Thailand Routs Coup Attempt; Rebels Give Up

Government forces Monday crushed an attempted coup by 400 to 500 insurgent troops led by two brothers, one of whom was sacked from the military after a failed revolt four years ago.

The coup attempt was largely a battle of hostile words between government- and rebel-held broadcasting stations, but it broke into brief but violent clashes in which four people were killed and at least 59 wounded.

It was the 15th coup attempt in the military-dominated government of Thailand since 1932, when the absolute monarchy came to an end here.

The struggle lasted for about 10 hours, ending in mid-afternoon when the rebels laid down their arms. The firing and movement of troops all took place in a section of Bangkok where the major government offices are situated. There were no reports of fighting outside the capital.

Many Unaware of Coup

Many Thais went about their business in other parts of the capital unaware that a coup was taking place. The city was calm early today.

The plotters struck at a time when the major national leaders were out of the capital. Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda was in Jakarta, Indonesia; the armed forces commander, Gen. Arthit Kamlang-ek, was in Sweden. King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit were visiting their palace in Narathiwat in southern Thailand.

Prem returned late Monday afternoon and went directly to see the king, who had also returned to Bangkok. Prem later issued a statement calling for unity.

Gen. Arthit returned to the capital early today.

In a nationally televised address, Prem thanked loyal troops for putting down the uprising. “We have a lot of things to do in the future,” said the prime minister, visibly moved, “but for now, I want to ask all parties to join with the government and establish unity for the sake of the country.”

The United States, Thailand’s main economic and military partner, expressed its support for Prem’s administration.

“We regret that a small group attempted to overthrow this government,” said a statement by the U.S. Embassy. “We extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attempted coup.”

The ringleaders were identified as Col. Manoon Roopkachorn, a leader of the unsuccessful 1981 coup, and his brother, air force Wing Commander Manas Roopkachorn. Manoon was cashiered for his role in the unsuccessful “young Turks” coup attempt against the Prem government in 1981.

According to Bangkok press reports this morning, Manoon had fled to Singapore and Manas was believed to be headed for Burma.

Several high-ranking active and retired officers were also implicated in the coup, but it remained unclear whether they were willing participants or were forced to lend their names to the attempt. These included a former prime minister, Kriangsak Chomanan, former supreme commander of the armed forces, and retired generals Serm Na Nakhon and Yos Thephasdin.

All three were in the supreme command headquarters during the morning when it was held by rebel forces. After the surrender, they were “sent home” by government officers. The deputy army chief of staff, Gen. Chaovalit Yongchaiyuth, said a committee will be set up to determine their role, if any, in the revolt.

The air force commander in chief, Praphan Dhupatemiya, will also be examined, but military spokesmen said he was apparently forced to join the plotters by his personal aide.

Some Dressed as Civilians

The rebels, who included members of an armored unit and an air force security command, infiltrated the government offices before dawn Monday, some dressed as civilians. They had at least 22 tanks at their command.

Seizing the official Radio Thailand offices, they said they had taken power “to correct the seriously deteriorating situation of the economy.” They apparently expected to be joined by other military units, but the rest of the military stood firm with the government.

Government forces were led in Arthit’s absence by the acting armed forces commander, Tienchai Sirisamphan and the 1st Army region commander, Gen. Pichitr Kullavanijaya.

The heaviest fighting erupted in a rebel attempt to seize the 1st Army broadcasting station. Rebel tanks fired on the antenna and blasted the compound but later retreated to the occupied supreme command headquarters without putting the army radio off the air.

Two Newsmen Killed

Killed in the fighting were two NBC newsmen, veteran cameraman and journalist Neil Davis, 52, an Australian who served as NBC bureau chief in Bangkok, and American soundman William Latch, 35. Also killed were a government soldier and a woman whose taxi was hit by a rebel tank round.

In both the 1981 attempt to overthrow the government and in this week’s uprising, the rebels cited Thailand’s economic problems as the main reason for their action. Military officers stepped up their criticism of Prime Minister Prem after the country suffered a record trade deficit of nearly $4 billion in 1983.

However, Prem has provided Thailand with unprecedented political stability after decades of military coups and changes of government, and he was reelected with a four-party coalition government in 1983.

Further, the Thai economy has been in relatively good shape compared to other nations in the region. It registered a real growth rate of 5.5% last year, with a rate of about 4% expected this year.