Khana Kammakarn Klang Kalahom: The Control of Armed Forces Power by Khana Ratsadon after the Siamese Revolution, 1932-1934

Abstract

The control of armed forces power was an important and urgent mission of the Khana Ratsadon (People's Party) after the Siamese Revolution of 1932. This was because the armed forces was the only factor that could guarantee the survival of both the Khana Ratsadon and the newly established regime. However, with the status of Khana Ratsadon’s military leaders being of Colonel rank, and thus a middle-class officer in the army, they were unable to be appointed as high-level commanders according to the traditional armed forces structure. The Khana Ratsadon, therefore, focused on improving the armed forces in terms of structure and chain of command. The resultant change in structure of the armed forces major power reduced the power of the Ministry of Defense, and set up the "Khana Kammakarn Klang Kalahom" as the highest-level authority in important administrative matters related to the armed forces. This caused the Khana Kammakarn Klang Kalahom to be an important instrument for Khana Ratsadon’s absolute control of the armed forces power, because most Khana Kammakarn Klang Kalahom members were leaders of the Khana Ratsadon. It also gave absolute power to the administration of the most important government branch of the armed forces, giving them power over the armed force’s structure and organization, officer promotions, military budgets, and weapons procurement. The government or parliament at the time, meanwhile, could not intervene because of the absolute power of Khana Kammakarn Klang Kalahom in the armed forces.