Khana Ratsadon


Khana Ratsadon was a Siamese group of military and civil officers, and later a political party, which staged a bloodless coup against King Prajadhipok's government and transformed the country's absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy on 24 June 1932.

Background

The Promoters

In 1927, the Kingdom of Siam was under the absolutist rule of the House of Chakri, under King Prajadhipok, Rama VII. Under his reign, the nation experienced troubles stemming from an archaic government confronted with serious economic problems and threats from abroad, the British and French Empires. The country was also experiencing a dramatic social change as the urban and middle classes of Bangkok were starting to grow, slowly demanding more rights from their government, criticizing it as ineffective. These changes were mostly led by men, civilians and military, who had graduated or travelled abroad. They wanted to transform Siam into a modern country along the lines of a Western democracy.
In February 1927, a group of seven Siamese students, later known as the "promoters", met at a hotel on the Rue Du Sommerard in Paris and founded what would become Khana Ratsadon. For five days they met and proposed arguments for and against various aspects of the movement, the men were:

Six principles

The revolutionaries made Pridi Panomyong their president and termed themselves the "promoters". The party determined a sixfold objective which was later called the "Six Principles", as follows:
To achieve these goals, the party determined that they must overthrow, using force if necessary, the present government and the system of absolute monarchy and turn the Asian kingdom into a modern constitutional monarchy. Most of the members were students educated abroad, mostly in the United Kingdom and France.
When the group returned to Siam, they enlisted members from among the army and navy, the merchant class, civil servants and others. Their membership eventually reached 102, separated into four main branches. These included the civilians, led by Pridi Banomyong; the navy, led by Luang Sinthusongkhramchai; the junior army officers, led by Major Phibulsonggram; and finally the senior officers, led by Colonel Phot Phahonyothin.

Legacy

The party was eventually successful in their goal of revolution by bloodless coup. By 1933 they had turned Siam into a single party state. However the party itself was short-lived, due to infighting as the party had too many factions, conflicting interests, and political beliefs. The party eventually divided into two factions, a civilian faction led by Pridi Bhanomyong, and a military faction led by Marshal Pibulsongkram.
They would dominate Thai politics for the next two decades, producing six Prime Ministers of Thailand from their ranks. The party declined at about the time the Second World War ended.

Members of Khana Ratsadon

The members of Khana Ratsadon were a mix of both military officers and civilians. Lieutenant Krachang Tularak was its last surviving member. He died on 24 June 2009 at the age of 98.

Military faction

Army faction

  1. Colonel Phahon Phonphayuhasena, the Head of the military faction and leader of Khana Ratsadon
  2. Phraya Songsuradet
  3. Phraya Ritthiakhaney
  4. Phra Phrasasphithayayut
  5. Major Luang Phibulsonggram
  6. Captain Luang Chamnanyutthasin
  7. Captain Luang Katsongkhram
  8. Captain Luang Kriangsakphichit
  9. Captain Luang Chansongkhram
  10. Captain Luang Chawengsaksongkhram
  11. Captain Luang Thatsanainiyomsuek
  12. Captain Luang Phrommayothi
  13. Captain Luang Ronnasitthiphichai
  14. Captain Luang Sawatronnarong
  15. Captain Luang Seriroengrit
  16. Captain Luang Aduldejcharat
  17. Lieutenant Khun Sucharitronnakan
  18. Lieutenant Khun Chamnongphummiwet
  19. Lieutenant Khun Nirandonchai
  20. Lieutenant Khun Phiphatsorakan
  21. Lieutenant Khun Plotporapak
  22. Lieutenant Khun Rueangwirayut
  23. Lieutenant Khun Wimonsorakit
  24. Lieutenant Khun Sisarakon
  25. Lieutenant Chai Prathipasen
  26. Lieutenant Thuan Wichaikhatthakha
  27. Lieutenant Nom Ketunuti
  28. Minor Lieutenant Charun Chittralak
  29. Minor Lieutenant Saman Thephatsadin Na Ayutthaya
  30. Minor Lieutenant Udom Phutthikasetarin
  31. Major Luang Wichakkonlayut

    Navy faction

  32. Group Commander Luang Sinthusongkhramchai
  33. Lieutenant Commander Luang Supachalasai
  34. Senior Lieutenant Luang Thamrongnawasawat
  35. Senior Lieutenant Luang Sangworayutthakit
  36. Senior Lieutenant Luang Nithetkonlakit
  37. Senior Lieutenant Luang Nawawichit
  38. Senior Lieutenant Sa-nguan Ruchirapha
  39. Senior Lieutenant Sa-ngop Charunphon
  40. Senior Lieutenant Chalit Kunkamthon
  41. Junior Lieutenant Thonglo Khamhiran
  42. Junior Lieutenant Chip Siriphaibun
  43. Junior Lieutenant Prasoet Suksamai
  44. Junior Lieutenant Wan Ruyuphon
  45. Ensign Chan Ratsamithat
  46. Ensign Thongdi Ra-ngapphai
  47. Chamrat Suwannachip

    Civil faction

  48. Luang Praditmanutham, the head of the civil faction and vice leader of Khana Ratsadon
  49. Luang Sirirajmaitree
  50. Luang Kowit-aphaiwong
  51. Luang Naruebetmanit
  52. Luang Chamnanitikaset
  53. Luang Atthasanraprasit
  54. Luang Atthakitikamchon
  55. Luang Sunthonthephatsadin
  56. Luang Dechatiwongwarawat
  57. Tua Laphanukrom
  58. Prachuap Bunnak
  59. M.L. Udom Sanitwong
  60. Naep Phahonlayothin
  61. Tawee Boonyaket
  62. Junior Lieutenant Prayoon Pamornmontri
  63. Wilat Osathanon
  64. Charun Suepsaeng
  65. Leng Sisonwong
  66. Direk Jayanama
  67. Wichian Suwannathat
  68. Chun Pinthanon
  69. Sawat Sotthithat
  70. Chittasen Pancha
  71. Yong Phonlabun
  72. Ek Supphapodok
  73. Surin Chinothai
  74. Siri Chatinan
  75. Chaliao Pathummarot
  76. Banchong Sicharun
  77. Prasoet Sicharun
  78. Chaeng Muttafa
  79. Karim Sicharun
  80. Sa-nguan Tularak
  81. Sim Wirawaithaya
  82. Nguan Thongprasoet
  83. Pramot Phuengsunthon
  84. Charoen Pantharo
  85. Thongpleo Chonlaphum
  86. Phadoem Angsuwat
  87. Chup Salayachiwin
  88. Klin Thephatsadin Na Ayutthaya
  89. Son Bunchung
  90. Yon Samananon
  91. Yin Samananon
  92. Police Lieutenant Choei Kalanchai
  93. Police Lieutenant Thiang Chaloemsak.