Prem Tinsulanonda
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| Prem Tinsulanonda เปรม ติณสูลานนท์ |
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| In office March 3, 1980 – August 4, 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Kriangsak Chomanan |
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| Succeeded by | Chatichai Choonhavan |
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| Born | August 26, 1920 Songkhla Province, Thailand |
General Prem Tinsulanonda (Thai: เปรม ติณสูลานนท์, born August 26, 1920) is a former Thai military officer and was Prime Minister of Thailand from March 3, 1980 to Aug 4, 1988. He now serves as the chief advisor of the king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej. He played a key role in the 2006 Thailand coup as well as the appointment of the post-coup Parliament and Interim Government of Surayud Chulanont.
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[edit] Education, military, and political career
Born in Songkhla Province, he attended the Maha-Vajiravut Secondary School in Songkhla, and the Suankularb Wittayalai School in Bangkok. In 1941 he joined the Royal Thai Army Academy (later renamed the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy), and after rising in the military hierarchy he joined politics in 1959, when he became member of the Constitution Drafting Committee.In 1968-71 he was Senator, 1972-73 Member of Parliament and in 1976 he became member of the Advisory Council of Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien. Under Prime Minister Kriangsak Chomanan he was deputy Interior Minister in 1977-78 and Minister of Defence 1979-81.
[edit] Prime Minister of Thailand
After the resignation of General Kriangsak, Prem became Prime Minister himself in 1980. Until 1986, he was also Minister of Defence. Prem led three governments, and often shifted coalition partners.[1]
- 42nd Government (March 12 1980 - March 19 1983)
- 1st Cabinet (3 March 1980 - 11 March 1981)
- Coalition partners: Social Action Party, Chart Thai, Democrat, Chart Prachachon and Siam Democrat
- Major opposition: Prachakorn Thai
- 2nd Prem Cabinet (11 Mar 1981- 8 Dec 1981)
- Coalition Partners: Democrat, Chart Thai and a number of smaller parties including Siam Democrat, Ruam Thai and Social Democrat
- Major oppposition: Social Action and Prachakorn Thai
- 3rd Prem Cabinet (9 Dec 1981-30 Apr 1983)
- Coalition Partners: Social Acion, Democrat, Chart thai and a number of smaller parties
- Major opposition: Prachkorn Thai
- 1st Cabinet (3 March 1980 - 11 March 1981)
- 43rd Government (April 30 1983 - August 5 1986)
- 4th Prem Cabinet (30 Apr 1983-11 Aug 1986)
- Colatition partners: Social Action, Democrat, Prachakorn Thai and National Democrat (replaced by the Progressive party in Sep 1985)
- Major opposition: Chart Thai
- 4th Prem Cabinet (30 Apr 1983-11 Aug 1986)
- 44th Government (August 5 1986 - April 28 1988)
- 5th Prem Cabinet (11 August, 1986-28 April, 1988)
- Coalition partners: Democrat, Chart Thai, Social Action, Rasadorn
- Major opposition: Prachakorn Thai, United Democratic, Ruam Thai, Community Action, Progressive
- 5th Prem Cabinet (11 August, 1986-28 April, 1988)
[edit] Privy Councilor
After political unrest Prem dismissed the parliament in 1988 and resigned. He left politics, and became member of the Privy Council, in which he became the successor of Sanya Dharmasakti. Some analysts believe that Prem is still one of the most important people in Thai politics due to his influence with the king.
[edit] Role in political crisis and 2006 coup
Prem was involved in the Thailand political crisis 2005-2006 and played a key role in the subsequent September 2006 military coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Prem also played a key role in the appointment of Surayud Chulanont, his former Army subordinate and another member of the King's Privy Council, as Premier, as well as in the appointment of Surayud's Cabinet and Parliament. Critics claimed that the Parliament was full of "Prem's boys."[2][3][4]
Prem's role in the coup and the subsequent junta was harshly criticized. Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University noted that "General Prem has been compromised. He can’t have it both ways. He got so involved [in politics] and now he wants to be untouchable. But we are in a big mess and people want to know who is responsible... It’s dangerous for some anti-Thaksin people and pro-Prem people to be brushing aside criticism by saying if you criticize General Prem, you are paid by Thaksin. It’s very dangerous. People are frustrated, and they have the right to be mad at the master."[5]
[edit] March 2006 bombing
On 9 March 2006, a bomb exploded outside Prem's residence in Bangkok. Two people were injured, including a passing tourist. Police said that the device had been hidden beneath a stone bench near to an unoccupied security booth at the entrance of the residence. The guards were inside the residence at the time. Three cars parked nearby were damaged by the blast. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra denounced the attack.[6][7]
[edit] References
- ^ Suchit Bunbongkarn, "The Military in Thai Politics, 1981-1986", published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1987.
- ^ The Australian, Thailand's post-coup cabinet unveiled, 9 October 2006
- ^ The Nation, NLA 'doesn' t represent' all of the people, 14 October 2006
- ^ The Nation, Assembly will not play a major role, 14 October 2006
- ^ Asia Sentinel, Could Thailand be Getting Ready to Repeat History?, 2 April 2007
- ^ The Telegraph, British tourist injured in Bangkok bomb blast, 10 March 2006
- ^ Times Online, Thailand tourist alert after Bangkok bomb, 9 March 2006
[edit] External links
- General Prem Tinsulanonda Home Page
- Prem Center for International Education
- News article about his recent activity
| Preceded by Kriangsak Chomanan |
Prime Minister of Thailand 1980–1988 |
Succeeded by Chatichai Choonhavan |
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