HISTORY OF THAILAND
This newsletter is going to deal with the
history
of Thailand, since
its
origins until
today.
Thailand
is culturally a very rich
country and you
will see that this history
was
sometimes tempestuous.
The oldest human remains are landscaped
pebbles found in the province of Lampang. They are more than 700,000 years old
and are attributable to Homo Erectus.
Site of Ban Chiang, in the northeast of
the country, near Udon Thani were
discovered in 1967, the remains of an unknown culture dating
to the
bronze age (4000-2500 BC). The inhabitants of this site had developed bronze
tools and started the culture of rice in paddy field which indicates the
beginning of an organized society. Tombs and a large number of painted pottery
and bronze objects later have been discovered. The
site was classified world heritage by UNESCO in 1992.
At the end of the 5th century, in the
South of the current Laos, a new agrarian power appears, and known
only by his Chinese name: Chen-la.
This Kingdom soon spans the current north Cambodia and
northeast of the current Thailand, and eventually annexing the Fou-nan. We
consider the Chen-la
as the
ancestor of Cambodia.
This vast region (equivalent of Indochina
less the
Dai Viet) was known by foreigners as the Sovannaphum or the Sovarnabhumi
(which today is the name of the main airport of Bangkok).
The dispersion of sites attributed to Dvaravati makes think that its prosperity is linked
to
the trade
which crosses
the continental South-East Asia.
Between the 6th and 9th century, civilization so-called Dvaravati
flourishes in the center of Thailand
(see Indianization of
the Indochinese Peninsula). The dispersion of sites attributed to Dvaravati
makes think that its prosperity is linked to the trade which crosses the
continental South-East Asia.
In the 7th century the Mons established on the site of the present Lopburi, the Kingdom of Lavo (disappeared in 1388), and to the 8th or 9th century, Haripunjaya (disappeared in the 13th century) on the current site of Lamphun.
Very early, the Malay peninsula becomes integrated into a maritime sales network which connects China in India, which we sometimes call the sea route of the silk. The cities estate - staes of the peninsula adopt indian cultural and political models (see indianisation of Indonesia). Chinese texts of the 3rd century after JC mentions an estate which they call Dun-sun, situated in the north of the peninsula, which controls both coasts.
Further south, we found, near the current
city of Chaiya,
vestiges which we dated the beginning of the 5th century and belonging to a city which
the Chinese texts call
Pan-pan.
To Chaiya, we found an inscription dated
697 of the era Saka (that is 775 after J.-C.), who proclaims that king of Sriwijaya, city -
state where
the location was
on the current city of Palembang in the South of the Indonesian island of
Sumatra, erected
a
stupa there.
The kingdoms of Sukhothai and Lannathai (± 1238-1558)
According to tradition, Thai Sukhothai clan leaders free themselves from the suzerainty of the Khmer in 1238 and elect a King. The son of this King, Ramkhamhaeng, i.e. "Rama the fearless", is known by an inscription dated 1292, Thais consider the founding of their nation. After his death, the power of Sukhothai declined and became a subject of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya in 1365, which dominated the southern and Central Thailand until 1700.
Many other Thai States coexisted with Sukhothai,
including the Kingdom of Lannathai or Lanna in
the North. This State emerged in the same period as Sukhothai, but
survived longer. Its independent history ended in 1558, when it fell into the
hands of the Burmese; It has then been alternately dominated by Ayutthayala and
Burma before being conquered by the Siamese King Taksin in
1775.
At the end of the 13th century, in the neighbouring countries, the Mongols attacked Vietnam and the Khmer Empire and ransack the beautiful Burmese city of Pagan (1287). Sukhothai expresses their vassal and took advantage of the situation. Ramkhamhaeng, said "Rama the Strong", monarch, respected for his fairness and wisdom, raises at its peak between 1275 and 1317. The original of the stele, bearing the oldest inscriptions in thai alphabet, is in the Museum of Bangkok.
Located about 450 kilometers north of Bangkok, the immense Sukhothai is now ruined. The wood Palace of its kings disappeared. However, the city still has many vestiges of temples, built in laterite and brick. Most of the buildings that have been discovered, and partly raised, are inside a rampart strengthened by staves . But many other buildings, scattered in the surrounding rice fields, waiting to be released from the envelope of Earth which recovers them.
A large part of the objects found in Sukhothai is located in the national museum in Bangkok.
A memorial was erected in honor of
the expeditionary force in Bangkok, on Sanam Luang (at the corner near the national
museum). Are the names of the 19 soldiers killed on the Western front. A
memorial individual (Sergeant Major Charern Pirod) are also within the walls of the Den
Chai police station (Phrae
province).
From the 9th century the Khmer, who
established their capital at Angkor (see history of Cambodia), gradually take
control of the whole of mainland Southeast Asia, imposing their domination on
their cousins the Mons.
At that time, a first group of Thais,
from southern China, began to settle in the Northern markets of the khmer
empire, North of the Dangrek
mountains. During the 11th and 12th centuries,
the element Thai becomes
dominant in the population of the region.
The kingdoms of Sukhothai and Lannathai (± 1238-1558)
According to tradition, Thai Sukhothai clan leaders free themselves from the suzerainty of the Khmer in 1238 and elect a King. The son of this King, Ramkhamhaeng, i.e. "Rama the fearless", is known by an inscription dated 1292, Thais consider the founding of their nation. After his death, the power of Sukhothai declined and became a subject of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya in 1365, which dominated the southern and Central Thailand until 1700.
Sukhothai is the first capital of Siam (Thailand)
founded in 1238 and ending
to
the khmer
Kingdom of Angkor Wat. Sukhothai was listed in 1991 at the world heritage of
humanity. The
city is
most famous for his art and for his political achievements.
At the end of the 13th century, in the neighbouring countries, the Mongols attacked Vietnam and the Khmer Empire and ransack the beautiful Burmese city of Pagan (1287). Sukhothai expresses their vassal and took advantage of the situation. Ramkhamhaeng, said "Rama the Strong", monarch, respected for his fairness and wisdom, raises at its peak between 1275 and 1317. The original of the stele, bearing the oldest inscriptions in thai alphabet, is in the Museum of Bangkok.
Located about 450 kilometers north of Bangkok, the immense Sukhothai is now ruined. The wood Palace of its kings disappeared. However, the city still has many vestiges of temples, built in laterite and brick. Most of the buildings that have been discovered, and partly raised, are inside a rampart strengthened by staves . But many other buildings, scattered in the surrounding rice fields, waiting to be released from the envelope of Earth which recovers them.
A large part of the objects found in Sukhothai is located in the national museum in Bangkok.
Built on the banks of the Yom, 60 kilometers
north of Sukhothai, Sri Satchanalai was
the main satellite town of the Kingdom. It was a center of potters and excavations resulted
underground ovens. On the outskirts of the city, they produced the famous
ceramics known as Sawankhalok, of
the name of the region at the beginning of the period of the Kings of
Ayutthaya. Abandoned at the end of the 18th century, many of its monuments have
been cleared and restored by the programs led by Khun Nikom.
The royal family runs away from the city
where king starved
to death ten
days later, marking the end of the royal lineage of Ayutthaya.
The
Bangkok period, Thonburi (1768-1932)
After more than 400 years of power, in
1767, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya is conquered by the Burmese armies, its capital
burned and the
territory dismembered. General
Taksin
managed to reunite Siam from its new capital of Thonburi and is proclaimed King
in 1769.
However, King Taksin is
declared insane, deprived of his title, imprisoned and executed in 1782.
General Chakri
succeeded him in 1782 as Rama I, first King of the new dynasty of Chakri. The
same year, he founded a new capital, Bangkok, on the Bank of the Chao Phraya,
in front of Thonburi.
In the 1790s, the Burmese are defeated
and driven out of Siam. The Kingdom of Lannathai, also called Kingdom of Lanna, has
being also rid of Burmese occupation, a King of a new dynasty
is
installed there
in the
1790s.
Relations
with the Europeans in the 19th century
After the English victory over the
Burmese Kingdom of Ava in 1826, the heirs of Rama I worry about the threat of
European colonialism. The first Thai recognition of a colonial power in the
region is formalized by the signing of a Treaty of friendship and trade with
the United Kingdom in 1826, the Burney Treaty.
In 1833, the United States inaugurated
diplomatic exchanges with Siam. However, it is during the reigns of Mongkut
(Rama IV) and his son King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V) as the Thailand nears firmly Western powers. The Thais attribute to
these monarchs diplomatic qualities and modernist reforms of
their Governments
the fact that Siam is the only country in Southeast Asia to escape
colonization.
King
RAMA V
We must to add a chapter on this legendary King
who is
today still
highly respected by Thais.
Rama V, who reigned from 1868 to 1910, is
the fifth King of the Chakri
dynasty, founded in 1782, and who reigns since then on the Thailand formerly
Siam. He is more known under the name of Chulalongkorn.
Eldest son of King Rama IV, he was born
in Bangkok on 20 September 1853. Important innovation for the time, he received
an education in both modern and traditional by Buddhist monks. After a 42-year
reign, he died on 23 October 1910 after having 77 children of 36 of its 92
women.
L'originalité de son règne
Following the impetus given by his
father, he was the great modernizer of the Kingdom of Siam. He was the first
King to undertake journeys abroad, in Singapore, India and Europe. He was
received in Belgium and France, in 1897 and 1907.
Inspired by the ideas he brings to these
trips, his action was fundamental in all areas. First, he modernized and centralized
the
administration, then organized postal services (1885),
railway (1893), founded the first University, the first school of
administration, military school and naval school. Bank notes were introduced in
1902 and the decimal system imposed in 1908. Slavery was abolished on March 31,
1895, as well as the duty owed by the Freemen (phrai luang). In 1874, he founded the national
museum in Bangkok.
To carry out all these reforms and
innovations, he surrounded himself with foreign experts and advisers from
Western countries. He named Gustave Rolin as as general counsel. This international law
expert helped the King to draft the constitution and modernize public
institutions. The King took the name of Rama V. The Western
Customs and clothes
were introduced
in
the Kingdom
for the first time.
In addition to these domestic successes,
the country had to face during his reign to settler pressure on the part of the
British and the French. The King knew how skillfully play on the balance of forces and
managed to maintain the independence of his country, but at the price of
territorial concessions. He abandoned a part of Cambodia and Laos to France
(1893-1907) and the Malaysia border territories to the United Kingdom (anglo-siamese Treaty
of 1909).
Rama V and
the Thailand of today
King Chulalongkorn was
very loved by his people in his lifetime.
His subjects have benefited from many social measures,
the economic
growth has been spectacular.
This recognition is
expressed by a quasi-canonization, and
this King is till today the object
of an
active worship,
very many Thai houses today are adorned with his portrait, the prayers
are addressed to him and his portrait statues are erected in many
places.
On October 23, anniversary of his death
is holiday.
Gradually, in the 19th century, Siam back
off in the face of two European powers: United Kingdom and France. These two powers nibble the
country, territorially on its margins, and in its sovereignty.
France, in 1873 and 1883, occurs twice to end piracy of black flags in Tonkin,
theoretically under Siamese protectorate. In response, the Siam occupies Luang Prabang in
1883, but can not prevent the installation of a french vice-consulate in this city in 1886 (Auguste Pavie) nor
the 1888 annexation of 72 townships by France.
In 1893, several incidents bring into
conflict the Siam and France: either this one causes them, or it exaggerates the importance, so making
rise the pressure, until the illegal sending of two gunboats for the mouth of
Chao Phraya, that their captains announce their intention to raise
to
Bangkok. The Siam puts itself at fault by opening the fire:
the
casus belli is seized by Pavie,
French resident in Bangkok what activates the French-Siamese war of 1893. He
requires the abandonment
of
the oriental bank of the Mekong; a blockade is set up in the mouth of Chao
Phraya. The Siam gives in and France adds to its requirements a demilitarized
zone 25 km wide along the western bank of the Mekong, more the provinces of Battambang and Siem
Reap. The city of Chanthaburi is
occupied by a French garrison (treaty signed on October 3rd, 1893).
On February 13th, 1904, France annexes Luang Prabang and Champassak.
Of the English side, provinces are
gathered in Burma. The railroad towards Singapore is exclusively granted to a
British company. The United Kingdom obtains from more the insurance than no
channel will be drilled in the isthmus of Kra.
The anglo-siamois
Treaty of 1909 established the modern border between Siam and British Malaysia.
Siam to assign to England the Malay States of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and
Terengganu, until here his vassals and who become British protectorates. The
Thai suzerainty remained on the Kingdom of Patani (since divided to give the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat) and
the district of Setul,
detached from the Kedah (and became the province of Satun).
A series of treaties with France
has set the present eastern border of the country with Laos and Cambodia, Siam
earlier had made claims and to some extent controlled these two territories.
In
total, Siam lost 456 000 km² during the reign of Chulalongkorn.
First
word
war
Although Siam is not concerned
by
the first world war, the King Rama VI decides to commit him to obtain the end of the unequal
treaties. The country declaring war to the Germany and Austria-Hungary on 22
July 1917. His army seizes several German ships and a small expeditionary force
is sent to Europe. This action allows the Siam to appear among the winners of
the war to the Treaty of Versailles and among the founders of League of Nations.
When the president of the United States
Woodrow Wilson declared the war in Germany in April, 1917, it was clear that
the entering the war of the Americans beside the Agreement broke the balance to
the detriment of the central powers (Germany, Autriche-Hongrie,
Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire).
Stayed away from the conflict, king Vajiravudh
(Rama VI) examined the opportunities which this one offered to him. Although
the Siam remained neutral from the beginning of the World War I in August, 1914
and although the country enjoys friendly relations with Germany, Rama VI found
advantageous to bind his fate to that of the allied powers.
The monarch was convinced that the
participation of the Siam would be " an excellent opportunity(occasion)
for us to obtain the equality with the other nations ", the Siam having
suffered the imperialist aims so many British (transfer of four provinces of
the South by the English-Siamese Treaty of 1909) as from French people with the
loss of Laos and from the Cambodia.
Besides, the Siam having been forced to
accept rights of extraterritoriality for the citizens of country as France,
Great Britain and the United States, king Rama VI hoped that the Siamese
participation in the war would allow a revision of these uneven treaties.
Triggering
On July 22nd, 1917, in spite of the
reluctances of certain member of royal government, king Vajiravudh
(Rama VI) declared the war in Germany and in Austria-Hungary, Siam
seizing immediately and, later, keeping(preserving) as war damage eleven ships
belonging to the company " North German Lloyd " ( LGN).
The Siam sent to Europe a small
expeditionary force,
under
the command of general Phya Pijaijarnrit
(afterward promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general and known under the name
of Phya Devahastin). it consisted
of 1 284 volunteers and contained a detachment of 95 pilots
of the
air force, a
contingent of the
company of
transport, a medical unit and
one of the maintenance which had to serve with the British and French forces
on
the Western
front.
The Siameses arrived in 1918 and the staff of the Air
Force began to form in French
piloting Schools of Avord and Istres.
More than 95 men were patented experimental and some were sent to the School of
bombardment of Crotoy, to
the School of gratitude of Chapelle-la-Reine, to the School of shooting of Biscarosse, and
to the School of hunting of Pitch. According to some sources, the pilots made
their first ones taken out in the last weeks of the war, although others argue
that the Siameses
ended their training too late to participate in it.
The medical unity included nurses; they
were, according to Thai sources, the only women to serve in the trenches of the
western front.
Consequences
The Siam participated in the Treaty of
Versailles (articles 135, 136 and 137 of the treaty of Versailles are dedicated
to it).
Rights and German interests overseas -
Section III - The Siam
Article
135
Germany re-knows that all the treaties,
the conventions
and
the agreements between Germany
and
the Siam, as well as all the rights, title and derived privileges from there,
including all rights of extraterritorial jurisdiction, came to an end as from
July 22nd, 1917.
Article
136
All the goods and the properties
situated
in the Siam belonging to the German empire or other German state, excepted
the
used places as residences or diplomatic or consular offices,
pass
right now and without compensation to the Siamese government. The goods, the properties
and
the private laws of the German nationals in the Siam will be handled
according
to the capacities
of
the part X (
economic clauses) of the present
Treaty.
Article
137
Germany gives up any complaints against
the Siamese government on his behalf either that his nationals,
complaints concerning the seizure or the condemnation of the German boats, the
liquidation of the German properties, or the internment of the German nationals
to the Siam. This measure
will
not affect
the
rights of interested parties as for the amount of the compensation of such a
liquidation, rising who will
be governed by the measures
of
the part X (
economic clauses) of the present Treaty.
Other benefits
In January, 1920, the Siam was one of
founder members of League of Nations.
September 1st, 1920, decision of king Vajiravudh to
enter the war was justified when the United States abandoned
their
rights of extraterritoriality. After five years of negotiations, France gave up
the same rights in February, 1925 and Great Britain in July of the same year.
Second
world
war
The coup d'état of June 24th, 1932 in the
Siam is a transition without bloodshed of an
absolute monarchy in a constitutional monarchy.
Among the conspirators is the lieutenant-colonel Plaek Pibulsonggram,
more known under the name of Phibun.
In 1935, king Prajadhipok abdicates. His
nephew Ananda Mahidol, a
child who follows his education in Switzerland,
is appointed
to
succeed him.
In 1938 Phibun, who has now the rank of chief warrant
officer - general, becomes Prime Minister. It is an admirer of Mussolini. He
makes 40 political opponents stop in 1939, monarchic as well as democratic.
After a parody of trial, 18 of them are executed. Phibun
changes the name of the country, which of Siam becomes Prathet
Thai, "country of Thaïs" or Thailand. This name implied a unity of
all the peoples of Thai
language, what
included Lao of Laos and Shan of Burma, but excluded the Chinese. The slogan of
the regime
is
moreover the " Thailand in Thai ". Another argument is etymological,
the also "free" significant Thai word. The name of Prathet Thai
is used at first not officially between 1939 and 1945 then declared official on
May 11th, 1949.
In 1940, taking advantage of the
weakening of France after the defeat of June in front of the Germans, Thailand
attacks French
Indochina. The French-Thai war lasts a few months, and ends in the annexation
of some provinces by Thailand,
in particular thanks to the arbitration of
the Empire of Japan, worried of leaving an ally in Asia.
The French-Thai war ( 1940-1941 ) brought
into conflict the Thailand of general Plaek Pibulsonggram,
said Phibun, and
the French State in the Indo-Chinese peninsula. it precedes by a few months the release of
the war of
Pacific itself.
The negotiations with France before the
Second World War had proved that the French government was inclined to make
minor modifications in the borders between the Thailand and French Indochina.
After the defeat of France in 1940, the Chief warrant officer-general Plaek Pibulsonggram,
Prime Minister of the Thailand, decides that the situation gives to the Thais
an even better chance
to
get back to territories lost during the reign of King Chulalongkorn.
Context
On June 12th, 1940, the Thai government
had agreed to sign with France a non-aggression pact but after the French collapse
of
1940, Thai Prime Minister Phibun glimpses a chance
for
the Thailand to get back territories abandoned in France during the reign of Chulalongkorn
(provinces of Melou Prei and Tonlé Repou in
1904, and provinces of Battambang, Sisophon and Siem Reap
in 1907 which was given up in
1867
against the recognition
of
the protectorate on the Khmer kingdom; these provinces were quite connected in
the Cambodia,
and
to avenge the humiliations undergone in 1893 (fastening of Laos with French
Indochina) and on 1904.
The weakening of the metropolis made the
maintenance of french
control on Indochina hazardous and difficult. Private aid and reinforcements,
the colonial administration was forced to allow the Japanese to settle in
French Indochina after Nghệ son
(offensive of 22-25 September 1940). The French resistance in the face of this
invasion convinced the Phibun
regime that a military confrontation would turn to his advantage.
The
forces in presence
The French forces in Indochina consisted of an army of
approximately 60 000 men, among
which 12 000 were native of metropolis (and served in the said regiments of
"sovereignty"), organized in 41 battalions of infantry, two regiments
of artillery, and a battalion of the genius. The most obvious weakness of the French
army was its lack of tanks: she could align only 20 FT-17 Renault against 134
for the Thai army.
The pro-Vichy air force
in
Indochina consisted of hundred planes, among which approximately sixty could be
sent in the front line: 30 Potez 25, four Farman 221, six Potez 542,
new(nine) Morane-Saulnier
M.S.406 and eight
Loire
130.
The French forces in Indochina consisted of an army of
approximately 60 000 men, among
which 12 000 were native of metropolis (and served in the said regiments of
"sovereignty"), organized in 41 battalions of infantry, two regiments
of artillery, and a battalion of the genius. The most obvious weakness of the French
army was its lack of tanks: she could align only 20 FT-17 Renault against 134
for the Thai army.
The pro-Vichy air force
in
Indochina consisted of hundred planes, among which approximately sixty could be
sent in the front line: 30 Potez 25, four Farman 221, six Potez 542,
new(nine) Morane-Saulnier
M.S.406 and eight
Loire
130.
The Thai army was equipped relatively
well. It consisted about sixty thousand men, divided into four armies, the most
important being the army of Burapha with five divisions. The independent
trainings under the direct authority of the high command of army included two
battalions motorized of cavalry, a battalion of artillery, a battalion of transmissions,
a battalion of the genius and an armored regiment. The artillery had at her
disposal old
Krupp, howitzers modern Bofors and
mortars of campaign, whereas sixty universal carriers Carden-Loyd and
thirty Vickers 6-Ton made up the armored weapon.
The aviation and the Thai navy had
benefited in the 1930s from the attention of the Thai government. The Thai
royal air force arranged
200 planes of fight and 120 planes of training. The American embargo of
October, 1940 had urged Bangkok to provide itself more in Japan: during the
winter, 1940, the country
received
33 Nakajima Ki-27 and 9 bombers Mitsubishi Ki-21-I, as well as around thirty
Mitsubishi Ki-30. She committed however rather older models, in particular
Martin B-10.
The navy included for its part around thirty units, among
which two armoured coastguards of Japanese construction, Thonburi and Sri Ayuthaya
(armed with four artillery of 203 mm calibre), nine torpedo boats of Italian
construction (provided with six torpedo tubes of 533 mm) and four coastal
submarines (delivered in 1938 by Japan). it also contained a small anti-submarine
aviation, and two battalions of marines.
Release and operations
After nationalist and anti-French
demonstrations in Bangkok, border skirmishes follow one another along the
Mekong. The superior, Thai aviation in number, bombards in the daytime
Vientiane, Sisophon, and
Battambang with
complete impunity. The French air forces try raids in retaliation, but the
damages caused in the Thailand are much lesser. Admiral Jean Decoux,
governor general of Indochina, recognizes moreover that the Thai airmen pilot
as men having several campaigns to their credit. In December, 1940, Thailand
occupies
Pak-Lay and the Province of Champassak.
In the beginning of January, 1941, Burapha Thai
and the armies Isaan
throw an offensive on Laos and Cambodia. The French resistance is immediately
ready, but numerous units are surpassed by the Thai forces, better
equipped.
The
Thais quickly occupy Laos, while in the Cambodia the French resistance is more
effective.
January 16th, France throws a wide
counter-offensive led by the 5th foreign regiment of infantry on the Thai
villages of Yang Dang Khum and
of Phum Preav,
where take place the wildest fights of the war. The French counter-attack is
blocked and ends with a pension, but the Thais cannot pursue the French forces,
their
tanks having been nailed on the ground by a French antitank gun.
Battle of Koh
Chang
While the situation on the ground is
critical for France, admiral Jean Decoux gives the authorization to admiral Terraux, commander
of Marine
in Indochina, to execute an operation against Thai Marine.
The order is given to the available
warships to attack
in
the gulf of Thailand. An air reconnaissance is made on January 16th to Satahib (East
point of Bangkok
bay) and
to Koh
Chang.
In the morning of January 17th, 1941, the
" occasional group ", floats of circumstance formed
by
the cruiser
La Motte-Picquet,
colonial escort vessels Dumont d' Urville, Admiral Charner and escort vessels La
Marne and Tahure,
placed under the command of captain Régis Bérenger, commanding the cruiser La
Motte-Picquet, attack
the
Thai ships to Koh
Chang.
Although the Thai fleet is more modern
and outclasses in number the French navy, this one leads the attack with
boldness and the fight ends with a complete victory. At the end of the battle
which lasts almost two hours, the balance sheet is heavy Thai side. Torpedo boats Chomburi, Trat and Songkla is
poured. Coastguards Dombhuri
battleship capsizes, in flames. Its sister ship, Ahidea is too poured. A large part of the Thai
naval navy fleet is so destroyed.
The balance sheetof the
human losses diverges according to sources. According to the French navy, more than
300 men died
from the Thai side and there are hardly only 80
survivors.
It is an important victory: the battle of
Koh
Chang is
the last naval battle gained by
France.
However, on January 24th, the final air
battle takes place
When the French airport of Siem
Reap, near Angkor, is affected by a raid of the Thai bombers.
Conclusion and consequences
The balance sheet of the war diverges
according to sources. Some mention approximately 3 400 deaths.
Japan, willing to make sure the military
collaboration of the Thailand, quickly intervenes in mediator in the conflict.
An ultimatum imposes at first on both belligerent parties an armistice,
proclaimed on January 28th. May 9th, France, under Japanese constraint, signs a
peace treaty, by which it abandons the provinces of Battambang and Siem
Reap, taken in the Cambodia, Champassak and Sayaburi (taken in Laos which so gives up
territories on the right bank of the Mekong) is a territory of more than 97 600
km22 inhabited by 420 000 people. This treaty is followed by an other one
between France and Laos on August 21st.
This annexation causes, in July, 1941,
the imposition by the United States of an embargo on the
deliveries of oil towards Japan and the creation, by means of the Anglo-Saxon
secret services, of the Thai Séri ( the free Thai), the anti-Japanese
secret organization.
The Thai government promises orally to
the Japanese to leave them the passage on its territory within the framework of
the attack on the Malaysia planned by the Empire.
December 8th, 1941, Thailand not having
still answered the Japanese demands, Japan decides to pass besides and, to be
able to pass in Malaysia, invades the territory of the Thailand. This invasion
ends in the battle of Prachuab Khirikhan and
a cease-fire a few hours later, then, the Thailand becomes allied in Japan.
Territories annexed by the Thailand are
restored only in November, 1947 in France, which does not keep them
for a long time, because the territories of Indochina obtain the independence
shortly after. The weakness which France revealed is one of factors
of
this decolonization.
Losses
The French army had a total of 321
persons killed, among which 15 officers. After January 28th, it counted
178 missing persons (6 officers, 14 non-commissioned officers, and 158 enlisted
men).
The
Thais captured 222 men (North
African 17, 80 French people, and 125 Indo-Chineses). In 1955, 178 missing persons were
recognized as died, what carries
the
balance sheet
to
499 military deaths between the end of 1940 and the beginning of 1941.
The Thai army had a total of 54 persons
killed and 307 wounded persons. 41 sailors and soldiers of the Thai navy were
killed, and 67 wounded persons. In the battle of Koh Chang, 36 men were killed, among which 20 crew members
of the HTMS Thonburi, 14 of the HTMS Songkhla, and 2 of the HTMS Chonburi. The
Thai Air Force lost 13 men. 21
Thai servicemen were captured by the French people.
Approximately 30 % of the French planes
had been made unusable towards the end of the war, a part
because of
minor damage, not repaired afterward, caused during the air raids. The Air
Force of Vichy admitted the loss of a Farman F221 and two Morane-Saulnier
MS.406 destroyed on the ground, but in reality its losses were bigger.
During its first experience
of
fight, the Thai Royal Air Force claimed to have shot down five French planes during flight and
seventeen destroyed on the ground, for the loss of three of its own planes in
the sky and from five to ten destroyed in French air raids on the Thai airports.
On December 8th, 1941, a few hours after
Pearl Harbor's
attack, the 25th Japanese army invades the South of the Malaysia, then under
British protectorate. The Thai government having delayed giving the
authorization to cross its territory, Japan passes in force. Clashes occur
between Thai and Japanese, but a cease-fire is decreed the same day. Noticing
the lightning advance of the Japanese in the Battle of Malaysia, the Thai
government forgets its reluctances and becomes allied with the Empire of Japan.
The imperial Headquarters signs December 21st a "treaty of
friendship" with the Thai government and brings it to leave it the use of
its military bases for the invasion of the other Asian countries of the
Southeast. On January 22nd, 1942, the 55th Japanese division throws
since
Rahaeng in
Thailand (province of Pathum Thani) an
attack on Burma through the pass of Kawkareik in Karen country. The 17th Indian
division of the British army, which guarded the sector, formed
hastily
and badly trained,
has
to beat a retreat westward.
In agreement with the military alliance
between Thailand
and
Japan signed December 21st, 1941, January 25th, 1942, Thailand declares the war
to the
United States and United
Kingdom. Elements of the Thai army cross the border and penetrate in the state
Shan (who the inhabitants are of language of the same family as the Thai) in
Burma on May 10th, 1942. Three infantry divisions and a division of cavalry,
preceded by groups of gratitude and supported by the aviation, enter in touch
with the 93rd Chinese division, which has to beat a retreat. Kengtung is
taken on May 27th. New offensives push away the Chinese troops in Yunnan in the
South of China.
In August, 1943, the Allies create South
East Asia Command ( SEAC) with the aim of coordinating their present various
troops on the theater of
South-East Asia. The first zone of operation for the ground forces of the SEAC
is constituted
by
India, Burma, Ceylon, Malaysia, Sumatra (in current Indonesia) and Thailand.
An opposition to the politics of Plaek Pibulsonggram
appears in Thailand. Seni Pramoj,
ambassador of Thailand
in United
States, refuses to put back the declaration of war, and bases in Washington the
Free Thai Strengths. Queen Ramphaiphanni,
widow of former King, livens up a government in exile in the United Kingdom.
The regent Pridi Banomyong
livens up secretly anti-Japanese movements. The economy of Thailand
suffers
from its participation in the world conflict. As allied by Japan, the country
undergoes bombardments.
With the successive setbacks
of
Japan, Phibun is
put in minority to the Assembly and forces to resign. At the end of the war,
the Allies judge it for war crimes and collaboration with the enemy. But the
public opinion, which is favorable,
affable to him in
the stay of proceedings.
After
the second word
war
Young King Ananda Mahidol
returns in Thailand at the end of 1945, after years of absence. but, on June 9th,
1946, he is
found dead.
His brother Bhumibol Adulyadej
succeeds him.
In November, 1947, units of the army controlld
by Phibun force
the government to resign. Phibun becomes again first
Secretary in
April, 1948.
This time, his regime adopts a democratic facade.
He receives the help of United
States when Thailand
participated
in
the multinational strength
of United Nations during the war of Korea.
Phibun takes up with his anti-Chinese
politics of the 1930s. His government stops the Chinese immigration and takes
diverse measures to restrict the economic domination of the Chinese Thailand.
Schools and Chinese associations are again forbidden.
In 1951, while he assists a ceremony
aboard US Manhattan of the American navy, Phibun is taken hostage by a group of
officers of the Thai navy. Fights burst in the streets of Bangkok between the
navy and the land forces, the latter being supported by the Air Force. Phibun
manages to escape. The sailors lay down arms.
The Thailand becomes an official ally the
United States with the signature of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
in
1954. During the War in Indochina, she stays nevertheless aside.
In 1957, marshal Sarit Dhanaraj =(Thanarat)
takes the power and forces Phibun to exile itself in Japan. The latter will
remain there until he dies
in 1964
Thailand makes a secret agreement with United
States in 1961. It sends
troops in Vietnam and in Laos and authorizes the United States to settle
air
bases in the east of the country, where from the bomber B-52 takes off which
bombard the North Vietnam.
1973 and later: the beginning of democracy
The history of Thailand since 1973 was a continuation
of
difficult and sometimes
bloody transitions between
the
military and civil power. The revolution of 1973 was followed of brief one and
unstable democracy, then of return in a military regime, elected by a coup
d'état in 1976. This military regime was very unstable because of the multiple
coups d'état. During the largest part of the 1980s, general Prem Tinsulanonda
reigned over the Thailand at the head of the military regime, and it is true
with a democratic mandate from 1983. Afterward, the country
remained a democracy, set apart a brief period under a military regime from
1991 till 1992. The Thai party Rak Thai (Thai like Thai) led by Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
steered from 2001 until a new coup d'état knocks down him in 2006.
Revolution
In October, 1973 the massive
demonstrations took place in Bangkok, requiring the end of the military regime.
General Thanom Kittikachorn
answered with strength, and up to 70 demonstrators were killed in streets,
something unheard of in Thailand. This violent intervention of the military
regime incited king Rama IX to make its first intervention in the Thai politics
by removing its support for the military regime, and on October 14th, 1973,
general Thanom Kittikachorn
resigned and left the country.
The events of October, 1973 showed
themselves a revolution in the Thai politics. For the first time, the urban
bourgeoisie, led by the students, had undone the strengths combined by the old
ruling class and by the army and won the visible blessing of King for a
transition towards the full democracy, symbolized by a new constitution which
plans a completely elected legislature.
Unfortunately, Thailand had not produced
a political class in measure yet to run this new democracy smoothly. The
elections of January, 1975 did not produce a stable majority, and a new
election in April, 1976 gave the same results. The politician-veteran Seni Pramoj and
his brother Kukrit Pramoj
alternated in the power, but were not able of leading a coherent reform of the
political system. The sharp increase in oil prices in 1974 led to a recession
and to an inflation, weakening the position of the government. The most popular
political gesture of the democratic government was to order the retreat of the
American forces of Thailand.
The wisdom of this gesture
was
soon questioned, when the communists took the power in Vietnam, in Laos and in
Cambodia in April and May, 1975. The arrival of communist regimes to the
borders of Thailand,
the abolition of 600 years of Laotian monarchy and the arrival of a great deal
of refugees from Laos
and Cambodia, made tip over the Thai public opinion
again
towards
the right and the conservatives
did much
better in the elections of 1976 when in 1975. The left wing of the students'
protest movement did not accept their victory and continued to demonstrate for
radical changes.
Military regime
At the end of 1976, the moderate
bourgeoisie turned the back on the more and more militant radicalism of the
students based at the university Thammasat. The army and the right parts fought
against the left radicals with paramilitary groups such as "Village Boy
scouts" and "Red Gaurs". The example appeared in October when Thanom
returned in Thailand to enter the monastery. Students' violent demonstrations
came up against counter-demonstrators. October 6th, 1976, army released the
paramilitary on the demonstrators, organizing the massacre of Thammassat, and
used this orgy of violence, in which hundreds of students were tortured and
killed, to suspend the constitution and resume the power.
Elections and coups d'état
In 2001, the Thai party Rak Thai
(Thai likes Thai) led by Thaksin Shinawatra won the elections and launched
a
number of reforms to destinations of lower classes, especially rural and in the
east of the country. On September 19th, 2006, while Prime Minister Thaksin was
in New York, he was
knocked down by a part of
armed forces (see Coup d'état of September, 2006 in Thailand). The head of
the army, general Sonthi Boonyaratglin, age
59, the first Muslim to occupy this post in the Buddhist kingdom, took the lead
(was a
headache) of a Council
for
the democratic reform formed
by commanders
of
three weapons and of the police, which repealed the Constitution, decreed a
martial law in the badly defined outlines, dissolved the government and taken
all the powers. Since
this date, several Prime Ministers followed one another, and the instability
remained latent, peaking in 2010 in important démonstrations.
ln 2011,
the sister of Taksin,
Yingluck Shinawatra,
becomes a Prime Minister. At the end of 2013, accused of being the political
puppet of his brother, always in exile, it is the target of demonstrations
of
the opposition (urban and royalist, while the Prime Minister is supported by
the rural farmers) who ask for its resignation, while is envisaged a project
of amnesty being able to facilitate the return of Thaksin in Thailand. Even if
thousands of demonstrators manage to invade the seat of government, this action
is
not considered as a political victory, while a truce takes place to celebrate
86 years of king Bhumitbol and
while the army refuses to take a stand. it decides finally to dissolve the
Parliament and to organize anticipated general
election which will be held on february 2nd, 2014.
In May, 2014, the country knows its 12th
coup d'état since the institution of the constitutional monarchy in 1932.
2016 saw the disappearance of the King RAMA
IX at the age 88 years and after 70 years of reign, what makes of him King
having reigned longer to the world.
A mourning of 1 year was decreed,
mourning profoundly respected by Thai people which
lost the father of the Nation, respected by all without political distinction.
He was also the one who knew
during all his reign to maintain a unity in spite of all the coups d'état and
to avoid in the country to fall over to the civil war.
His elder son succeeds him and becomes RAMA X
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