The Research On The Rise And Fall Of The Communist Party Of Thailand

There were two different development directions of the Marxism political parties in Southeast Asia after violent change of Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Because of the reform and opening up policy, some parties such as the Communist Party of Laos and Vietnam had been made new progress. However, because of the factionalism and ideological confusion, the other parties such as the Left of Burma and Malaysia were gradually fade into the history. The latter development direction was practiced by the Communist Party of Thailand(CPT), which was representative in some extent. The CPT selected the Mahachon (the Masses) as weekly publication newspaper of party organs in December1,1942. In1946, the Thai government abrogated the anti-communist law and authorised the CPT to act legally, at the same time, the CPT obtained material and financial support from Communist Parties abroad including the Chinese Communist Party and the Communist Party of Vietnam. Therefore, the CPT continued to grow quickly. The communist movement flourished in Thailand from1960s to1970s, which extended to the mountains and jungles of the northeast, south and northern-of Thailand, even if including some cities, and there were more than ten thousands of people in arm forces of CPT. The CPT gradually split in the late1970s, and the arm forces were severely weakened in the1980s, which had not been recovered until now.Although it had been existed merely for half of a century, the CPT explored constantly and combined the Marxism-Leninism and Maoism with specific practice. Meanwhile, the CPT put the theory of "The countryside encircles the town" and United Front as a guide so as to develop strategies and guidelines including " jungles lead the village","10point policy" and "revised10points" according to national conditions. As a result, the CPT developed quickly and communist movement were steadily advanced in Thailand. However, a large of recruitment joined the CPT, which brought the CPT into the hidden trouble. Eventually, the CPT declined and disappeared for the reason of disorganized movement, ideological confusion, government repression and lack of foreign aid. The lessons and experience on extinction of CPT were democratic political construction in party and inter-party relationship were important, which would promote the people’s democratic. At the same time,the independence of the party should be insisted on and the party should keep pace with the times to make the Marxism localization and modernization.