Thailand’s proposals for Regional Organization

Thailand’s proposals for Regional Organization

Tiang Sirikhan(in the middle)

former leading member of the Free Thai underground movement in the Northeast

and former Deputy Minister of the Interior,

was named the President of the South-East Asia League

Dislike and even hatred of the French revived considerably after Thailand’s permanent loss of the disputed territories in Indo-China. Accordingly Thailand took as strong a stance against the French as ever. This was illustrated by efforts to assist the nationalist forces in an attempt to throw off the French yoke. Thailand’s official policy was declared during the country’s participating in debate in the United Nations General Assembly in September 1947. On that occasion, Arthakitti Banomyong, then Foreign Minister, indicated the general nature of Thai foreign policy. He declared:

…The Siamese people call themselves “Thai” or “free people”, but, as true lovers of freedom, they not only like to enjoy freedom themselves, but they like to see other people enjoy freedom as well…They therefore whole-heartedly support the principle of self-determination of peoples embodied in the Charter of the United Nations…

Thailand put its declared policy into practice as well. Thanat Komand, then Thai Charge d’Affairs in Delhi, made it clear to both Viet Minh and Indonesian representatives that Thailand’s policy was to support its neighboring countries to gain independence. This was because, Thanat further stated, The Thai people were true lovers of independence above anything else. But, as Thailand appreciated its position as a small country, it therefore could not give more than pure and fair sympathy to the independence movements.

In the meantime, Tiang Sirikhan, who was most dissatisfied with the recommendations of the Franco-Thai conciliation commission, gave a series of public lectures in the northeastern province of Sakon Nakhon indicating that so long as France refused to give back the disputed provinces, other ways would be found to dispossess it and he advocated separate states for the Laotians, in the north, and the Cambodians in the south of Indo-China.

At this juncture, Thais in conjunction with the Indo-Chinese nationalists put forward a proposal for a “South-East Asia League.” This League was formed in Bangkok on September 8, 1947. The inaugural meeting was attended by Thais, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Indonesians, and Malayans. Seat were reserved for Pilipino and Burmese representatives and the hope was expressed that these two countries would be represented at the next meeting. A manifesto was proclaimed suggesting that South-East Asia, rich in natural resources, was capable of making a substantial contribution to world needs, and, because of its total population of 145 million inhabitants and its total land area of 4’300,000 square kilometers, should be regarded as a vital factor in the maintenance of global peace and prosperity. The manifesto, moreover, stressed the growing awareness among the peoples of Southeast Asia of the passing of the period of colonialism, adding that “only upon a spirit of freedom and unity among neighboring countries will world peace find a firm foundation.” Saying that there was an increasing sentiment among countries in South-East Asia to join in an effort towards a regional development of common interests, the manifesto further stated that such a combination of efforts would be in keeping with the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations which says, “the earth who yearn for peace must be organized to maintained that peace.”

A draft constitution of the League was adopted at the meeting. According to the Constitution of the League, the projected South-East Asia Federation, would be dedicated to ideals including equal responsibility of the federated nations in ensuring world peace, social and economic progress and the general betterment of living conditions, and the creation of new society in which every human being had the inalienable right to enjoy all individual liberties consistent with the good of society and each human being would do his or her part in respect the rights and privileges of others. In the projected Federation, however, “their own national development shall not be made at the expense of any other nation or group of nations.” This meant that the nations which would be formed into the Federation would still maintain their sovereignty and independence.

The coup d’etat in Thailand on November 8, 1947 ,however,  made it impossible for the League to carry on in Bangkok. The Burmese Government then invited it to Rangoon.

The military clique was very interested in projects, such as the South-East Asia Leauge, having a wide scope and a bearing on the future of Thailand.

Initially, the eclipse of Tiang Sirikhan, the Thai Present of the League, from the coup d’etat of November 1947, gave the military clique sufficient grounds for believing that the movement had been halted for the time being Pridi and all his followers in the wartime Free Thai underground movement were charged with having conspired to subordinate Thai national identity within a Communist-dominated South-East Asia League.

In June 1948 Tiang Sirikhan and other Free Thais in the North-east and the North were arrested on a charge of being involved in a separatist movement. Houses of other Freee Thais such as Thong-in Phuriphat and Thong Kanthatham were searched and the stocked of weapons to be supplied to Indo-China were seized.