Sonthi Boonyaratglin
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| Sonthi Boonyaratglin สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19 September 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Thaksin Shinawatra (as Prime Minister) |
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| Born | 2 October 1946 |
| Political party | None |
| Profession | Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army |
| Religion | Islam |
General Sonthi Boonyaratglin (Thai: สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน, RTGS: Sonthi Bunyaratkalin) (b. 2 October 1946) is Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and head of the Council for National Security, the military junta that rules the kingdom. He is the first Muslim in charge of the mostly Buddhist army[1]. On 19 September 2006, he became the de facto head of government of Thailand after overthrowing the elected government in a coup d'état.[2] Sonthi has two wives, Sukanya and Piyada, despite legal prohibitions against bigamy.
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[edit] Education and early career
Sonthi Boonyaratglin graduated from the 6th Class of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. He graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1969 as part of Class 17 and was commissioned into the Royal Army Infantry Corps. He went on to lead several top units, including the elite Special Warfare Command based in Lopburi province.[3]
In August 2004, Sonthi was appointed Deputy Army Commander.[4] Against public expectations, Sonthi was promoted to Army Commander in October 2005. Sonthi's fast rise was backed by retired armed forces Supreme Commander General Surayud Chulanont (with whom he had served while leading the Special Warfare Command) and Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda.[5] Both serve as advisers to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
[edit] Conflicts with Thaksin Shinawatra
As Army Commander, General Sonthi repeatedly assured the public that the army would not interfere in the political crisis, although he has said that "His Majesty must have been saddened" by the nation's political problems.[6][7] He has also protested Thaksin's unsuccessful attempt to promote a large number of his own former classmates from Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School to army units responsible for Bangkok's security.[8]
The 2006 annual military reshuffle was delayed due to the political crisis, as caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra denied that he planned to remove Sonthi as Army Commander.[9][10] Despite this, Sonthi consolidating his personal power base by transferring out 129 mid-ranking officers under generals that he thought were loyal to the Prime Minister. Some observers saw this as a message to the Government that Sonthi was still firmly in charge of the Army.[11]
As late as May 2006, Sonthi publicly denied the need for a military coup:
| “ | Whenever soldiers get involved in politics, it seems that the nation's problems begin to escalate and become worse. Military officers, accordingly, must step back from politics. With that firm and clear stance, I assure everyone that there definitely won't be a coup.[12] | ” |
[edit] Southern Thailand insurgency
- See also: South Thailand insurgency
After being appointed Army Commander in 2005, Sonthi expressed confidence that he could resolve the insurgency. He claimed that he would take a "new and effective" approach to a crisis and that "The army is informed [of who the insurgents are] and will carry out their duties."[13] Sonthi was granted an extraordinary increase in executive powers to combat unrest in the far South.[14] However, up to 19 September 2006, the Army admitted that they had no idea who the insurgents were.[15] The drastic escalation of the insurgency during his leadership of the Army led to much public criticism of Army efforts.
While assigned to the South, Sonthi suggested that former communist insurgents might be playing a role in the unrest. Leaders of the southern provinces displayed skepticism over his suggestion and investigations did not reveal any communist link.[16]
Sonthi was also blamed for failing to rescue two teachers who had been severely beaten by a mob in May 2006.[17] One of them, Juling Pangamoon, is still in a coma and attracted fame for being the focus of attention from the royal family of Thailand.[18]
On August 2006 after 22 commercial banks were simultaneously bombed in Yala province, Sonthi announced that he would break with government policy and negotiate with the leaders of the insurgency. However, he noted that "We still don't know who is the real head of the militants we are fighting with."[19] In a press conference the next day, he attacked the government for criticizing him for trying to negotiate with the anonymous insurgents, and demanded that the government "Free the military and let it do the job."[20] Afterwards, insurgents bombed 6 department stores in Hat Yai city, which up until then had been free of insurgent activities. As always, the identity of the insurgents was not revealed. On 8 September, Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya promised to give Sonthi increased powers to better deal with the insurgency.[21] However, by 19 September 2006, the Army admitted that it still was unsure who to negotiate with.[15]
Three days later, Sonthi led a coup against the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Sonthi's former superiors, Deputy Prime Minister for national security Chidchai Vanasatidya and Defense Minister Thammarak Isaragura na Ayuthaya were immediately arrested and have been detained ever since.
[edit] Military coup
On 19 September 2006, Sonthi and other military leaders launched a military coup against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra. The coup-makers originally called themselves the Council for Democratic Reform. Tanks surrounded Government House in Bangkok and the military took over all broadcast media. Thaksin declared a state of emergency from New York City (where he had been attending a meeting of the United Nations), but his broadcast was cut in mid-sentence when the military seized the television station.
Sonthi dissolved Cabinet, Parliament, and the Constitutional Court, and temporarily gave himself powers equivalent to Prime Minister. He declared that the council would hand over power in two weeks.[22] On the second day of the coup, he received a formal mandate from King Bhumibol Adulyadej.[23]
General Sonthi later said in an interview that the coup was originally planned for 20 September, to coincide with a major anti-Thaksin rally also planned for that day. He cited the "Portuguese example" in which anti-government rallies coincided with a successful military rebellion which overthrew King Manuel II of Portugal and established the Portuguese First Republic. The coup was moved up to 19 September, when Thaksin was still in New York. Sonthi also stated that the coup was not an urgent measure mooted just a couple of days earlier. Sonthi also claimed that during a lunch that Thaksin had with the commanders of the armed forces, Thaksin had asked him "Will you stage a coup?" Sonthi replied: "I will."[24] This contradicted earlier public statements where he denied that the military would stage a coup.[25] He also revealed that as early as his 11 September visit to Myanmar, he had been wary of his personal safety. During flight, he carried a concealed pistol and sat next to the entrance to the cockpit.[26]
Sonthi and other junta leaders flew to Chiang Mai on a Air Force C-130 on 3 November 2006 to visit a prominent fortune-teller and perform a religious ceremony to ward off bad luck over their staging of the coup. The fortune teller, Varin Buaviratlert, had been Sonthi long-time personal fortune-teller, and had foretold Sonthi's rise to become Army Commander.[27] Amid falling popularity, Sonthi sent his wife and several CNS leaders to visit her on 1 April 2007.[28]
Sonthi completely purged the military of all senior officers perceived as loyal to the Thaksin government, replacing them with officers that he personally trusted.[29][30]
[edit] Permanent constitution
In December, junta chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin issued several guidelines for the permanent constitution being drafted by the CNS's drafting body. These included:
- Restricting a Prime Minister to serving a maximum of two terms of office
- Preventing a government from acting as a caretaker administration after dissolving Parliament.
- Making it easier to launch a no-confidence debate against the Prime Minister. Whereas the 1997 Constitution required 200 out of the House's 500 MPs to launch a no-confidence debate against the Prime Minister, Sonthi demanded that 100 MPs be sufficient.
He also made several suggestions, including:
- Transforming the Senate from an all-elected body in order to prevent relatives of politicians from being elected and thus perverting the non-partisan intent of the 1997 Constitution.
- Allowing politicians to switch political parties at any time. The 1997 Constitution required that any candidate for the House belong to a political party for 90 days before the registration date for an election.
- Banning the merger of political parties.[31]
Sonthi later denied dictating the content for the new constitution, but stated "We can't force them to do things but responsible people will know what the constitution should look like."[32]
He also suggested that the term in office of village heads and kamnan be increased from 5 years to 10 years, while the role of elected tambon administrative organisations be reduced.[33]
[edit] Relations with Singapore
In 2006, Premier Thaksin Shinawatra sold his shares in telecom firm Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings. The sale also transfered control of Shin Corp's five satellites (including IPSTAR, the world's largest commercial satellite) and mobile phone operator to the Singaporean company. After the coup, Sonthi claimed that Singapore was eavesdropping on confidential mobile telephone calls made by junta leaders. AIS and Shin Satellite, Shin Corp's mobile operator and satellite operator, denied the claim. In February 2007, Sonthi vowed in front of a thousand volunteer territorial defence students to reclaim the satellites and other telecom assets. "Soldiers will not tolerate a loss of territory, not even a square inch," he said, and continued about how it was his specific duty to "retrieve our assets". Sonthi stopped short of threatening to nationalise the telecommunications conglomerate. An opinion poll found more than 78 percent of 1,116 Thais surveyed backed Sonthi's bid to somehow reclaim the satellites.[34][35][36]
Sonthi's deputy in the CNS, General Saprang Kalayanamitr, noted in a February interview that, "if the telecommunication business is in private hands, it won't be safe for the country."[37]
[edit] Future role
There was widespread public speculation that Sonthi would retain power after his mandatory retirement in 2007. Although he promised not to follow in the footsteps of former National Peace Keeping Coalition leader and deposed Prime Minister General Suchinda Kraprayoon, Sonthi did note that he alone could not make the decision as to whether he should become Prime Minister.[38]
In March, Sonthi called for emergency rule to be declared in Bangkok in response to the protests by the founders of People's Television. In an interview, he noted that the protests had so far been peaceful, but that he was afraid the movement could lead to "mutiny and chaos in the country."[39]
[edit] Personal life
Sonthi has two concurent wives. He registered to marry his first wife, Sukanya, when he was a lieutenant and registered to a second wife, Piyada, when he was a captain. He currently lives with both women. Bigamy is illegal in Thailand, and is punishable with a jail term. However, Interior Minister Aree Wongsaraya defended Sonthi, claiming that it was a personal matter. He boasted that he himself had six wives.[40][41]
[edit] Quotes
- "There is nobody who wants to stage a coup. I can assure that the military will not." 28 February 2006[42]
- "The army will not get involved in the political conflict. Political troubles should be resolved by politicians. Military coups are a thing of the past.", 6 March 2006, [43]
- "Nobody was behind us. We decided on our own, and we took care of it on our own ... because the people have called for it and also because of the mismanagement of the government.", 20 September 2006[44]
- "Thaksin is a Thai and a fellow countryman and there will be no problem should he decide to return. We are like brothers.", 20 September 2006[45]
[edit] References
- ^ Thailand Set To Reshuffle Southern Army Commander Again Defense News
- ^ Coup chief cites intense conflicts CNN
- ^ The Star, Sonthi’s meteoric ascent to power, 21 September 2006
- ^ Thailand's military reshuffle officially announced People's Daily Online
- ^ The Nation, WARNING FROM SURAYUD: Thaksin's return 'a threat', 28 September 2006
- ^ Thai military chief seeking audience with King Bhumibol Taipei Times
- ^ Should Thaksin Stay? Times Asia
- ^ Thaksin fall from grace Asia Times Online
- ^ Thaksin denies planning to remove Thai army chief People's Daily
- ^ Thaksin denies planning to remove Thai army chief China View
- ^ Thai army chief delivers 'counter punch' to Thaksin Taipei Times
- ^ Thai News Agency, "Thai army chief reaffirms non-interference in politics", 18 May 2006
- ^ Thailand: Mollifying the Muslim SOBAKA
- ^ Army commander's powers to rise: Thai Deputy PM China Economic Net
- ^ a b The Bangkok Post, "Deep South: Army wants peace talks but unsure who with", 19 September 2006
- ^ Governors to look into Sonthi's claim of communist hand in Southern unrest The Nation
- ^ Hostage Taking: Army's image takes beating The Nation
- ^ The Nation, "HRH Crown Prince to visit Juling"
- ^ Sonthi calls for talks The Nation
- ^ The Bangkok Post, Sonthi slams meddling
- ^ Army commander's powers to rise: Thai Deputy PM China Economic Net
- ^ Thailand coup leader vows new PM in weeks CNN
- ^ Thailand's king gives blessing to coup CNN
- ^ The Nation, Sonthi told Thaksin he would stage a coup, 27 October 2006
- ^ International Herald Tribune, Thaksin refuses to resign despite protests in Bangkok, 6 March 2006
- ^ The Nation, Sonthi told Thaksin he would stage a coup, 27 October 2006
- ^ Bangkok Post, Coup-Makers Try to Keep Bad Luck At Bay, 4 November 2006
- ^ Bangkok Post, CNS members visit renowned fortune teller, 2 April 2007
- ^ Bangkok Post, Sonthi loyalists put in key military positions, 22 March 2007
- ^ Bangkok Post, Mid-year reshuffle completes the Thaksin purge, 22 March 2007
- ^ The Nation, Sonthi issues guidelines for new charter, 17 December 2006
- ^ The Nation, No dictatation on the charter : CNS chief, 20 December 2006
- ^ The Nation, Sonthi idea 'contrary to democracy', 25 December 2006
- ^ Reuters, Thailand says wants satellites back, but how?, 19 February 2007
- ^ Bangkok Post, Wrong speech at wrong time, 20 February 2007
- ^ The Australian, Thailand's junta wants Shin Corp back, 19 February 2007
- ^ Straits Times, Straight-talking general on the rise, 21 February 2007
- ^ Bangkok Post, Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin?, 22 March 2007
- ^ The Nation, Thai junta chief calls for emergency rule in Bangkok, 28 March 2007
- ^ The Nation, Anti-coup group calls for Sonthis' sacking for allegedly registering two marriages, 31 December 2006
- ^ The Nation, Multiple wives just 'personal' business, 31 December 2006
- ^ AFP, Thai PM open to concessions, ready to postpone snap polls, 28 February 2006
- ^ International Herald Tribune, Thaksin refuses to resign despite protests in Bangkok, 6 March 2006
- ^ Thailand military consolidates grip Al Jazeera
- ^ Thai coup leader to install new PM in two weeks ABC News
[edit] External links
- Thailand military consolidates grip
- The insider's guide to ... the Thai coup
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5363068.stm
| Preceded by Pravit Wongsuwan |
Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army 2005–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Thaksin Shinawatra (as Prime Minister of Thailand) |
President of the Administrative Reform Council (de facto head of government) 19th September 2006–1st October 2006 |
Succeeded by Surayud Chulanont (as Prime Minister of Thailand) |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Boonyaratglin, Sonthi |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน (Thai); Boonyaratkalin, Sondhi (alternate transliteration) |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Thai military leader |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 2 October 1946 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | living |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
