Pibul Songgram

Thai soldier and politician. Travelled to France in 1924 as a Ministry of Defense student. In 1932, as an army major, he participated in the constitutional revolution to overthrow the absolute monarchy. In 1934, he became Minister of Defense, and fought against the civilian faction led by his rival Pridi. In 1938, he formed the First Phibun Cabinet, and changed the country's name from Siam to Thailand. In 1942 (Showa 17), he concluded a defense alliance with Japan, but was ousted in 1944 as the war situation worsened. In 1945, he was arrested as a war criminal, but was released in 1946. In 1947, he succeeded in a coup to overthrow the Pridi faction, and became Prime Minister in 1948. He sought to strengthen his position by adopting an anti-communist, pro-American stance, and was also instrumental in the establishment of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954. He was ousted in a coup d'état led by Marshal Sarit in 1957, and died in exile in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1964 (Showa 39).

[Yoneji Kuroyanagi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

タイの軍人、政治家。1924年国防省留学生として渡仏。1932年陸軍少佐として絶対王制打倒の立憲革命に参加した。1934年国防相に就任、好敵手プリディの率いる文民派と抗争。1938年第一次ピブン内閣を組閣、国名をシャムからタイと改めた。1942年（昭和17）日本と防衛同盟を締結、戦況悪化に伴い1944年失脚。1945年戦犯として逮捕されるが1946年釈放され、1947年プリディ派打倒のクーデターに成功、1948年首相に就任。反共親米路線によって地位強化を図り、1954年には東南アジア条約機構（SEATO(シアトー)）発足にも尽力。1957年サリット元帥によるクーデターで失脚、1964年（昭和39）亡命先の神奈川県で客死した。

［黒柳米司］

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