Thailand in 1977: The Search for Stability and Progress

Abstract

THAILAND IN 1977 continued search for stability and progress, goals which have been increasingly challenging and, at times, elusive due to a rapidly expanding population, economic dislocations, and presence of communist regimes on kingdom's eastern boundary. The quest for these worthy objectives has also been affected by political instability. In considerable degree events of past year tempt social scientist to posit three laws influencing pursuit of stability and progress in this unique Southeast Asian kingdom. These laws are following. First, month of October is time of year for a major shake-up in Thai politics. Just as ancient Romans feared ides of March and possibility of impending political upheavals, so is contemporary Thai polity gradually developing a similar time of political crisis which might be called the coups of October. Phenomena supporting this law consist of major political disruptions occurring with regular frequency during past four years. In October 1973 disgruntled students staged a massive demonstration in Bangkok which toppled military regime headed by Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn and General Praphat Charusathien, and ushered in a three-year experiment in constitutional democracy. In October 1976 a military coup by top commanders of Thai armed forces halted brief democratic era and ousted civilian-dominated government headed by Seni Pramoj. In October 1977 top military commanders made another political change and removed government led by Thanin Kraivichien, a Supreme Court judge selected by these same military leaders only a year before. This close juxtaposition between political change and calendar may be merely coincidental. It may actually be encouraged by heavy rains which descend on Bangkok just before end of rainy season