Yellow Cover Dossier Incident and Coup
In 1933, Pridi Panomyong, by then a Minister of State, presented his Draft Economic Plan or Yellow Cover Dossier to King Prajadhipok. The dossier was an economic plan, which advocated socialist solutions to the country's many financial and economic problem. Prajadhipok even branded the dossier "communist" and attacked Pridi publicly about it. After Pridi got his dossier rejected, his status fell and caused a major disruption among the members of People's Party and the People's Committee itself.
Phraya Mano rallied those who opposed the socialist plan of Pridi including Phraya Songsuradet and dissolve his own cabinet to try and oust Pridi, who had great support within the People's Party. In order to regain some stability and silence domestic critics, Phraya Manopakorn had some articles within the constitution suspended. Manopakorn barred the People's Assembly from any further meetings and the judiciary was shut down. Pridi was forced to flee to France. It was said that Manopakorn led the coup with his pen, this event is known in Thailand as the April 1933 Coup (or the Silent Coup) (Thai: รัฐประหารในประเทศไทย เมษายน พ.ศ. 2476). Phraya Manopakorn then approved the Anti-Communist Act, which allowed him powers to arrest those in society suspected of having communist sentiments (the entire Central Committee of the Communist Party of Siam was arrested and imprisoned).
After the Yellow Dossier Incident, the degree of political freedom was greatly reduced by Phraya Manopakorn's policies. He censored many leftist activities including shuting down of many newspapers and publications. However the People's Party which gave him the Premiership, will eventually be his downfall. On 16 June, Phraya Pahol Polpayuhasena (the county's most powerful military leader and member of the People's party) together with three other senior officers retired themselves from the People's Committee, for 'health reasons'.
- Further information Siamese coup d'état of 1933
Read more about this topic: Phraya Manopakorn Nititada
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