Nawaphon

Nawaphon ( Thai ขบวนการ นว พล, RTGS: . Khabuan Kan Nawaphon, can be translated both as " New Power " or "Power of Nine " (an allusion to King Rama IX) ) was a right-wing patriotic Buddhist movement, which during the mid- 1970s was active in Thailand. Nawaphon was actively directed against parliamentary democracy, which could achieve a breakthrough after the popular uprising in 1973.

Foundation

Nawaphon in 1974 initiated by Wattana Kiewvimol after he became head of the Thai student organization had returned to the U.S. and from Seton Hall University to Thailand before. The foundation was supported by the Command Operations of the Internal Security (ISOC ) of the Thai Armed Forces and the Ministry of Interior.

History

Nawaphon moved with the help of concealed support of the military at many supporters who responded to the call for support of nation, religion and monarchy, which they saw threatened by leftist groups. The group was said to have relations with rich businessmen, politicians, the National Security Council and the Thai military intelligence. Among its supporters mostly traders, businessmen and monks, democracy and social change were rejected because they feared for their privileges. The organization was close to the famous monk Bhikkhu Kittiwuttho from which the infamous saying comes that it is no sin to kill communists. At the height of their popularity, the movement had 500,000 members.

The mitausgelöste by the agitation of the Nawaphon mood led between 4 and 6 October In 1976 the massacre of 46 people, mostly students of Thammasat University on the Bangkok campus and the Sanam Luang. Then the military took over after a coup government of the country. The judge Tanin Kraivixien, a member of Nawaphon, was used as the prime minister. After the restoration of the influence of the military Nawaphon became more and more viewed as a vehicle that the personal ambitions of individual senior officers served, and took off in influence.