26 March 1977

Leader of abortive military putsch, Gen Chalard, executed

The government thwarted a coup led by Gen Chalard Hiranyasiri after the general and about 300 rebel soldiers from the 9th Army Division seized the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) building, the Radio Thailand station and three small military installations in Bangkok.

Led by Chalard, who was reportedly dressed in monk’s robes, the 300 soldiers seized the Suan Ruen ISOC headquarters at 5.50am. Chalard had ordained as a monk after being ejected from the military following an abortive coup in 1976. Maj Gen Aroon Thawathasin, commander of the First Army Region, was shot dead when he refused to surrender. Once inside Suan Ruen, Chalard’s self-titled Revolutionary Council broadcast its first announcement at 9.25am ordering all battalion and division commanders around the country to join the rebellion.

Meanwhile, top brass from loyal government troops, led by Defence Minister Adm Sangad Chaloryoo, broadcast from military-owned television Channel 5, cautioning the public not to heed the rebel radio broadcast. After assuring the public that the government had not been toppled, Sangad and his troops surrounded Suan Ruen with tanks and footsoldiers and the rebel troops surrendered at 5.30pm.

Chalard and four other conspirators tried to escape that evening to Taiwan on a scheduled flight to Taipei. The China Airlines pilots refused to fly, and they were arrested around 9.30pm. On April 21, Chalard was executed by firing squad for staging the revolt and for killing Aroon.

26 March 1977

Leader of abortive military putsch, Gen Chalard, executed

The government thwarted a coup led by Gen Chalard Hiranyasiri after the general and about 300 rebel soldiers from the 9th Army Division seized the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) building, the Radio Thailand station and three small military installations in Bangkok.

Led by Chalard, who was reportedly dressed in monk’s robes, the 300 soldiers seized the Suan Ruen ISOC headquarters at 5.50am. Chalard had ordained as a monk after being ejected from the military following an abortive coup in 1976. Maj Gen Aroon Thawathasin, commander of the First Army Region, was shot dead when he refused to surrender. Once inside Suan Ruen, Chalard’s self-titled Revolutionary Council broadcast its first announcement at 9.25am ordering all battalion and division commanders around the country to join the rebellion.

Meanwhile, top brass from loyal government troops, led by Defence Minister Adm Sangad Chaloryoo, broadcast from military-owned television Channel 5, cautioning the public not to heed the rebel radio broadcast. After assuring the public that the government had not been toppled, Sangad and his troops surrounded Suan Ruen with tanks and footsoldiers and the rebel troops surrendered at 5.30pm.

Chalard and four other conspirators tried to escape that evening to Taiwan on a scheduled flight to Taipei. The China Airlines pilots refused to fly, and they were arrested around 9.30pm. On April 21, Chalard was executed by firing squad for staging the revolt and for killing Aroon.