Plaek Phibunsongkhram

File:Phibul.jpg

Field marshall Phibun Songkhram (July 14, 1887 - June 11, 1964) (also sometimes spelled Phibul Songkhram) was prime minister and military dictator in Thailand from 1938-1944 and 1948-1957.

He was born on July 14, 1887 in the Nonthaburi province as son of Mr. Keed and Mrs. Sam-Ang Keetasangka. Because of his peculiar position of ears, he is nick-named as Plaek (strange).

He studied at the Royal Army Academy as well as the General Staff Army College in France.

During the Siamese coup d'état of 1932 which changed Thailand to a constitutional monarchy Major Phibulsonggram joined the People's Party as its military representative. In 1933 there was a coup d'etat attempt called "Bavoradej" after the name of the leader, prince Bavoradej. Phibul singlehandly led the army to defeat them and his power became very formidable. After prime minister Colonel Phraya Phaholpolpayuhasena resigned he was appointed prime minister on December 16, 1938. During his term he was promoted to Field Marshall in recognition of the modernizations of the country done by him. He renamed the country from Siam to Thailand, and also finally introduced the western calendar. Moreover, he and his renown scholarly subordinate, Luang Vichit, vividly boosted the so-called Siamese cultural renaissance: the people were ordered to wear the cloth in the western styles, especially a hat; Thais must not chew the betel; Thais must buy only the domestic merchandise; the national anthem was written and the people were ordered to stand saluting the flag raised at 8 o'clock in the morning and 6 o'clock in the evening.

During the World War II Japan invaded Thailand, to which Phibul showed an ambiguous reaction. Some scholars believe that he had a megalomaniac plan in mind with Japan. First, in the early morning of December 8 1941, Phibul disappeared and let his cabinet taken aback with the news of invasion. Thus, the soldiers along with police, junior soldiers and the civils were ordered by minister of defence to fight against the Japanese army which had landed on many strategical places. Phibul appeared again and wavered his cabinet's decision to surrender and cooperate with the Japan. It is very historically controversial whether Thailand "actually" took a side with the invader. Although the so-called friendship pact was signed, the relationship between the two countries had never been smooth. Pridi Branomyong, another leader of the people's party, was ousted from the cabinet and appointed as the king's representative. He secretly formed the resistance against Japan named Free Thai movement. This was still in doubt whether Phibul knew about this and did anything to feud them.

Ultimately, Phibul was ousted from premiership by the parliament in 1944 when he tried arrogantly to relocate Thailand's capital from Bangkok to Phetchabun, and the project of building Buddhamonthorn (the great sacred place for Buddha). The defeat of Axis led to his imprisonment but at his trial as a war criminal he was miraculously acquitted. Phibul was in exile from political stage from a several years.In 1948 he returned to office after a military coup.

Phibul's second reign would be lasting for further 10 years, but it was quite different from his first one. He had no absolute power anymore, but had to cooperate with the powerful cliques of Field Marshal Sarith Thanarath and Police General Pao Sriyanon.

Phibul led his country to have a close relationship with the United States during the escalation of cold war. 1951-52, Phibul sent Thai troops to join the United Nations (led by US army)in Korean war.

At the end of his reign suspicions of irregular practices during an election came up. The resulting unrest led to a coup by Field Marshal Sarith Thanarath in 1957, after which Phibun Songkhram had to leave the country. His final exile had been Japan where he died in 1964.