General information
Type of Incompatibility: Government
Comment on Type of Incompatibility: Since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand has experienced several coups and in 1951, a failed coup attempt led to heavy fighting. A decade later, CPT (Communist Party of Thailand) declared its goal to seize government power through an armed struggle and fighting eventually escalated in the mid 1970s.
Date of first stated goal of incompatibility: 1951-06-29
Comment on date of first stated goals of incompatibility: On 29 June 1951, Thai naval forces abducted the Thai Prime Minister Pibul Songgram during a ceremony with the US Chargé d Affaires. Later the same day, it was announced through the naval radio station that the “Liberation Army” had seized power and formed a new government with Sarasas Prahad as Prime Minister, Admiral Taharn as Deputy Premier, and Seni Pramoj as Foreign Minister. The old cabinet was accused of being governed by a “corrupt military clique”.
Date of first use of armed force: 1951-06-30
Comment on first use of armed force: On 29 June 1951, Thai naval forces abducted the Thai Prime Minister Pibul Songgram during a ceremony with the US Chargé d Affaires. Later the same day, it was announced through the naval radio station that the “Liberation Army” had seized power and formed a new government with Sarasas Prahad as Prime Minister, Admiral Taharn as Deputy Premier, and Seni Pramoj as Foreign Minister. The old cabinet was accused of being governed by a “corrupt military clique”.
One of the more high-ranking officers involved in the attempted coup was Lieutenant-General Kach Songgram, a former commander of the Marine Corps. In 1947, he was one of the militaries who had brought Pibul Songgram to power, but had later been accused of attempting a coup against the Pibul Songgram in 1950. Following these charges, he had spent a shorter period of exile in Hong Kong before returning to Thailand shortly before the June 1951 coup.
Following his abduction, Pibul Songgram broadcasted a statement urging people to remain calm. However, the army, the air force and the police remained loyal to the abducted Prime Minister, and immediately began taking counter measures. On June 30 heavy fighting took place around the naval headquarters. During the fighting, Pibul Songgram managed to escape the ship on which he was held and subsequently resumed power early on 1 July. After the fighting, it was reported that at least 12 civilians had been killed and over 280 had been wounded. There were no official figures over military casualties, but they were considered to have been heavy. Immediately after resuming power, Pibul Songgram stated that military courts would be set up to try the those who were suspected of having taken part in the attempted coup, although many of the leaders were thought to have escaped. Two days later, it was announced that 17 high-ranking officers had been dismissed from the service, that 75 % of the navy had been suspended for a minimum of six months and finally that the navy was to be reorganised.
Date of first battle related death: 1951-06-30
Comment on first battle related death: On 29 June 1951, Thai naval forces abducted the Thai Prime Minister Pibul Songgram during a ceremony with the US Chargé d Affaires. Later the same day, it was announced through the naval radio station that the “Liberation Army” had seized power and formed a new government with Sarasas Prahad as Prime Minister, Admiral Taharn as Deputy Premier, and Seni Pramoj as Foreign Minister. The old cabinet was accused of being governed by a “corrupt military clique”.
One of the more high-ranking officers involved in the attempted coup was Lieutenant-General Kach Songgram, a former commander of the Marine Corps. In 1947, he was one of the militaries that had brought Pibul Songgram to power, but had later been accused of attempting a coup against the Pibul Songgram in 1950. Following these charges, he had spent a shorter period of exile in Hong Kong before returning to Thailand shortly before the June 1951 coup.
Following his abduction, Pibul Songgram broadcasted a statement urging people to remain calm. However, the army, the air force and the police remained loyal to the abducted Prime Minister, and immediately began taking counter measures. On June 30 heavy fighting took place around the naval headquarters. During the fighting, Pibul Songgram managed to escape the ship on which he was held and subsequently resumed power early on 1 July. After the fighting, it was reported that at least 12 civilians had been killed and over 280 had been wounded. There were no official figures over military casualties, but they were considered to have been heavy. Immediately after resuming power, Pibul Songgram stated that military courts would be set up to try the those who were suspected of having taken part in the attempted coup, although many of the leaders were thought to have escaped. Two days later, it was announced that 17 high-ranking officers had been dismissed from the service, that 75 % of the navy had been suspended for a minimum of six months and finally that the navy was to be reorganised.
Date of conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1951-06-30
Comment on conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: On 29 June 1951, Thai naval forces abducted the Thai Prime Minister Pibul Songgram during a ceremony with the US Chargé d Affaires. Later the same day, it was announced through the naval radio station that the “Liberation Army” had seized power and formed a new government with Sarasas Prahad as Prime Minister, Admiral Taharn as Deputy Premier, and Seni Pramoj as Foreign Minister. The old cabinet was accused of being governed by a “corrupt military clique”.
One of the more high-ranking officers involved in the attempted coup was Lieutenant-General Kach Songgram, a former commander of the Marine Corps. In 1947, he was one of the militaries that had brought Pibul Songgram to power, but had later been accused of attempting a coup against the Pibul Songgram in 1950. Following these charges, he had spent a shorter period of exile in Hong Kong before returning to Thailand shortly before the June 1951 coup.
Following his abduction, Pibul Songgram broadcasted a statement urging people to remain calm. However, the army, the air force and the police remained loyal to the abducted Prime Minister, and immediately began taking counter measures. On June 30 heavy fighting took place around the naval headquarters. During the fighting, Pibul Songgram managed to escape the ship on which he was held and subsequently resumed power early on 1 July. After the fighting, it was reported that at least 12 civilians had been killed and over 280 had been wounded. There were no official figures over military casualties, but they were considered to have been heavy. Immediately after resuming power, Pibul Songgram stated that military courts would be set up to try the those who were suspected of having taken part in the attempted coup, although many of the leaders were thought to have escaped. Two days later, it was announced that 17 high-ranking officers had been dismissed from the service, that 75 % of the navy had been suspended for a minimum of six months and finally that the navy was to be reorganised.
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1975
Primary Parties: Government of Thailand - CPT
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1976
Primary Parties: Government of Thailand - CPT
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1977
Primary Parties: Government of Thailand - CPT
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1978
Primary Parties: Government of Thailand - CPT
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1979
Primary Parties: Government of Thailand - CPT
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1980
Primary Parties: Government of Thailand - CPT
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1981
Primary Parties: Government of Thailand - CPT
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1982
Primary Parties: Government of Thailand - CPT
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1992
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2013
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Conflict Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1975 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: Throughout 1975, CPT rebels conducted small-scale attacks on government troops and military outposts. In March 1975, the government proclaimed martial law in 28 provinces bordering Laos and Cambodia.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1976 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The mostly low-scale fighting between government forces and CPT (Communist Party of Thailand) continued in 1976. The Martial law that had been declared in 28 provinces bordering Laos and Cambodia in 1975, was extended for another 12 months on 9 March 1976. In June, unusually heavy fighting took place between the military and the rebels in the Petchabun province, located near the Lao border. After the clashes, Bangkok radio announced that a Thai aircraft had been shot down, while the rebel radio station VOPT (Voice of the People of Thailand) claimed on 27 June that in fact 18 helicopters had been shot down of damaged in 1976. On 4 July, military sources stated that 28 soldiers had been killed and 86 seriously wounded during the fighting in June. It was also stated that the more than 160 rebels had been killed.
On 6 October 1976, the coalition government which had been formed in April earlier in the same year, was overthrown by a military coup and a junta calling itself the “National Administrative Reform Council” assumed power. The constitution was suspended and a new regime, led by Thanin Kraivichien, was installed later the same month. Following this coup, CPT launched a new propaganda campaign, posing themselves as the real defenders of Thai culture and of the nation against imperialism. The Thai communist radio station which broadcasted from China, VOPT, was particularly active in spreading this message as well as the need for people who loved democracy and justice to unite against the common enemy.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1977 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: Following the military coup in Thailand in 1976, the communist guerrillas substantially increased their activities, both their propaganda and armed attacks. The military estimated that there were about 2000 guerrillas operating in the north and about 3500 operating in the north-east. After the coup, moderate left-wing parties had entered into alliance with CPT and a large number of students had taken refuge with the rebels in order to escape arrest by the military. In the beginning of October 1977, CCPDF (Co-ordinating Committee for Patriotic and Democracy-Loving Forces/Committee for Co-ordinating Patriotic and Democratic Forces) was founded. This loose alliance with other opposition groups were mainly formed since the regular opposition was forced underground.
The increased CPT activity following the coup continued in 1977, mainly in the north and north-east. On 13 February, the Crown Prince’s car was attacked during a visit in the Petchabun province. On 12 April, the guerrillas shot down a helicopter in the same province, killing two colonels. The guerrillas also changed their strategy concerning the monarchy. Capitalising on the student disappointment over the king’s failure to halt the violence that followed the coup in 1976 (which he had managed after a coup in 1973), CPT launched several attacks against the monarchy. This strategy was eventually abandoned following the ousting of the military regime on 22 October 1977. Thanin’s government was replaced by a “Revolutionary Council” consisting of 23 high-ranking officers, headed by Admiral Sá-ngad Chaloryu, seized power.
In 1977, it was estimated that there were about 4000 “communist-influenced” villages in Thailand, although the locations of these villages were not given.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1978 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The clashes between government troops and the CPT (Communist Party of Thailand) continued throughout 1978. In August, it was reported that military sources had claimed that guerrillas were operating in 46 of the 76 provinces in Thailand, compared to 35 in early 1977. It is, however, not clear in how many of these 46 provinces that CPT was active (could also refer to the separate communist groups in southern Thailand). It was also reported that the guerrilla activity along the Cambodian border increased in 1978. In other areas, the attacks were mainly directed towards government outposts, but along the Cambodian border, Thai guerrillas were reported to work together with Cambodian troops and attack villages and kidnapping people to indoctrination camps inside Cambodia.
Although CPT had gained considerable support from socialist, trade unionists, intellectuals and students, the group were reported to have had great difficulties with establishing wide-spread support among the peasants on the country-side. One report stated that in 1978, CPT resorted to kidnapping whole hamlets and relocated them to the so called “liberated areas” in remote place of Thailand. This strategy was, however, abandoned after a while as it was deemed both counter-productive and “ideologically unsound”.
CPT also faced difficulties with its external support. Following the escalation of conflict between Vietnam and Cambodia, the support from the Cambodian troops along the Thai-Cambodian border decreased from October 1978 and onwards.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1979 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The clashes between government troops and CPT guerrillas (Communist Party of Thailand) continued in 1979, although CPT faced increasingly difficulties with obtaining material support from the communist parties in the neighbouring countries. In early 1979, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia had been ousted from power through a Vietnamese invasion, under the pretext of supporting a Cambodian resistance movement. China then directed most parts of its aid to the Khmer Rouge and also became involved in a border conflict with Vietnam, which further directed the light away from the Thai communist guerrillas. In the beginning, CPT, through their radio station in China, “Voice of the People of Thailand” tried to stay neutral regarding these developments, but on 20 April a army spokesman stated that there had been fighting between pro-Chinese and pro-Vietnamese factions within CCDPF (Co-ordinating Committee for Patriotic and Democracy-Loving Forces/Committee for Co-ordinating Patriotic and Democratic Forces, formed by CPT in 1977 as a loose alliance of the opposition groups in Thailand). On 7 June, the radio station for the first time broadcasted a strong pro-Chinese message and called upon all Thais to unite and fight the Vietnamese aggressors, whom they claimed were preparing for an invasion of Thailand.
The problems with external support and the rift within CCDPF reportedly led to a large number of defections from the guerrilla troops. It was reported on 10 July 1979, that more than 500 guerrillas had surrendered during the past three months in the Ubon and Si Sa Ket provinces (located close to the Cambodian border).
Heavy fighting between CPT guerrillas and government troops were reported to have taken place during the summer of 1979 in the Chiang Rai province, located in the northernmost part of Thailand, as government troops launched an extensive offensive. On 3 August, the military claimed to have captured a large guerrilla base and that at least 100 rebels had been killed or wounded, together with 20 soldiers killed and 103 wounded. On 25 August, however, the rebels killed 25 soldiers in one attack.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1980 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: CPT (Communist Party of Thailand) rebels continued their insurgency in 1981, with a large number of clashes between the rebels and the government troops. Estimates reported in 1980 stated that communist rebels were operating in more than 50 of Thailand’s 71 provinces and consisted of about 8000-15 000 troops. However, no further details were given were these rebels were active and therefore could include separate communist cells operating along the Thai-Malaysian border. In October 1980, a military spokesperson claimed that CPT consisted of about 10 000 rebels. Furthermore, the number of killed government troops were claimed to be almost 500. The rebels were stated to have lost 310 troops. In addition to this, 115 communist troops were captured and 1372 were stated to have surrendered. However, it is not clear how many of these belonged to CPT.
On 15 February, the military launched a heavy offensive against CPT rebels in the northern province of Petchabun. The offensive was reported as successful due to the fact that the rebels since 1979 no longer were able to retreat into Laos or Cambodia for protection. In Cambodia, a pro-Vietnamese government had ousted the Khmer Rouge in 1979 and the Soviet Union had strengthened its influence over Laos. Due to CPT’s connection to China, the Soviet Union and Vietnam were considered to be enemies of CPT.
In 1980, the government also presented a new political strategy to face the communist insurgency, including an offer of amnesty to all rebels.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1981 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The clashes between CPT (Communist Party of Thailand) rebels and government troops continued in the north and north-eastern part of Thailand in 1981. However, following decreased support from China and the loss of sanctuary in Laos and Cambodia, it appeared that CPT had lost considerable strength in 1981. The military reported that the clashes in the north had decreased and that activities by communist cells and separatist groups in the southern part of Thailand had increased. The military conducted an armed offensive in late May and reportedly led to the capture of several communist strongholds in the Chiang Rai province, in the northern part of Thailand. One of the bases were claimed to be the Khao Khor base on the border between the Phetchabun and Phitsanulok provinces. It was also reported in 1981 that the CPT headquarters had been moved from the Nan province near the Lao-border in the north-east to the Tak province. This was allegedly due to intensified government suppression activities and problems with obtaining supplies from China.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1982 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The steady number of government offensives, combined with amnesties, severely weakened CPT (Communist Party of Thailand) in 1982. By the end of the year, the troop strength had decreased to fewer than 4000, compared to 12 000 in 1979. The amnesty offered by the government were reported to be a major factor behind the drastic fall in troop size. The lack of external support from Laos and Cambodia and the declining Chinese support, further weakened the group. One example was that the rebel radio station located in China VOPT (Voice of the People of Thailand), which had broadcasted anti-governmental messages for many years, were no longer active. Furthermore, there was also an ideological rift within CPT.
On 27 March 1982, a Bangkok radio broadcast announced that CPT had begun its fourth congress, the first since the early 1960s. It was also reported that Udom Sisuwan had been elected secretary-general for CPT. Sisuwan succeeded Charoen Wanngam (also known as Mit Samanan), who was reported to have died following a period of illness.
Following 1982, there was not enough evidence to consider the conflict between CPT and the Thai government as active, that is at least 25 battle-related deaths in the conflict during one year. Although CPT was not completely defeated in 1982, there were only a few reports of clashes during the following years. Thus, the conflict was seen as terminated due to low activity in 1982.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in this conflict is unclear, but activity at the least surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1982-12-31
Comment on Termination: Following 1982, there was not enough evidence to consider the conflict between CPT and the Thai government as active, that is at least 25 battle-related deaths in the conflict during one year. Although CPT was not completely defeated in 1982, there were only a few reports of clashes during the following years. Thus, the conflict was seen as terminated due to low activity in 1982.
1992 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2013 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
