September 9, 1985: Coup Attempt to Oust Prem Fails

Colonel Manoon Roopkhachorn

Manoon decides to launch the operation before sunrise when his troops run more than 20 tanks into the streets of Bangkok around 3 am. Key military and government offices are seized within an hour by about 400 soldiers. They include the Supreme Command Headquarters, the Public Relations Department and the Mass Communications of Thailand.

Deputy Army chief Gen Thienchai Sirisamphan, in charge of Arthit's commands, responds by giving Manoon an ultimatum to surrender without a condition.

At 9.50 am, tanks of the rebel group which are around the Royal Plaza began firing at a nearby radio station, which is still under the government's control. Two foreign reporters - one American and one Australian - which are covering the coup attempt die in the incident. Both sides have gunfire exchanges until 3 pm before a negotiation begins.

At 5.30 pm, all troops and tanks return to their camps. The coup attempt by Manoon and other key players fail.

Prem urgently flies back to Thailand during the night to meet His Majesty the King at a royal palace in southernmost province of Nawathiwat.

Manoon flees to live in exile in Singapore and then West Germany. A group of his aides are charged for attempting to overthrow the government.Manoon later received a royal pardon and returned to Thailand.

He changed his name to Manoonkrit. In 2000, he wins an Upper House seat of Bangkok and served the post until his six-year term end in mid-2006.