Major Incidents in the post-political revolution period after the abdication of King Rama VII


2 March 1934 King Rama VII abdicated.
7 March 1934 The National Assembly concurred with the cabinet proposal to proclaim Prince Ananda Mahidol as King Rama VIII.
Mid 1936 The government divided the Royal Treasury into 3 categories: personal assets, royal assets and public assets.
29 July 1937 The Office of Royal Warehouse divided up some pieces of land and sold them to those who had taken part in the revolution at lower than the market price. Mr. Liang Chaikal, the representative from Ubon Ratchathani province questioned this matter and seriously faulted the government.
10 September 1938 The government failed to secure a vote in Parliament and resigned due to the tense global situation but the Head of Council of Regency did not accept the resignation.
11 September 1938 Dissolution of Parliament for reelection of representatives within 60 days.
10 December 1938 Major General Luang Pibulsongkram was appointed Prime-Minister, Minister of Defense and Interior and, in July 1939, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
29 January 1938 The government arrested a group of people on a charge of treason and publicly announced that this group intended to harm prominent persons in the government in order to change the government regime and had intended to proclaim Prajadhipok or Krom Phra Nakhonsawan Vorapinit as King and turn the system back to an absolute monarchy.
3 February 1938 Luang Tamrongnavasavad, the Minister of Justice, proposed the draft of an act establishing a special court to bring to trial the people arrested in the 29 January 1938 incident on a charge of treason. The court handed down the death penalty to 18 people.
11 September 1940 Former Thai territories were reclaimed from France and there was an outbreak of fighting (the Indo-China War).
8 December 1941 Japanese troops marched into Thailand.
11 December 1941 The Thai government and Japan signed an alliance agreement which covered both offensive and defensive collaboration This agreement provoked a resistance movement by a group of people against Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram both inside and outside the country. This movement was known as the Free Thai Movement and it first began to form in the United States and Great Britain. It aimed to protect Thai independence and prevent the country from disaster in case Great Britain and United States won the war.
22 July 1944. The government failed to secure a vote in the Parliament. Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram resigned.
1 August 1944 Mr. Pridi Panomyong was proclaimed the Regent of Thailand and appointed Mr. Khuang Abhaiwongse as Prime Minister on the same day.
15 August 1945 Japan surrendered.
16 August 1945 Mr. Pridi Panomyong, the Regent of Thailand issued a Peace Proclamation, repudiating the declaration of war on Great Britain and United States under the government of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram.
17 August 1945 Khuang Abhaiwongse's government resigned from office, opening the way for the establishment of a new government.
1 September 1945 Mr. Tawee Bunyaget was proclaimed Prime-Minister.
17 September 1945 Mr. Seni Pramoj became Prime-Minister and resumed diplomatic relations with the Allies.
15 October 1945 Parliament passed a resolution for new elections.
6 January 1946 The Fourth election. This time, the Democratic Party won the majority vote.
30 January 1946 Major Khuang Apaiwongse, leader of Democratic Party was elected Prime-Minister and formed a government which lasted only 45 days before his resignation due to losing a vote in parliament.
24 March 1946 Mr. Pridi Panomyong became Prime-Minister.
10 May 1946 Promulgation of the constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 1946, the third Thai constitution.
9 June 1946 King Ananda Mahidol was found shot dead.
23 August 1946 Mr. Pridi Panomyong resigned.
24 August 1946 Rear Admiral Thawan Thamrongnavasavad became Prime Minister and encountered problems of finance, living standards, banditry, corruption and investigations into the death of King Ananda Mahidol.
19-27 May 1947 Parliament initiated general debate on a no-confidence vote against the cabinet but the cabinet succeeded in securing the confidence vote. The cabinet was modified.
8 November 1947 Lieutenant General Pin Chunhawan lead a coup-d' etat and invited Major General Khuang Abhaiwongse to be Prime-Minister.
10 November 1947 Major General Khuang Abhaiwongse become Prime Minister and Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram returned as Army Commander.
5 March 1948 The Coup D'etat group of 1947 was not pleased with the work of the government and thus demanded the resignation of the cabinet within 24 hours.
8 April 1948 Khuang Abhaiwongse's government resigned and Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram resumed his position as Prime-Minister.
1 October 1948 Revolt of the military chiefs of staff or the Revolt of the Generals. The Military chiefs of staff planned to seize power, with intention of improving the army, preventing its decline and stopping military interference in political affairs but were arrested by government forces.
26 February 1949 The Wang Lang Revolt led by Pridi Panomyong was a reaction to the failure of the former revolt of military chiefs. This revolt was supported by the Navy but was violently suppressed by the government.
23 1949 This revolt was supported by the Navy but was violently suppressed by the government.
29 June 1951 The Manhattan Revolt by a group from the Navy led by Lieutenant Commander Manas Jarupa. The revolt failed and as a result the Navy lost its political influence since then.
29 November 1951 Self-Coup D'etat by Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram to abrogate the use of 1949 Constitution because it did not have an elected House of Representatives who supported the government but only nominated senators whom the government could not control.
26 February 1957 General Representative elections (This election was widely criticized for its unfairness. University students and the people prepared to protest).
2 March 1957 The Government declared a state of emergency. About noon on the same day, thousands of students and people gathered in front of the Ministry of Interior, demanding that the government cancel the state of emergency.
14 March 1957. Cancellation of the state of emergency. The Serimanangkasila Party that won the election became the government and Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram became Prime Minister, using discretionary powers which created disorder in the country and distrust among the Thai people.
16 September 1957 Coup D'etat by military officers led by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat. On the same day there was a royal command appointing Field Marshal Sarit the Military protector of the capital.
21 September 1957 Mr. Pote Sarasin became Prime Minister and formed a caretaker government for 90 days.
15 December 1957 General elections were held.
1 January 1958 Lieutenant General Thanom Kittikachorn became Prime Minister and formed a government.
20 October 1958 The Revolution led by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat. This revolution was a milestone in Thailand's democratic system since it overthrew the existing political institutions at that time.
28 January 1959 The promulgation of the Charter for the Administration of the Kingdom 1959
9 February 1959 A royal command appointed Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat Prime Minister. He formed a government and governed the country until 8 December 1963. (death).
11 December 1963 General Thanom Kittikachorn became Prime Minister and set up a government.
20 June 1968 The promulgation of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 1968
12 February 1969 General Election of Representatives.
7 March 1969 Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn became Prime Minister, formed a government and faced many parliamentary obstacles.
17 November 1971 Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn used a self-revolution as an instrument to make the administration more progressive.
15 December 1972 The promulgation of the Temporary Charter for Administration of the Kingdom 1972 until the promulgation of a new constitution. When the constitution drafting committee announced that it might take about 3 years to draft it, the people and the press expressed their objections.
6 October 1973 A Group of 11 University students and lecturers demanding a constitution were arrested. Students led by the National Student Center held a rally and demanded the promulgation of the constitution. The rally and demands became widespread.
14 October 1973 Riots broke out. Field Marshal Thanom Kittikajorn, Field Marshal Prabhas Charusthira and Colonel Narong Kittikachorn left the country.
16 October 1973 A royal command appointed Mr. Sanya Dharmasakdi Prime-Minister. He then formed a government.
10 December 1973 The announcement of the establishment of a National convention. The National convention elected suitable persons from its members and proposed their names to the King for appointing them as members of the National Legislative Assembly.
7 October 1974 The promulgation of Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 1974
26 January 1975. General Elections throughout the Kingdom.
19 February 1975 A royal command appointed M.R. Seni Pramoj Prime Minister. A government was formed to administer the country.
6 March 1975 The government made a statement on its policies to the House of Representatives. A serious debate took place, ending with the casting of a no-confidence vote by 152-111. The government lasted only 15 days. On March 14, 1975 a royal command appointed M.R. Kukrit Pramoj Prime Minister forming a coalition government to govern the country. Many political uprisings occurred during this period such as strikes, protests, assassinations of farmers' leaders, expulsion of the American army base and protests against the return of Field Marshal Prabhas Charusthira.
12 January 1976 The dissolution of the House of Representatives was announced and reelections were scheduled for April 4, 1976.
4 April 1976 In the new general election of representatives throughout the kingdom, the Democratic Party won more than half the seats in the House of Representatives and formed a new government led by M.R. Seni Pramoj.
September 1976 More political disorder broke out. M.R. Seni Pramoj announced his resignation in the middle of the parliament but was later reelected.
6 October 1977 There were riots and oppression of students at Thammasart University. A military group led by Admiral Sagnad Chaloyou, the Minister of Defense seized power from M.R. Seni Pramote's government, dissolved the parliament, annulled the constitution and appointed Mr. Thanin Kraivichien Prime Minister who formed the so-called "reform" government to govern the country and established the Reform council comprising of 340 members working as the National Assembly.
26 March 1977 General Chalad Hiransiri lead a revolt but failed and was sentenced to death. A lot of accomplices were arrested.
20 October 1977 A military group led by Admiral Sagnad Chaloyou revolted and seized power from Mr. Thanin Kraivichien's government. General Kriangsak Chamanan was appointed Prime Minister. Admiral Sagnad Chaloyou became Head of Policy committee, appointing 360 members of the National Legislative Assembly who drafted a constitution and had power to consider drafts of several Acts.
December 1979 The promulgation of the Constitution of 1978
22 November 1979 A General Election of representatives was held (the 14th election). No political party received a majority vote in the parliament. General Kriangsak Chamanan became Prime Minister by using supporting votes from senate members which accounted for three-fourth of the representatives.