Saprang Kalayanamitr

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Saprang Kalayanamitr
Saprang Kalayanamitr
Assistant Secretary-General of the Council for National Security
Incumbent
Assumed office  19 September 2006
Preceded by	None
Commander of the CNS Special Operations Center
Incumbent
In office since 1 December 2006
Preceded by	None
Assistant Commander of the Royal Thai Army
Incumbent
In office since 1 October 2006
Preceded by	General Pornchai Kranlert
Born	July 8, 1948 (age 58) Lampang, Thailand
Political party	None
Relations	6 Brother and1 sister
Spouse	Viphada
Occupation	Military officer

General Saprang Kalayanamitr (Thai: สพรั่ง กัลยาณมิตร, also known as Poei (Thai:เปย) or Big Poei (Thai:บิ๊กเปย), born 8 July 1948 in Lampang, Thailand) is an officer of the Royal Thai Army, Assistant Secretary-General of the Council for National Security, Commander of the junta's 14,000-man anti-protest force, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Airports of Thailand (AoT), and also Chairman of the Boards of TOT and CAT Telecom, two major Thai state-owned telecommunication companies.

Saprang grew up in a aristocratic military family and graduated from the 7th Class of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS) and the 18th Class of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He served for nearly three decades in the Army cavalry corp, and was promoted to 3rd Army Region Commander in 2005. He was a key leader of the September 2006 coup that overthrew the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.^[1][2]

Saprang is one of the fiercest critics of Thaksin Shinawatra, calling him a "traitor" and claiming that he should be "banished to live forever in the jungle."^[3] Upon appointment to chair Airports of Thailand and TOT, he purged the management and initiated investigations into the overthrown government. As head of CAT Telecom, he was accused of blocking attempts to launch People's Television, a new television station founded by ex-leaders of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party. Saprang is considered one of the top contenders to lead the army and the junta after CNS-leader Sonthi Boonyaratkalin's mandatory retirement in 2007.^[4]

Contents 1 Education and early career 1.1 Education 1.2 Early career 1.3 2006 Coup 2 After the 2006 coup 2.1 CNS Special Operations Center 2.2 TOT and CAT Telecom 2.3 Airports of Thailand 2.3.1 Purging of AoT management 2.3.2 Suvarnabhumi Airport 2.3.3 Trip to Europe 2.4 Thaksin Shinawatra 2.5 2007 New Years bombings 2.6 Resignation of Pridiyathorn Devakula 2.7 Future role 3 Family 4 Trivia 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading

[edit] Education and early career

[edit] Education

Saprang graduated from the 7th Class of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS) and the 18th Class of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. His classmates included General Paisan Katanyu (appointed Deputy Army Commander after the coup), Admiral Bannawit Kengrien (appointed to the National Legislative Assembly after the coup, and leader of it's Suvarnabhumi Airport committee), and General Lertrat Rattavanich.^[5][6] He later graduated from the 43rd class of the National Defence College of Thailand in 2001. His NDC thesis concerned the role of military forces in the control of illegal narcotics. His NDC classmates included Kraisi Karnasuta, governor of state energy company EGAT.^[7]

[edit] Early career

Saprang started his military career in 1969 as Rifle Platoon Leader in the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Regimental Combat Team. He claims to have fought 200 battles during the course of his military career.^[8][5]

He was appointed Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Regiment in 1982, stationed in Nakhonsawan (on the northwestern border with Burma). In 1985, he became Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion in the 19th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Surasee Fort, Kanchanaburi (on the western border with Burma).

He was then promoted to be Regimental Commanding Officer of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School in 1990. In 1991, he began a six year stint as Regimental Commanding Officer of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.

In April 1997, Saprang was shortly transferred to the Ministry of Defense as a staff officer, before being promoted in October 1997 to Commanding General of the 15th Infantry Division, at the time stationed in Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. In 2003, he was promoted to 3rd Corps Commander.^[9] In 2004, it was strongly rumored that Saprang might be promoted to command the 4th Army, replacing General Pongsak Ekbannasingh. General Pongsak had been criticized for ineffectually fighting the South Thailand insurgency, after 39 successful arson attacks occurred in just one night.^[10] He ended up being replaced in April 2004 by Pisarn Wattanawongkhiri.^[11]

[edit] 2006 Coup

See also: 2006 Thailand coup

In a surprise to many observers, Saprang was promoted to 3rd Army Area Commander in October 2005, headquartered in Phitsanulok and responsible most of northern and northeastern Thailand. Analysts had expected Prime Minister Thaksin to promote his own classmates from AFAPS Class 10 to the powerful position instead. At the same time, also in a surprise move, Deputy Army Commander Sonthi Boonyaratkalin was promoted to Army Commander.^[4]

Saprang and Sonthi started planning for the coup 7 to 8 months in advance, in approximately February 2006. Coup planning occurred prior to the April 2006 elections, during Thaksin's controversial sale of Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings and the peak of the People's Alliance for Democracy's campaign to oust the government.^[12][13][14] In July 2006, Saprang gave an interview where he stated that Thai politics was below standard and that the Kingdom's leadership was weak. He also claimed that Thailand had a false democracy.^[15] He denied that such criticism constituted interference in politics.^[5] At the same time, the Thai media speculated that in the October 2006 annual Army reshuffle, Saprang would not be promoted to Assistant Army Commander and would not be allowed to retain his position of 3rd Army Area Commander. In July, Saprang's own Deputy Commander in the 3rd Army Area, Major General Manas Paorik, warned the media that "a certain military officer who aspires to become Assistant Army Commander" was planning a coup.^[5]

In the weeks leading up to coup, Saprang openly mobilised soldiers and northern residents to rebel against the government.^[4] Saprang played a key role on the evening of 19 September 2006, securing Thaksin's home town and power base of Chiang Mai.^[16] That same night, he was appointed assistant Secretary-General of the CNS. The coup was executed just a week before the announcement of the Army's annual reshuffle.

[edit] After the 2006 coup

A week after the coup, Saprang was promoted to Assistant Army Commander, alongside fellow coup leader Anupong Paochinda.^[17] His predecessor, General Pornchai Kranlert, had not taken part in the coup and was transferred to an inactive position.^[18] Saprang was also promoted from Lieutenant General to General.

[edit] CNS Special Operations Center

In 27 December 2006, it was revealed that the Cabinet had approved 556 million baht worth of funding for a 14,000-man secret anti-protest special operations force, of which General Saprang was Commander. The so-called CNS Special Operations Center, funded with 556 million baht diverted from the Defense Ministry, Police Office, and government emergency reserve fund, had been secretly established by the CNS on 1 December 2006 in order to control protests.^[19][20]

[edit] TOT and CAT Telecom

Saprang was appointed by the junta to become Chairman of the Board of Directors of Airports of Thailand (AoT) and also Chairman of the Boards of TOT and CAT Telecom, two major state-owned telecommunication companies.^[21] Saprang's first move as TOT Chairman was to hand-pick three Army colonels and vocal Thaksin-critic Vuthiphong Priebjrivat to sit on the state enterprise's Board of Directors.^[22] He then hand-picked all 10 other directors.^[23]

Saprang noted in a interview that, "if the telecommunication business is in private hands, it won't be safe for the country."^[16] The junta had earlier announced plans to cancel the initial public offering of both TOT and CAT Telecom and to merge the two state enterprises.^[24][25]

Under Saprang's leadership, TOT reaffirmed its ownership rights to all existing backbone telecommunications networks under a new strategy to act as a "genuine" national telecom company. The new strategy was expected to increase political and business tensions. Under the Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) concession agreements that TOT signed with private telecom operators, the TOT technically owns all fixed-line, mobile, and optical fibre networks in Thailand. However, it had never exercised those rights in the past.^[26]

As Chairman of CAT Telecom, he was accused by the founders of People's Television (PTV), a new satellite television station, of being behind CAT Telecom's refusal to grant an internet link from Bangkok to a satellite up-link station in Hong Kong. PTV was established by several ex-executives of the Thai Rak Thai party. CAT Telecom claimed that it never received PTV's application for internet access.^[27]

[edit] Airports of Thailand

[edit] Purging of AoT management

A week after Saprang hinted at a reshuffle of AoT top management, AoT President Chotisak Asapaviriya was forced to resign, citing health reasons, while the Directors of Suvarnabhumi Airport and AoT Commercial Operations were dismissed.^[28][29]

[edit] Suvarnabhumi Airport

As AoT Chairman, Saprang spearheaded an effort to reopen Don Muang Airport in parallel with the newly opened Suvarnabhumi Airport, despite objections from the Civil Aviation Department, airlines, and internal studies within Airports of Thailand.^[30][31][32] 60 airlines threatened to halt flights to Thailand if they were forced to move back to Don Muang airport.^[33][34]

Saprang also refused to authorize urgent repairs on the airport tarmac, despite warnings from engineers. Karun Chandrarangsu, president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand noted, "Suvarnabhumi is like a patient in a coma who continues to suffer from severe bleeding. Stopping the blood flow now is more urgent and important than debating what caused the injury."^[35] The Engineering Institute of Thailand sent a formal warning to AoT in November 2006 about the urgent need to drain water from beneath the tarmac, and noted that immediate action should be taken. "The AOT did nothing about the problem," Suebsak Promboon of the EIT noted. "The situation might not have become this bad if the water had been drained then." Suebsak Promboon, a senior foundation engineer and a member of the Tortrakul Yomnak-led airport tarmac inspection panel, accused the AOT of refusing to take any actions to solve the problems at the airport.^[36]

[edit] Trip to Europe

On Tuesday 27 February 2006, Saprang led a 13 member delegation to Europe, on what was claimed to be a week-long trip to study safety and security measures at major European airports. Many delegates and accompanying members shared the same surname, and the trip, which cost 7.2 million baht was attacked for "squandering" state funds for personal pleasure, disbursing unrealistic expenses, and inflating costs. The travel agent along received a 500,000 baht commission fee for booking the trip. Saprang denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign.^[37][38][39] He also noted that "If you knew my character, you would know that even if a relative joined the trip he should have realised that he should work hard."^[40] He also noted that instead of being a viewed as a defendant, he should be viewed as a hero for bringing down the Thaksin government.^[41] Saprang then summoned the leader of the AoT labor union in order to identify who leaked information about the trip to his accusers.^[42]

[edit] Thaksin Shinawatra

Saprang had long been a fierce critic of Thaksin Shinawatra, and prior to the coup had even called Thaksin's supporters within the military "evil."^[43] After the coup, Saprang called Thaksin a "traitor" and said that he should be "banished to live forever in the jungle."^[44]

He also accused Thaksin of spying on the military while he was Prime Minister.^[16]

Although Saprang and General Sonthi accused Thaksin of insulting and disrespecting King Bhumibol, he noted that the junta did not pursue lese majeste charges against Thaksin because "the police corrupted the evidence," and delivered such a weak case that the attorney-general could not file a lawsuit.^[16][45] A vocal self-proclaimed royalist, he insisted that various groups actively tried to challenge the monarchy, and that he "couldn't stand it." He noted, "I am a soldier, born to protect the Crown. They could only challenge the monarchy over my dead body."^[8]

Saprang also suspected that Oliver Jufer, a Swiss man who was jailed for lèse majesté for spraying paint on a portrait of image of King Bhumibol, was hired by somebody to perform his vandalism. Saprang ordered a military investigation into the matter. The results have not been made public.^[46]

[edit] 2007 New Years bombings

Saprang had a public confrontation with former Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh regarding the 2006 Bangkok New Year's Eve bombings after Chavalit accused him of incompetence.^[47] Saprang had claimed that evidence and intelligence proved that "politicians who lost power" were behind the bombings. However, his claim was contradicted just an hour later by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.^[48]

[edit] Resignation of Pridiyathorn Devakula

Saprang was implicated in the resignation of Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula in 28 February 2007. The Bangkok Post reported that Pridiyathorn resigned in protest after a CNS member lobbied him to sell shares of IRPC (formerly known as Thai Petrochemical Industry) back to a former shareholder. The newspaper identified Saprang as the unnamed CNS member. Saprang's brother, Chienchuan, was a key financial advisor to Prachai Liaophairat, the estranged founder of TPI.^[49][50][51]

[edit] Future role

Saprang was considered a strong contender to lead the junta given the mandatory retirement of Army commander-in-chief and CNS President Sonthi Boonyaratkalin in September 2007.^[16] He unofficially competed with fellow Assistant Army Commander Anupong Paochinda, who, as 1st Army Area Commander, secured Bangkok on the night of the coup. The Bangkok Post reported in October 2006 that Sonthi was grooming Anupong to be his successor by giving him responsibilities over coup logistics, a greater task than had been assigned to Saprang. The Asia Times quoted a former MP as saying that "Anupong is seen as the real force behind the coup. Saprang is more vocal, but he has no real base. The only way he could be seen as a promising leader is by pushing the country to the brink."^[48]

In an interview, Saprang warned that "the three pillars of society - the nation, the religion and the monarchy - might crumble," if "If rogue politicians return to power following the next [post coup] general election."^[16]

Saprang also held the opinion that military coups against the government "should never be ruled out." The abrogated 1997 constitution had outlawed coups. A replacement constitution was, at the time of Saprang's statement, being drafted by a military appointed panel.^[52][53]

[edit] Family

Saprang is the youngest of 9 children of Lieutenant Colonel Sri (Thai:ศรี กัลยาณมิตร) and Phenkaew Kalayanamitr (Thai:เพ็ญแก้ว กัลยาณมิตร). Sri was the eldest of the 8 children of Phraya Sucharitraksa, ruler (Chao Muang) of the northern border city of Tak.

The Kalayanamitrs are a military aristocratic family with Chinese (Hokkien)-Northern Thai roots. Saprang's ancestor, Luang Phichai Waree (original name Ung Mang, Thai:หลวงพิไชยวารี, มั่ง แซ่อึ้ง) migrated to Siam during the reign of King Taksin plying the samphao trade, and was given a feudal title during the reign of King Rama I.^[54]

Saprang has evoked his aristocratic background in order to increase his credibility in public confrontations.^[55] Saprang is married to Viphada (Thai:วิภาดา) and has 3 sons: Army Cadet Ekawee (Thai:เอกวีร์), Air Force Cadet Akharawat (Thai:อัครวัต), Air Force Cadet Ekwarit (Thai:เอกวริษฐ์).^[56]

[edit] Trivia

• Saprang stands 161 centimeters tall and as of March 2007, weighed 52 kilograms.^[8]
• Wat Kalayanamitr Woramahavihan is one of three family temples of the Kalayanamitr family, along with Wat Rakhang and Wat Chakkrawat Rachawat Woramahavihan. Wat Kalayanamitr was built in 1825 by in Thonburi by Kalayanamitr ancestor Chaophraya Nikornbadin (Thai:เจ้าพระยานิกรบดินทร์), who donated the temple to King Rama III. The family name Kalayanamitr derives from a poem inscribed in the temple.^[56]

[edit] See also

• Sonthi Boonyaratkalin
• Council for National Security
• Surayud Chulanont
• 2006 Thailand coup

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Website of the 4th Infantry Regiment (in Thai)
• Website of the 19th Infantry Regiment (in Thai)

v • d • e  2005-2006 Thai political crisis
Main events		Timeline		Key persons and organizations
Prelude 1997 Constitution of Thailand South Thailand insurgency Lookkae Long Thang Thaksinocracy Main events "Thaksin Get Out" Corruption in the Suvarnabhumi Airport project Sale of Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings Finland Plot August 2006 Bangkok car bomb 2006 coup d'état Elections February 2005 April 2006 October 2006 (cancelled) next (2007)		April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005		King Bhumibol Adulyadej Thaksin Shinawatra Prem Tinsulanonda Surayud Chulanont Military junta Sonthi Boonyaratglin Saprang Kalayanamitr Ruangroj Mahasaranon Interim civilian government 2006 Interim Constitution Next constitution of Thailand People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Sondhi Limthongkul Chamlong Srimuang Somkeit Pongpaibul Somsak Kosaisuuk Pipob Thongchai