Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn (August 11,
1912 -June 16, 2004,
Thai ถนอม กิตติขจร) was a military dictator of Thailand.
A staunch anti-Communist, Thanom oversaw a decade of harsh military rule in Thailand from
1963 to 1973, until public protests and a massacre caused him to step down. His return from exile in 1976 sparked a massacre and
a military coup. He had 2 sons and 4 daughters.
Early life
Thanom was born in 1911 in Ban Nhong Ploung, Tak province, to Amphan and Linchee
Kittikachorn. He graduated as a sub-lieutenant from the Chulachomklao
Royal Military Academy in 1930. In 1942 he served as a company commander in the Phayap
Army during its invasion and occupation of the eastern Shan States.
Rise to power
As a lieutenant-colonel, he took part in the 1947 coup led by Colonel Sarit
Thanarat and became a regimental Commander and head of the Lopburi military province. He
was later promoted to colonel, commanding the 11th Infantry Division. He was appointed a non-elected MP in 1951, his first
political role.
In February 1953, he led the suppression of a rebellion, and was rewarded with a promotion to the rank of lieutenant-general.
He represented Thailand at the ceremony to mark the end of the Korean War in July 1953 and
was later promoted as Commander of the 1st Region Army.
He was appointed Deputy Cooperatives Minister in 1955. Thanom supported Sarit in his coup against the government of Field
Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram, and was subsequently appointed Defence Minister in
Pote Sarasin's puppet regime in 1957.
In subsequent years, Thanom consolidated his power base as the number 2 military leader behind Sarit. In 1958, he was
appointed General and become Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and Army Commander-in-Chief. He remained Premier for 9 months. The
following year he was replaced by Sarit as prime minister and was instead appointed Deputy Premier, Defence Minister, and Armed
Forces Deputy Supreme Commander in the new junta.
Dictator
Thanom was appointed premier a day after Sarit's death in 1963. He subsequently appointed himself Commander-in-Chief of the
Army. One year later, he promoted himself to the concurrent ranks of Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet, and Marshal of the
Royal Thai Air Force. Thanom continued the pro-American and anti-Communist politics of his predecessor, which helped to ensure massive US aid during the Vietnam War.
His regime was also noted for massive corruption. He established and led the Saha Prachathai Party in October 1968.
He reappointed himself Prime Minister in February 1969 after general elections had been conducted. Then, in November 1971, he
staged a coup against his own government, citing the need to suppress communist infiltration. He dissolved Parliament and
appointed himself Chairman of the National Executive Council, and served as a caretaker government for one year. He appointed
himself Prime Minister for a fourth time, in December 1972, while also serving as Defence and Foreign Ministers. He, along with
his son, Colonel Narong, and brother-in-law Field Marshal Praphas
Charusathien became known as the "Three Tyrants".
Public discontent grew, as well as demands for a general election. A student-led uprising in October 1973 (the so-called "14
October 1973 uprising") led to the the downfall of his regime and the exile of him and the other Two Tyrants to the
United States and Singapore.
6 October 1976 massacre and aftermath
Thanom returned to Thailand as a novice monk at Wat Bowonniwet, King Bhumibol Adulyadej's temple. This triggered a student protest at Thammasat University. The far right, aided by the government security forces, stormed the campus
and massacred protesters on 6 October
1976. That evening, the military again seized power from the civilian government.
He soon left the monkhood but never resumed a role in politics. Late in his life, he made an effort to rehabilitate his image
and recover properties that had been seized when he was overthrown.
In March 1999, Thanom was nominated to become a member of the honorary Royal Guard by Prime
Minister Chuan Leekpai, which was a highly controversial act. Thanom turned down the
appointment.
Thanom died at the age of 92 on 16 June 2004 in the
Bangkok General Hospital, after suffering a stroke and a heart attack in January 2004. His medical expenses were paid
for by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. His cremation was held on 25 February 2007 at Wat Debsirin. Queen
Sirikit presided over the cremation ceremony, lighting the royal flame on behalf of King
Bhumibol. Princess Chulabhorn also
presided.
References
Further reading
- Oh See What the
Cat Drags In!, blog containing photographs of Thanom's cremation rites at Wat Debsirin.
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