The Roles of Propaganda Organizations in Thailand(02)

The Roles of Propaganda Organizations in Thailand(02)

Prime Minister Phibunsonggram took an active role in directing it. Sometimes he initiated the subjects of conversation. This program went on the air almost every night. Most of the stories were about the glories of the ancient Thai Kingdom, the justice of the Thai territorial claims, and the cruelty of French imperialism in forcing them to cede territories. The last point in particular was repeatedly emphasized.

Thai Premire Phibunsonggram

Sang Phatthanothai had disclosed, in his memoirs, that no sooner was this point emphasizes than day after day huge demonstrations of people and students in front of the Department of Publicity.

They began fist among students from Chulalongkorn University, led by male students in Yuvachon Movement uniforms. They moved from street to street marching towards the Ministry of Defense, carrying banners shouting and singing patriotic songs and slogans.

They urged their Government to stop negotiating with the French and to turn to military means. Students from Thammasat University, were forbidden at first by their Rector(Pridi Banomyong) to join the demonstrations, but later joined in with students friends from Chulalongkorn University.

People both in Bangkok and the provinces followed suit. Public donations were received for the national cause, while Thai able-men volunteered for military service.

Having succeeded in generating a nationalist campaign, the propaganda organizers began to concentrate on three other objects; first, to eliminate any fear of white foreigners among the Thais and the indigenous people of Indo-China; secondly, to attack the oppressive methods of rule of the Government of French Indo-China and to stir up its inhabitants to revolt against it; and thirdly, to invite the Indo-Chinese of T’ai race to cross the border to Thailand where they would be welcomed as brothers.