Translation:Royal Decree Dissolving the House of People's Representatives, 2481 Buddhist Era

by 8th Cabinet of Siam

Seal of the Royal Command

Royal Decree Dissolving the House of People's Representatives,
2481 Buddhist Era.^[1]

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In the name of Somdet Phra Chaoyuhua Ananda Mahidol
the Council of Regency
(according to the Announcement of the President of
the House of People's Representatives dated 4 August 2480 Buddhist Era)^[2]

Aditya Dibabha^[3]
Chaophraya Yommarat^[4]
Gen Chaophraya Phitchayenyothin^[5]

Enacted on the 11th day of September 2481 Buddhist Era
being the 5th year of the present reign

Whereas [Somdet Phra Chaoyuhua]^[6] has contemplated and found it appropriate to dissolve the House of People's Representatives so that inhabitants would be able to elect the 1st Type Members of the House of People's Representatives^[7] anew;

Therefore, by virtue of the power under the stipulations of section 35 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Siam, the Council of Regency, in the name of Somdet Phra Chaoyuhua, orders that the following Royal Decree be enacted:

Section1.This Royal Decree shall be called the "Royal Decree Dissolving the House of People's Representatives, 2481 Buddhist Era".

Section2.This Royal Decree shall become applicable from the day of its publication in the Royal Gazette onwards.

Section3.The House of People's Representatives shall be dissolved in order to enable inhabitants to elect the 1st Type Members of the House of People's Representatives anew. [This election] is scheduled [to be held] within ninety days reckoned from the date this Royal Decree becomes applicable onwards.

Section4.The Minister of Interior shall have the duty to ensure the operation of this Royal Decree.

Countersignatory
Col Phahonphonphayuhasena^[8]
Prime Minister

Notes

1. The year 2481 BE began on 1 April 1938 CE and ended on 31 March 1939 CE. On the date this decree was enacted (11 September), it was 1938 CE. The New Year's Day was later changed to the 1st day of January by an announcement dated 24 December 2483 BE or 1940 CE (Prakat…, 1940, pp. 31–33).
2. On 4 August, the year 2480 BE corresponded to the year 1937 CE.
3. Prince Aditya Dibabha (1900–1946 CE).
4. Chaophraya Yommarat (Pan Sukhum) (1862–1938 CE).
5. General Chaophraya Phitchayenyothin (Um Phitchayenyothin) (1872–1942 CE).
6. No subject is used in the Thai text, but the verb used is one that is preserved for the monarch. Somdet Phra Chaoyuhua was the then title of King Ananda Mahidol, as seen in the rest of this document. According to Samnak-ngan Soemsang Ekkalak Khong Chat (2012, p. 268), it has been convention in Thailand that a monarch not yet formally crowned is titled Somdet Phra Chaoyuhua (Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว; literally, "[His] Divine Majesty the Lord Over [All] Heads"), and once formally crowned, his title becomes Phra Bat Somdet Phra Chaoyuha (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว; literally, "The Divine Feet of [His] Divine Majesty the Lord Over [All] Heads").
7. Members directly elected by citizens, as distinguished from those appointed, who are called 2nd Type Members. See section 10 of the Interim Charter.
8. Colonel Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena (Phot Phahonyothin) (1887–1947 CE).

Bibliography

Original

• "Phra Ratcha Kritsadika Yup Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon Phutthasakkarat Song Phan Si Roi Paetsip Et" [Royal Decree Dissolving the House of People's Representatives, 2481 Buddhist Era]. (1938, 11 September). Ratchakitchanubeksa [Royal Gazette], 55, 405–406. (In Thai).

References

• "Prakat Hai Chai Wan Thi Nueng Makarakhom Pen Wan Khuen Pi Mai" [Announcement Promulgating the Use of the First Day of January as the New Year's Day]. (1940, 24 December). Ratchakitchanubeksa [Royal Gazette], 58, 31–33. (In Thai).
• Samnak-ngan Soemsang Ekkalak Khong Chat [Office for Strengthening the National Identity]. (2012). Rachasap [Royal Words]. (4th ed.). Bangkok: Samnak-ngan Soemsang Ekkalak Khong Chat. ISBN 978-616-235-142-6. (In Thai).