The Songsuradet rebellion also known as the Rebellion of 18 corpses was an important Thai historical event in 1939. Phraya Songsuradet did not instigate the rebellion or coup, yet it was named after him. The coup was carried out by Plaek Phibunsongkhram or "Phibun" on 29 January 1939 to purgethe country of his political enemies and former rivals, one of whom happened to be Songsuradet.
In 1938, Songsuradet, by then having retired from politics for five years was commander of the military school in Chiang Mai. On 16 December he was commanding a military exercise by his students in Ratchaburi Province, west of the capital. On that date he received orders from Bangkok stripping him of his command of all units as well as his rank and titles and forcing him to retire from the army without pension. He was also expelled from the country. Fearing death, Songsuradet complied, and with his aide-de-camp, Captain Samruad Kanjonsit, he escaped to Cambodia. The "rebellion", however, did not end there. In the early hours of 29 January 1939 Phibun, with the help of his minister of the interior and director of the Royal Thai Police, ordered the arrest of a further 51 suspects. The persons arrested included inter aliaPrince Rangsit, Prince of Chainat , General Phraya Thepahatsadin , and Phraya Udom Pongphensawad, a former minister of state. Others arrested included politicians such as members of the People's Assembly and many were military officers and aristocrats. A further 20 suspects were arrested by the end of the day, including one of Phibun's servants. A special tribunal was created by Phibun to try those purportedly involved in the so-called "rebellion" and the assassination attempts on Phibun. Seven were released for lack of evidence, 25 were imprisoned for life, and 21 were to be executed by firing squad. However, three were pardoned due to their honorable records and services to the nation. The three included Prince Rangsit and Phraya Thepahatsadin, who were instead imprisoned for life. The other 18, however did not share that fate. They were incarcerated at Bang Kwang Central Prison. Eventually they were executed by firing squad in installments of four prisoners a day.
Aftermath
Songsuradet, having escaped to Cambodia, lived the rest of his life in abject poverty, making a living by selling confectionery in the streets of Phnom Penh. He died in 1944. Many of the other suspects who were imprisoned by Phibun were eventually pardoned by Khuang Abhaiwongse when he became prime minister in 1944. The rebellion was in effect Phibun's own version of the Night of the Long Knives. By 1938 he had consolidated his power to such an extent that he had become virtual dictator of the country, changing its name from "Siam" to "Thailand" in June 1938. He was able to accomplish this using brutal tactics and the absence of any credible opposition. Prajadhipok had by then been succeeded to the throne by Ananda Mahidol, who was only 13 years old and studying in Switzerland. The tribunal which Phibun had set up to try the suspects was packed with judges appointed by him and his government. There were no lawyers present and no witnesses were called. Historians agree today that the men executed were mostly innocent and were not a part of a plot to kill Phibun or overthrow his government. Phibun was eventually removed in 1944. Four years later he returned and served as prime minister from 1948–1957. He died in 1964.
