Army General Staff Plot
Encyclopedia
The Army General Staff Plot was a failed 1948 attempt to overthrow the Thai government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram.
The plotters were members of the Army General Staff, among whom were Lieutenant-General Chit Mansin Sinatyotharak, Pridi's former supreme commander, and Major-General Net Khemayothin, a close associate of Phibun during the war and later a prominent Seri Thai
member. They objected to the army's increasingly corrupt and inefficient leadership, and hoped to reorganise and professionalise the military. Their plan called for the arrest of Phibun, top government officials, and leading army officers during a birthday party for Sarit Thanarat scheduled on October 1, 1948.
Although the plotters enjoyed widespread support within the General Staff, the Coup Group
which had re-installed Phibun received advance notice of their plans. On September 21 General Phin Chunhawan
recommended that the Ministry of Defence and other ministries carry out a purge of government officials. His suggestion was approved by the cabinet, and on October 1 the arrests of the coup plotters began. Before the week was over, more than fifty army and reservist and several prominent supporters of Pridi were arrested.
The plotters were members of the Army General Staff, among whom were Lieutenant-General Chit Mansin Sinatyotharak, Pridi's former supreme commander, and Major-General Net Khemayothin, a close associate of Phibun during the war and later a prominent Seri Thai
Free Thai Movement
The Free Thai Movement was a Thai underground resistance movement against Imperial Japan during World War II. Seri Thai were an important source of military intelligence for the Allies in the region, and were notable for being the only World War II resistance movement to use fighter aircraft of its...
member. They objected to the army's increasingly corrupt and inefficient leadership, and hoped to reorganise and professionalise the military. Their plan called for the arrest of Phibun, top government officials, and leading army officers during a birthday party for Sarit Thanarat scheduled on October 1, 1948.
Although the plotters enjoyed widespread support within the General Staff, the Coup Group
1947 Coup Group (Thailand)
Thailand's powerful Coup Group was composed of powerful military officers who planned and carried out a coup d'état in November 1947. Their prestige and influence were quickly enhanced by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram's return to politics. They would however outlast him and dominate Thai...
which had re-installed Phibun received advance notice of their plans. On September 21 General Phin Chunhawan
Phin Choonhavan
Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan was a Thai military leader. Phin was a leader of several coups against the government, most notably the 1947 coup...
recommended that the Ministry of Defence and other ministries carry out a purge of government officials. His suggestion was approved by the cabinet, and on October 1 the arrests of the coup plotters began. Before the week was over, more than fifty army and reservist and several prominent supporters of Pridi were arrested.