When Thailand held its general elections last February, slippery little Field Marshal Pibulsonggram was firmly in power. So many Thais turned out to vote against him that Pibul found it necessary to call out the army, declare martial law, and send his air force swooping over Bangkok's glittering temple spires to make it perfectly clear that he intended to stay in power. But last September, Army Chief Marshal Sarit Thanarat staged a bloodless coup, ousted Old Comrade Pibul, and ordered new elections.
With Pibul ensconced in sybaritic exile in Japan, there were few real differences between the major political parties....
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
