Constitution Day
Wan Rattamnoon
10 December 2008
Thailand is proudly democratic even though in its modern political history it has had more than its fair share of military coups. These coups hark back to a more authoritarian time as the concept of democratic rule did not develop or evolve in Thailand as in many Western cultures but in a sense was thrust onto the people who were not prepared for it, and an elite class who could not accept it.
Prior to 1932 Thailand was ruled by an autocratic elite headed, at least nominally, by the king. There was no elected parliament and the people had no say in government and, in most cases, expected none.
As is usual in “revolutions”, either bloody or bloodless, it was the younger, intellectuals, often with an overseas education, who forced change. This sort of “People’s Revolution” very seldom actually involves the majority of the people. This was so in Thailand in 1932. In a real sense the revolution brought few changes to the lot of the rural poor who constituted by far the largest part of the population. In the case of Thailand it was a group of civil servants, princes, and army officers who, on 24 June 1932, seized power in a bloodless coup. It was known as the People’s Party (Khana Rasdr) and was led by Luang Pradit Manudharm (Pridi Panomyong).
A provisional constitution was sent to King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) along with an ultimatum from the Party leaders. After a short delay, and to avoid bloodshed, he signed a charter which abolished absolute monarchy and agreed to the country's first "permanent" Constitution. This was not an attempt to overthrow the monarchy; rather it was one to try to take power away from the ruling oligarchy.
This seemingly effortless revolution in fact was a power struggle between the entrenched ruling class and the newly emerging, educated middle class. This might be said to be continuing even today.
In practice, the People’s Party made many concessions to the traditional ruling faction. The first Prime Minister, Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada, and Foreign Minister, Phraya Srivisan Vacha, were royalists. Four members of the People’s Committee were royalists and not members of the People’s Party. Of the 70 members of the legislature, fewer than half came from the People’s Party, while the majority were those who had held high-rank in the previous regime.
The final constitution stated that sovereign power belonged to the people of Siam. The monarch continued to be Head of State with the right to encourage, warn, and be consulted. The monarchy, as in the style of European Constitutional Monarchies, had no say in the composition of any of the branches of government and had no royal veto beyond the rights of encouraging, warning and consulting. The monarchy, however, was made "sacred and inviolable" and in a sense above the law but to counter this continued to embody the religious and moral tenets of Thailand.
King Prajadhipok eventually abdicated in 1935 due to strained relations with the new, basically military, government. He issued a brief statement criticising the regime. Part of his statement is often quoted by critics of the pace of Thailand’s political development:
I am willing to surrender the powers I formerly exercised to the people as a whole, but I am not willing to turn them over to any individual or any group to use in an autocratic manner without heeding the voice of the people.
Since 1932 there have been a number of Constitutions but all have recognised the king as Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of All Religions and sacred and inviolable in his person.
Without a doubt these reforms could not have occurred unless the king was recognised as Head of State. To most Thais for Thailand not to be a monarchy was and still is inconceivable as the philosophy of Buddhism is such that a ruler is pre-ordained to that position - it is not an “accident of birth”. The peace and prosperity of the nation continues to be dependent on the moral model of the monarch who personifies the virtues of his people. Historically the office of king was also partly religious and this has developed over time to the position of Upholder of All Religions even though the king must be a Buddhist.
In 1939 a symbolic monument was commissioned by the military ruler of Thailand, Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram (known as Phibun), to commemorate the June 1932 “revolution”. This is known as the Democracy Monument and has been a rallying point for democracy movements and demonstrations during recent Thai political history. It is in the centre of a traffic circle or roundabout on Rajadamnoen Avenue.
Even though the Revolution of 1932 brought an end to the absolute rule of the monarch, the reverence in which the Thai people hold their monarchs has not been diminished since that time. Portraits of Thai kings are prominently displayed throughout the kingdom.
On Constitution Day, the entire nation celebrates. Government offices, private buildings and most high rise buildings are decorated with the national flag and at night are brightly lit. In the charming Thai way it is on this day that the Thai people show gratitude to the monarchy for graciously giving them an opportunity to take part in governing the country.
10 December, Constitution Day, is a public holiday in Thailand with government departments, banks and businesses closed. Shopping centres and bank currency exchange booths, however, are open. Places of entertainment are usually open without restriction.