31 May 1961

Ringleaders of ‘communist plot’ executed Convicted plotters taken by police to their home village in Sakon Nakhon to be shot

Two leaders of an alleged communist plot to take over northeast Thailand were brought to their home village and executed by firing squad on personal orders from Premier Sarit Thanarat.

Krong Chundawongs and Thongpan Suthimas, of Sawang Daen Din district, were shot after a five-month investigation into a reported plot linked to the communist Pathet Lao organisation to prime the northeast for an uprising.

Krong, a peasant turned teacher, had gained a large following for his ideas on self-reliance. Police claimed villagers had been assigned to spread propaganda, create social disorder and receive guerrilla warfare training.

The executions followed an announcement on May 13 that a clandestine Krabuankarn Samakhitharn (Harmony-in-the-Doctrine movement) Party had been set up and that 150 people, including Krong and Thongpan, would be arrested for their involvement in the alleged plot to effect secession of the northeast.

Later, Prime Minister Sarit said suspected propagandist Boonrawd Sukcharoen had accused former Prime Minister Pridi Banomyong of being ‘the real plotter’ from exile in China. Another suspected separatist reportedly divulged details of helicopter transfers to meetings in Laos with Pathet Lao leader Prince Souphanouvong. In December, police began a mass roundup of suspects across the northeast. Sarit later said suspected leaders should be shot, although he admitted he could be accused of being ‘too harsh’.

31 May 1961

Ringleaders of ‘communist plot’ executed Convicted plotters taken by police to their home village in Sakon Nakhon to be shot

Two leaders of an alleged communist plot to take over northeast Thailand were brought to their home village and executed by firing squad on personal orders from Premier Sarit Thanarat.

Krong Chundawongs and Thongpan Suthimas, of Sawang Daen Din district, were shot after a five-month investigation into a reported plot linked to the communist Pathet Lao organisation to prime the northeast for an uprising.

Krong, a peasant turned teacher, had gained a large following for his ideas on self-reliance. Police claimed villagers had been assigned to spread propaganda, create social disorder and receive guerrilla warfare training.

The executions followed an announcement on May 13 that a clandestine Krabuankarn Samakhitharn (Harmony-in-the-Doctrine movement) Party had been set up and that 150 people, including Krong and Thongpan, would be arrested for their involvement in the alleged plot to effect secession of the northeast.

Later, Prime Minister Sarit said suspected propagandist Boonrawd Sukcharoen had accused former Prime Minister Pridi Banomyong of being ‘the real plotter’ from exile in China. Another suspected separatist reportedly divulged details of helicopter transfers to meetings in Laos with Pathet Lao leader Prince Souphanouvong. In December, police began a mass roundup of suspects across the northeast. Sarit later said suspected leaders should be shot, although he admitted he could be accused of being ‘too harsh’.