Historian Charnvit Kasetsiri writes about 16 Aug 1945, a very important date which should be remembered and commemorated.  However, it has been ‘made to be forgotten’, non-existent in official history textbooks of the Ministry of Education.

64 years ago, Charnvit writes, on 16 Aug 1945, Pridi Banomyong, as leader of the Free Thai Movement and Regent for King Ananda, issued a ‘peace declaration’ which said that the Thai government’s declaration of war on 25 Jan 1942 against Britain and the USA was against the will of the Thai people, and unconstitutional.

The Regent therefore annulled the declaration of war.

Charnvit reminds readers that during World War II Thailand was invaded by Japan on 8 Dec 1941.  The government of Field Marshal Pibun Songkhram quickly surrendered and agreed to ally itself with Japan.  Pibun and the Japanese Ambassador signed an agreement on 20 Dec at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

And on 25 Jan 1942, the Thai Government declared war on Britain and the USA, claiming that the British and the Americans had invaded Thailand by sending troops and airplanes across the Thai border to bomb and shoot at the unarmed Thai people.  The Pibun Government described the alleged acts of both countries as ‘brutal, uncivilized, not in an open manner as should be practised between countries, and in violation of international law and humanity’.

The USA did not declare war against Thailand, but Britain did on 6 Feb, along with countries in the Commonwealth: South Africa on 11 Feb, Australia on 2 Mar, and New Zealand on 16 Mar.

On 6 May 1945, Germany surrendered to the Allies.  The atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 Aug respectively.  And the Japanese Emperor declared a  surrender on 14 Aug.

With Japan’s surrender, the Free Thai Movement aborted its plan to rise up against the Japanese troops on VJ-Day (Victory over Japan).

The Peace Declaration on 16 Aug 1945 helped rescue Thailand, allowing the post-war Thai government to negotiate with the Allies to prevent Thailand from punishment as a defeated country in the war, Charnvit says.

And under post-war governments and Pridi’s leadership, Thailand quite quickly became a member of the newly established United Nations Organization on 15 Dec 1946.

So why has the important history of 16 Aug 1945 been ‘made to be forgotten’?

Charnvit says that it is the result of Thai politics in the post-war period during which an unexpected incident happened.

King Ananda died from a gunshot on 9 June 1946.

The mysterious death was used as a political tool in an attempt to overthrow the government, resulting in a coup on 8 Nov 1947, which ushered in a long period of dictatorship, and some of its anti-democratic legacy is present even until today.

As a consequence, the historic 16 Aug 1945 has been made to be forgotten.

Charnvit has sampled three historical textbooks for Grade 5 students printed by three publishing houses: the Institute of Academic Development (PW), Watthana Panich (WPP), and Aksorn Charoen Tat (ACT).

The textbooks of these three publishers are licensed by the Ministry of Education in accordance with the Fundamental Education Curriculum of 2001.

The PW book has 134 pages in its second edition in 2009 with 5,000 copies, written by Asst Prof Phlabpleung, read by Dr Krang Phraiwan, Sompong and Sayun Palasun, edited by Prof Chatthip Nathsupha, and licensed by the Secretary-General of the Fundamental Education Board Khunying Kasama Worawan Na Ayutthaya acting on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education. 

The WPP book has 208 pages in its first edition in 2004, written by Assoc Prof Thaweesak Lomlim and Prathum Kumar, read by Thanalai Limparattanakhiri, Janyaporn Cherdphut, Suthep Jitchuen, edited by Sura Damapong, Somporn Onnom, Suchada Yahatta, Kornnarong Rianrawee, and licensed by the Secretary-General of the Fundamental Education Board Pornnipha Limpapayom.

The ACT book has 215 pages in its tenth edition in 2008, written by Assoc Prof Narong Puangpit, Assoc Prof Wuthichai Mulsilp, Asst Prof Dr Chakrit Chumwatthana, Prof Sanchai Suwangbut and Assoc Prof Ananchai Laohaphan, edited by Ekarin Seemahasan and Somkiat Phurahong, and licensed by Pornnipha Limpapayom.

According to Charnvit, the PW book has no contents on the second World War, the 16 Aug 1945 and the Free Thai Movement.

Chapter 7 of the WPP book deals with the first and second World Wars in 24 pages where the last topic ‘Thailand and World War II’ (p.201 – 203) mentions the need to declare war on 25 Jan 1942 but fails to cover the 16 Aug 1945 Peace Declaration, just saying briefly that ‘Thailand claimed that the declaration of war was ineffective.’

This book, however, casually mentions the Free Thai Movement in one line.

The ACT book’s last chapter (p.200 – 210) is devoted to the first and second World Wars, but surprisingly does not mention Thailand in the context of the second World War; hence, nothing about 16 Aug 1945 or the Free Thai Movement.

Charnvit also finds that the PW book has a final chapter on ‘Biographies and Achievements of Important Persons’ including the Queen Mother, Phraya Rassadanupradit, Chao Phraya Thammasakmontri, Phraya Anuman Rajjathon, Dr Khun Banjob Phanthumetha and Phraya Kanlayanamaitri (Dr Francis B. Sayre).

He notes that the list does not include important persons who were commoners such as Pridi Banomyong, despite the fact that Pridi was acclaimed a historic world personality by UNESCO in 2000, a year ahead of the Ministry of Education’s 2001 curriculum. 

Charnvit says that the teaching of history in schools needs to be revolutionized and democratized.

He says we should stop complaining and blaming students and young people for not being interested in history and being ignorant of their roots.

They are taught and forced to remember what they should not remember, and to forget what they should not forget.  

We can only blame ourselves, he says.