The Sarit Regime (1957-1963/2500-2506) Sarit Thanarat (June 16, 1908 – December 8, 1963) was a Thai career soldier who staged a coup in 1957, thereafter serving as Thailand's Prime Minister until his death in 1963. He was born in Bangkok on June 16, 1908. His father, Major Luang Ruangdetanan (birth name Thongdi Thanarat), was a career army officer best known for his translations into Thai of Cambodian literature.

1. The Sarit Regime
(1957-1963/2500-2506)
By: Miss Yaowaluk Chaobanpho

2. -Sarit Thanarat (June 16, 1908 –
December 8, 1963) was a Thai career
soldier who staged a coup in 1957,
thereafter serving as Thailand's
Prime Minister until his death in
1963.
-He was born in Bangkok on June 16,
1908.
-His father, Major Luang
Ruangdetanan (birth name
Thongdi Thanarat), was a career
army officer best known for his
translations into Thai of
Cambodian literature.

3. Military career
-Sarit Thanarat was educated at a
monastery school in Bangkok, and
entered the Royal Thai Military
Academy in 1919.
-During World War II he served as
commander of an infantry
battalion and took part in the
invasion and occupation of the
Shan States in Burma.
-Sarit at first rose slowly in the
army ranks. The first decade of his
military career was spent in
infantry regiments and training
schools in Bangkok and nearby
Lopburi.

4. Political Career
-Unlike many of his fellow officers,
Sarit did not take a prominent role
in politics until 1947, when, as a
colonel commanding an infantry
battalion in Bangkok, he assumed
a leading role in the military coup
which overthrew civilian
parliamentary government.
-Sarit's promotion in rank to
lieutenant general in 1950 and
general in 1952 served to confirm
power he already had.

5. Leader of a Coup
-Phibun's power slipped rapidly in
the 1950s as economic conditions
worsened after the Korean War
boom; official corruption became
more blatant; and Phao's ruthless
attacks on political rivals, the
Chinese business community, and
civilian political figures got out of
hand.
-Sarit capitalized on the publicly
displayed royal displeasure with
Phibun, public outrage, and student
demonstrations to call out his
troops and overthrow the Phibun
government in September 1957.

6. Sarit seized power
• Accused Phibun of cheating in election
• American supported Thai army played crucial
roles in 1957 coup

7. Map of Cold war

8. Sarit Thanarat (1908-1963)
• Successful in army
• Staged a coup in 1957 and second coup in
1958
• Prime Minister 1958-1963
• Strong leadership
• Started National Economic and Social
Development Plan

9. Politics in Sarit Regime
• Governed under Martial Law
• Most authoritarian in the history of modern
Thai politics
– Abrogating constitution
– Dissolving parliament
• Centralized power to his Revolutionary Party
• Controlled Bureaucratic system and military

10. Politics (2)
• Banned all political parties
• Strict censorship of the press (banned 18
publications)
• Intense crackdown on leftists
– Suppressed many professors, politicians and
newspapers

11. Bureaucratic Polity
• No Elections
• No political power from society outside
bureaucracy
• No political participation from people
• Decision making relied on bureaucratic elites

12. Economic Development
• Established National Economic and Social
Development Board (NESDB) สภาพัฒฯ
• 1961 launched the 1st National Economic and
Social Development Plan
• Technocrats’ role in decision making
– NESDB
– Bank of Thailand
– Finance Ministry

13. Mittraphap Road (#2)

14. Ideology: Thai Style Democracy
• Political Instability caused by too much
democracy
• Nation (and state) is more important than
individual
• People do not need to participate, they can
assure the country is in good hands (elites)
• Thainess should be applied in government and
politics (Western is not suitable to Thai
society)

15. Ideology: Despotic Paternalism
• Help children
• Keep family security
• Promote health and morality
• Command
• Visit family members
• Father or Dictator?

16. As Father

17. The Role of the King
• Represent Thailand to
other countries
• Visited provinces
• Patronized
development projects
• Personally presented
degrees for university
graduates
• Practice of laying on the
ground in front of the
royal family

18. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5
WGCMfKyulo

19. Role of the King
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjRAak_sx
nk
• Role in Development
• National day – King’s Birthday
• Role in Government

20. Sarit’s funeral

21. 1965: The constitution becomes violent
Old editorial cartoon
The constitution becomes violent by Ngo Ngae, Kieatisak Newspaper, August 7, 1965
It reads: Article 17 of the constitution of Administrative Kingdom shows miraculous power.
The announcement by the P.M. to return assets taken by cheating is in trouble. This made
the council of drafting the constitution come to mentor the government immediately.

22. Chiang Mai – 1959 – Opium Pipes
The pile of opium pipes the police and Excise Dept. officers in CM
brought to be burned at the Tha Pae gate after Field Marshall Sarit
Thanarat’s decree to forbid opium trade and smoking nation wide.

23. König Bhumibol mit
Feldmarschall Sarit Thanarat

24. From Kietisak, August 7, 1965
Dying Textile workers strike against
employers
Vijitra holds the white flag (of defeat)
over article 17 of the government
Asked Tawee to stay at home in
Sapankwai temporary
2 diamond traders killed each other
at the golf field, Suan Lumpini

25. Front page from 1964
From Bangkok Times, July 20, 1964
The headline reads: Daughter of Sarit reveals life -
Blocked from seeing her father until his death - Field
Marshal Sarit‘s soul came to her in a dream.
Do a ceremony to meet Field Marshal Por ["Por" is the
nickname of Praek Piboonsongkram] - Sarit asked to
drink young coconut milk [young coconut milk is
normally used as offering in many Thai ordinary/ local
ceremony hosted for spirituals]
The important person confirmed Field Marshal Por
separated from Sarit [Sarit died in December of the
previous year, the only Thai PM to die in office. ]
Eldest daughter of Field Marshal Sarit gives interview
to the Bangkok Times telling her depressing life story
since divorce of parents - Saying that Sarit sent
diamond pendant for her - She sobbingly asked to
see her father, but was prevented until after his
death

26. Bangkok Times, March 6, 1964 –
The headlines read: Sarit’s mistress/concubine
[minor wife] - Not to face broken home situation
and hopeful for support
Survive because of a charm [Buddhist image] -
Senior colonel revealed the miracle - The
Bangkok Times reveals the latest miracle of
Luang Poh Tuad [revered monk whose charms
are greatly cherished for miraculous power]
who was well known by Thai people for the
miracle life saving of the high-ranked soldier
unbelievably
Revelation of the estate case of His Excellency
Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat that could be well
disputed... many mistresses are to be
supported and not to wander