Is the reformist spirit of King Chulalongkorn rising again?
The Thai old guard’s indignation at the temerity of so-called “young blood” Thanathorn Juangroogngruangkit’s announced intention to form a new political party has interesting historical precedents.
“How dare the whippersnapper?” I can hear them muttering in their geriatric fury as they contemplate whether he has “crossed the line” or not.
I have just been rereading parts of “A History of Thailand”, the excellent political, economic, social and cultural history of Thailand by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit (Cambridge University Press, 2005) and came across the following parallels.
In 1868, HM King Chulalongkorn ascended the throne aged 15 years.
He assembled a group of his siblings, of which there were many, together with young members of the great households, including the Bunnag, Saeng Xuto and Amatyakun families.
They called themselves “Young Siam”, defining their antagonists as “Old Siam” and part of the past. They implemented many reforms that put Siam on the road to modern nationhood.
Baker and Phongpaichit state that “One of the first investments made ... was in military power”, and for the first time army officers and soldiers were paid a regular salary.
King Chulalongkorn has gone down in history as “The Great”, but it is a pity that the Army he fostered has seen fit to abuse its power no less than 12 times since 1932 to overthrow democracy.
More speed to Thanathorn. If I were a Thai citizen I would have no hesitation in voting for him.
David Brown
Rayong
