40 Charged by Thailand in Aborted Coup

Sedition and rebellion charges were filed Friday against 40 military men and civilians accused of participating in an abortive coup on Sept. 9.

Those charged with attempting to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda include retired Gen. Kriangsak Chomanan, Thai prime minister from 1977 to 1980. Other prominent defendants are former generals Serm Na Nakhon and Yos Thephasdin and Air Chief Marshal Arun Promthep, deputy commander of the armed forces at the time of the coup attempt. Twenty-seven active-duty officers are among the suspects.

Sutha Komastitya of the Public Prosecution Department said the government will oppose bail requests brought before the criminal court. The trial, set for Dec. 4, could last as long as a year, one prosecutor said.

Since the police investigation began immediately after the coup attempt, rumors of higher involvement have run though the city. But almost all the defendants named Friday were arrested early in the investigation. There was no indication that other officers would be brought to trial.

May Face Death Penalty

The charges were brought under three sections of the penal code, including one that provides the death penalty for persons convicted of using or threatening to use violence to seize power. Five people were killed--including two newsmen for the National Broadcasting Co.--and nearly 60 were wounded in an outbreak of fighting between rebel and loyalist forces. The coup was put down in less than 10 hours.

Warrants have been issued for two alleged ringleaders, former Col. Manoon Roopkachorn and his brother, Wing Commander Manas Roopkachorn.

Both fled Bangkok the day of the attempted coup. Manas reportedly reached Burma. Manoon, fired from the Thai military for his part in a failed coup in 1981, is in West Germany. He was denied asylum in the United States.

Three weeks ago, the army issued a white paper designed to counter unsigned leaflets alleging that its commander, Gen. Arthit Kamlang-ek, played a role in the coup attempt. Arthit was in Stockholm when the rebels struck. The document lists actions that Arthit, who is also armed forces commander, reportedly took to counter the coup.

“A group with bad intentions spread rumors and leaflets attacking some unmasked general who might have been behind the scene and masterminded the coup attempt,” the document said. “The purpose of publishing this white paper is to . . . correct the facts.”