SIAMESE ARMY SEIZES POWER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22481, 10 November 1947, Page 5

SIAMESE ARMY SEIZES POWER

WARTIME PUPPET LEADER HEADS -COUP

PREMIER PLACED UNDER ARREST

(N .Z.P. A,—Reuter —Copyright.)

(10 a.m.) BANGKOK, Nov. 9. In a lightning coup, the Siamese Army took over control of Siam early today. 1 The Army took Premier Thamrong Naivasuwat a prisoner while he was attending a dance.

Quick Remedies Promised

The coup was carried out by a group believed to be supporting Marshal Luang Phibun Songgram, Japanese puppet dictator during the war, and is composed mostly of air force and former puppet ground force officers. In a statement to the Siamese people he said that old and experienced administrators had returned to power and the country’s ill would quickly be remedied. He appealed to all to carry on as usual.

The city is normal except that crowds are gathering everywhere. Strategic areas have been cordened off and all Government offices are working under heavy guards. The new leader controls transport, communications and broadcasting. The Commander-in-Chief, General Adul, this morning entered into an agreement with the new leader and is expected to hold the post. He will confer with Opposition leaders this afternoon. Political Comeback The wartime dictator Premier until 1944 Field Marshal Phibun Songgram, made a political comeback in April, 1947, leading the Tharmathipat or “right is might” Party, says Reuters correspondent in Singapore. He was one of the most prominent suspects m Siamese war crimes trials at the end of the war, but was released as a result of a court decision that the law was not retrospective. _ , . The leading English , daily, Bangkok Post, in a leader on his comeback, described him as “one of the quislings of World War II.” March on Bangkok Planned

Marshal Phibun Songgram has established his headquarters in the Ministry of Defence building with tanks and armed troops stationed on the alert. The rebel forces claimed today that the King and other Government leaders have fled from Bangkok. Both Pridi Phanomyong, who resigned the Premiership after the death of the King last year and the deposed Premier, Thamrong Nawasuwat, are still unlocated. Bangkok is outwardly calm and the crowds are orderly, but it is reported that Army troops loyal to the King are massing for a march on Bangkok to oust the rebel forces. However, the informants say that the leaders of the coup expect no bloodshed because the navy and air force are co-operating with the army. Marshal Phibun is now supreme commander of the whole of the aimed forces.

Ex-Premiers Support New Leader

The ex-Premiers, Khuang Abhaiwong and Seno Pramoj, had a conference with him and are reported to have agreed to support the coup. , . The consultations, it is understood, included the formation of a new Cabinet, which is expected soon. It is understood that a Regency Council agreed to promulgate a new constitution providing for increased power tor the King with a unicameral LegislaAn announcement on this is expected tonight. Marshal Phibun may not assume the Premiership but will continue as supreme commander. in a statement, he said that he acted to save his country from ruin, and was ready to prove to the world his good intentions.