VIII.

He is found in his bedroom with a bullet hole in his forehead.

Pridi seeks Parliament's consent to invite the king's brother, Bhumibol, to ascend the throne.

The King was found dead shortly after 9am.Pridi told Parliament he had received the tragic news at 10am and rushed to the palace with the interior minister and the police chief.

- June 18, 1946: Prime Minister Pridi establishes a national commission to investigate the incident.

The high-level panel was made up of the chief justices of the Supreme, Appeals and Criminal Courts, the chief public prosecutor, the speakers of the upper and lower houses of Parliament, representatives from the Army, Navy and Air Force, and three royal representatives. Sanya Thammasak was the panel's secretary.

- Run-up to the August 5, 1946 general election: Some Democrat Party candidates are said to link Pridi to the King's death in their election campaign. An Interior Ministry rebuttal, issued on July 29, 1946, reads:

"Some candidates of the Democrat Party and their supporters have taken advantage of the election campaign to disseminate anti-government propaganda.

"Among the allegations is that the government has tried to cover up the cause of His Majesty's death.

"The truth is that the government is embarking upon a fair and transparent investigation, underlined by the establishment of the high-level fact-finding commission.

"The investigation is also open to public scrutiny.

"King Bhumibol and the Princess Mother have also testified to the commission that the late King had no conflict with the government, nor was he upset with this government.

"In fact it was the present prime minister who invited the late King to ascend the throne.

"When the late King was living overseas and his throne was threatened by ill-intentioned people, it was this prime minister [then regent], who risked his life to protect the throne.

"The government is very sorry that some Democrat members have exploited this situation to reap political gains.

"There have been attempts from the very first day to distort information and tell the public lies through word of mouth, telephone calls, telegrams and newspapers.

"These are not loyal people. They are just political opportunists."

- October 1946: A committee investigation report quotes a doctor as ruling out an accident, citing signs that the gun was pressed hard against the late King's forehead.

The panel disputes this, saying the person who pressed the gun against the forehead might not have had the intention to cause death.

- November 8, 1947: Coup-makers led by General Phin Choonhavan seize power, sending Pridi into exile overseas.

The coup took place against the backdrop of reports that the government was making big progress in its investigation.

A Democrat-led government was established on November 10. A retired police officer, Maj-General Phrapinitchonkadi, was reinstated and took over the investigation.

He was the brother-in-law of two senior Democrat brothers, Seni and Kukrit Pramoj.

- November 20, 1947: Former royal secretary Chaliew Pathumro, and royal bedroom guards Chit Singhaseni and Butr Patamasrin are arrested, 12 days after the coup.

- August 7, 1948: Chaliew, Chit and Butr re prosecuted for conspiracy to assassinate the late King.

- October 12, 1954: The Supreme Court sentences the three suspects to death after months of controversy surrounding a key "state witness".

Ti Srisuwan claimed to have been at the house of Rear Admiral Phraya Sorayuthseni, where the suspects and "their conspirators" had discussed the "assassination plan".

In fact the Criminal Court and the Appeals Court had earlier dismissed Ti's testimonies.

"Who would believe this man's boasting?" was part of a Criminal Court ruling while the Appeals Court said: "The more the court pondered the circumstances, the more impossible it was to accept Ti Srisuwan's testimony."

- February 17, 1955: Chaliew, Chit and Butr are executed.

In a letter from Paris dated December 23, 1956 to Sang Pattanothai, a close aide of then prime minister Plaek Pibulsongkram, Pridi thanked Sang for informing him that the Plaek government wanted to see him return to Thailand.

"I'm very happy to learn that Field Marshal Plaek does not think badly of me and wants me to return to the country," Pridi wrote.

- September 16, 1957: The Plaek government is overthrown in a coup led by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat.

Before the coup there were reports that the Plaek government was pondering reopening the case against the three executed suspects.

- November 1970: Liang Chaiyakarn, who served in several Cabinet positions, writes to Pridi in Paris.

The letter summed up the mystery and irony intertwining Pridi's life, political beliefs and King Rama VIII's death.

"I have never understood why, having managed to go so far, you did not grasp the chance to make it clear-cut [by abolishing the monarchy].

"Instead of seeking an opportunity to establish a republic you seemed to want to opt for the contrary," the letter said.

- 1979: Ti, having turned 102, reportedly visits revered monk Panya Nakthabikku at the Chonprathan Rangsarit Temple and confesses to perjury in the late King's murder trial resulting in the deaths of three innocent people.

A son-in-law of Ti also wrote to Pridi in Paris. The letter, which carried a fingerprint of Ti, who could not write, said Ti wanted to apologise.

"He committed perjury because he was offered a bribe. Now he is very sorry that his testimony led to the death of three innocent people and the continuing accusation against you.

"Ti has always made merit for the three defendants," the letter said.

The Nation / Editorial Opinion