1965, Jan 1 - The Communist Party of Thailand declares the formation of the People’s Liberation Army, its military arm. Likewise two front organizations are put up namely the Thai Independence Movement and the Thai Patriotic Front.
1965, Aug 5 - The first Communist Party of Thailand’s armed attack on Thai authorities takes place near Nakhon Phanom in the northeast where a jeep load of police is ambushed.
1965, Aug 7 - A communist offensive begins at Phupon Range in northeastern Thailand and spreads in all directions.
1965 - Thailand becomes directly involved in the wars in Indochina as it begins sending combat units to South Vietnam amounting to 14% of the Royal Thai Army’s total strength. Domestically the government launches a nationwide Communism Prevention Program which forces hundreds of communist terrorists to flee into the forests. Encounters between Thai government forces and the troops of the Communist Party of Malaysia begin in the southern provinces.
1965, Nov - In the Daendin district of Sakhon Nakhon in northeastern Thailand, the army holds a Communism Suppression Campaign during which tanks, aircraft and artillery fire vaguely in the direction of communist bases. Later, the army turns savagely on the inhabitants of Ban Bor Kae Noi district.
1966 - A radio broadcast from China called the Voice of the People of Thailand begins airing to Thailand. At Mt Hin Lat Thap Fa in Udon Thani province in northeastern Thailand, Suivit Niemshi a.k.a. Sahai Yudh forms an impregnable camp as a staging point for a planned communist advance to Bangkok. It is called Base Asia; a communist government is established there.
1967 - Leaders of the ASEAN countries, including those of new members like Singapore and Indonesia, sign the Bangkok Declaration. Member countries bind themselves to help each other to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development through joint endeavors in a spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of southeast Asian nations.
1967, Nov - The Red Meo War takes place in which tribe people of the north fight against the central government for trying to evacuate them.
1968-1975 - Effects of the Vietnam War are felt in Thailand in nearly every aspect of life. Construction of hotels, bars and massage parlors picks up as there is a lot of requests for such facilities from US military personnel engaged in the Vietnam War and in Thailand for R & R (rest and recreation).
1971 - Thai communists adopt a program to create combat villages that will provide protection to "liberated" areas.
1971, Oct - Students first show signs of becoming a politically active group when they hold their first major demonstrations.
1968, Jun 20 - A new constitution is promulgated, creating a bicameral parliament consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
1968, Jul 26 - A 5-man group of communist guerillas under Sahai Yudh enters the Royal Thai Air Force Base at Udon Thani and destroys aircraft used against targets in Vietnam. One Thai security guard is killed.
1969, Feb 10 - A general election is held.
1969, Mar 7 - Thanom Kittikachorn is elected by Parliament and becomes prime minister of Thailand for the 3rd time.
1969 - The National Student Center of Thailand, an organization of student activists, is formed while communists recruit village soldiers.
1971, Nov 17 - Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn stages a bloodless coup d’etat against his own government. He takes complete dictatorial control of the kingdom, abrogates the constitution, dissolves the parliament, disbands the cabinet and proclaims martial law. Cited reasons are the alleged non-effectivness of the constitution, non-cooperation of political parties, and terrorism in the north. The Revolutionary Party, controlled by Thanom, backs his dictatorial government. A 5 member National Executive Council is formed, chaired by Thanom. Among the other members are former prime minister Pote Sarasin and Field Marshall Prapass Charusathiara.
1972 - The communist insurgency swells in the northern provinces. Communist guerillas go as far as using helicopters to attack Thai military positions. Laotian guerrillas are believed to take part in offensive actions of the Communist Party of Thailand in Nan Province.
