Khana Ratsadon - Background - Six Principles

Six Principles

The revolutionaries made Pridi Panomyong their President and termed themselves the "Promoters" (Thai: ผู้ก่อการ; RTGS: Phu Ko Kan). The Party determined a sixfold objective which was later called the "Six Principles" (Thai: หลักหกประการ; RTGS: Lak Hok Prakan), as follows:,

1. To maintain the supreme power of the Thai people.

2. To maintain national security.

3. To maintain the economic welfare of the Thai people in accordance to the National Economic Project.

4. To protect the equality of the Thai people.

5. To maintain the people's rights and liberties, insofar as they are not inconsistent with any of the above-mentioned principles.

6. To provide public education for all citizens.

To achieve these goals, the Party determined that they must overthrow, using force if necessary, the present government and the system of absolute monarchy and turn the tiny Asian Kingdom into a modern constitutional monarchy. Most of the members were students educated abroad mostly in the United Kingdom and France.

When the group returned to Siam, they found many members from among the Army, Navy, Merchants, Civil Servants and many others. Their membership eventually reached 102, separated into four main branches. These include the Civilians, led by Pridi Phanomyong; the Navy, led by Luang Sinthusongkhramchai; the junior Army Officers, led by Major Phibulsonggram; and finally the Senior Officers, led by Colonel Phot Phahonyothin