Songsuradet rebellion

During, before, and after the coup, conflicts arose between Songsuradet and Phibun, who were both ministers of state[clarification needed] and members of the People's Committee.

When Phibun succeeded Phraya Phahon as prime minister on 11 September 1938, there was much resistance to his premiership due to his dictatorial style and cronyism.

On that date he received orders from Bangkok stripping him of his command of all units as well as his rank and titles and forcing him to retire from the army without pension.

Fearing death, Songsuradet complied, and with his aide-de-camp, Captain Samruad Kanjonsit (สำรวจ กาญจนสิทธิ์), he escaped to Cambodia.

The persons arrested included inter alia Prince Rangsit, Prince of Chainat (a son of King Chulalongkorn), General Phraya Thephatsadin (a 62-year-old former commander of the Siamese Expeditionary Force during the First World War), and Phraya Udompong Phensawad [th]), a former minister of state.

By 1938 he had consolidated his power to such an extent that he had become virtual dictator of the country, changing its name from "Siam" to "Thailand" in June 1938.

Historians[1] agree today that the men executed were mostly innocent and were not a part of a plot to kill Phibun or overthrow his government.

Payap Rojanavipat, one writer was arrested and imprisoned for this rebellion called the period of this event "Black Age" and he recorded his incarceration and witnessed the execution in the book of the same title.