Rebellion of the Sergeants

Rebellion of the Sergeants
Date3 August 1935; 89 years ago (1935-08-03)
Location
Thailand
Result Plotters were arrested before it started
Belligerents
Thailand 2nd Infantry Division Phraya Phahon Cabinet
Thailand Royal Thai Army
Commanders and leaders
Thailand Sawas Mahamad Phraya Phahon
Thailand Plaek Phibunsongkhram
Casualties and losses
 † (Sawas Mahamad)

The Rebellion of the Sergeants was a military coup attempt against the government of Phraya Phahon by a group of army sergeants, led by Sawas Mahamad on 3 August 1935, but the plot was leaked. Sawas was executed and twelve plotters were sentenced from sixteen years to life imprisonment.

Coup plot

In March 1935, King Prajadhipok announced his abdication while still in Europe, the new nine-year-old king Ananda Mahidol was still in Switzerland. [1] A group of army sergeants who in charge of an armory, led by Sawas Mahamad, plotted a revolution plan against the government of Phraya Phahon. The plot started at the 2nd Infantry Division in command of Major Luang Prahanripu, located in current Ministry of Education office. They planned to kill important military officers and government officials, included Pridi Banomyong, and the regent, Prince Aditya Dibabha,[2] to arrest Phraya Phahon and Plaek Phibunsongkhram, and to take over Ministry of Defence Headquarter. They planned to release political prisoners and force them to join the group. In the end of the plot, they would bring Prajadhipok back to the throne.[3]

Crushing

The plot leaked to the government by one of the group of sergeants. The plotters were arrested on 3 August.[4][5] On 10 August, fifteen plotters were held by the government.[1] The special secret military court conducted trials against around 100 sergeants. [6]

The court, without a lawyer,[4] sentenced Sawas Mahamad to death, eight to life imprisonment, three to twenty years, and one to sixteen years. Eleven accused officers pleaded guilty.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "15 Soldiers Held In Plot In Siam; Government Takes Vigorous Action To Crush Signs Of Disaffection In Army". The New York Times. 11 August 1935.
  2. ^ a b "Siam Convicts Plotters". The New York Times. 10 September 1935.
  3. ^ "5 สิงหาคม 2478 กบฏนายสิบ" [5 August 1935 Rebellion of the Sergeants]. ย้อนรอยประวัติศาสตร์รัฐประหารไทย (in Thai). 20 November 2011. DNN.
  4. ^ a b วิมลพรรณ ปิตธวัชชัย, เอกกษัตริย์ ใต้รัฐธรรมนูญ: บทที่ ๑๐ ความขัดแย้ง (ต่อ) หน้า 2: เดลินิวส์ ฉบับวันอังคารที่ 7 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2555 ขึ้น 15 ค่ำ เดือน 3 ปีเถาะ
  5. ^ อริน, เกลือเป็นหนอน กบฏนายสิบ พ.ศ. 2478 ฝ่ายปฏิปักษ์ประชาธิปไตยล้มเหลวซ้ำสอง: นิตยสารโลกวันนี้วันสุข ปีที่ 6 ฉบับ 281 วันที่ 16– 22 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2553 หน้า 13
  6. ^ "Siam Tries 100 for Revolt". The New York Times. 14 August 1935.