Manoonkrit Roopkachorn - Attempted Coup of 1981

Attempted Coup of 1981

Important military factions in the early 1980s included the Young Turks; the fifth class of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy led by Suchinda Kraprayoon; the "Democratic Soldiers", mostly staff officers in counter-insurgency planning; and the military leadership, such as Generals Arthit Kamlang-ek and Pichit Kullavanij, both with close ties to the palace, and Chaovalit Yongchaiyuth, a loyalist to Prime Minister General Prem Tinsulanonda. The Young Turks were increasingly frustrated by the military leadership, which they claim had "allowed themselves to be subservient to the rotten political system just to live happily with benefits handed to them by (corrupt) politicians."

On 1 April 1981, the Young Turks took over Bangkok in a bloodless coup of overwhelming military force, without the pre-approval of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Thai royal family immediately fled to Korat province along with Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda. With royal support for the Government made clear, Arthit Kamlang-ek led troops loyal to Chaovalit Yongchaiyuth and Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy Class 5 in a bloodless counter-coup that recaptured the capital. The coup later became known as the April Fool's Day Coup or the Mesa Hawaii (Thai: เมษาฮาวาย) Coup.