KING OF SIAM ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED

Chronicle (Levin), 17 November 1947, Page 5

KING OF SIAM ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED

e Received Sundav, 9.50 p.m. BANGKOK, Nov. 15. , The late King Ananda Alahidoi oi | Siam who died mysteriously on June b, j J94(i, was assassinated, an officiai spokesman announced today. General Pin Chun Hawan, deputy supreme commander, coniirmed longstanding rumours that the King was slain. He was founa dead in hi's bedchamber with a pistoi on the floor. Chun Hawan said new evidence had been found which might iead to a solution of the King's death. A inedieal committee of British, American and Siamese doctors reported that the possibility of accidental death eould be ruled out. A number of suspects was nrrested and tiiere was adequate evidence against them. He revealed that Ihe coup d'etat last Sunday fore'stalled a revolution planned for November ;ju aimed at the setting up of a republie. rMotters in Bangkok and Northeast Siam j)lanned to use the weapons of the ''Free Tliai " movement for the revoiution. Thev allegedlv planned to pre vent Kiv Phumiphon's return to Siam irom Svvitzerland. Arrests are bemg carried out throughout the country but 110 military personnel are involved, According to authoritative sources Nai Ciiit, an ex-attendant of the Royal Bedchamber, has been held for questioning regarding the alleged assassination of King Ananda ,Mahidol on June 9, 1946. Thev are seeking another royal attendant, Nai Busya, and the royal religious tutor, Nai" Wong Chawanakrawi.