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 |
| Succeeded by | Chatichai Choonhavan |
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| Born | August 26, 1920 Songkhla Province, Thailand |
| Nationality | Thai |
General Prem Tinsulanonda (Thai: เปรม ติณสูลานนท์, born August 26, 1920) is a retired Thai military officer who served as Prime Minister of Thailand from March 3, 1980 to August 4, 1988. He now serves as the chief advisor of the king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej. Prem was a fierce critic of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and even compared him to Hitler.[1] Prem allegedly played a key role in the 2006 Thailand coup that overthrew the government of Thaksin Shinawatra[2] as well as in the appointment of the post-coup legislature and Interim Government of Surayud Chulanont.[3] However, the military junta that overthrew the Thaksin government has denied that Prem had any important political role.[4]
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[edit] Education, military, and political career
Born in Songkhla Province, Prem attended Maha-Vajiravut Secondary School in Songkhla, and Suankularb Wittayalai School in Bangkok. In 1941 he entered the Royal Thai Army Academy (later renamed the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy). After rising in the military hierarchy, he entered politics in 1959, when he became a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee. In 1968-71 he was a Senator, in 1972-73 a Member of Parliament, and in 1976 became a 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 in 1979-81.
[edit] Prime Minister of Thailand
After the resignation of Kriangsak in 1980, Prem became the Prime Minister. He was also Minister of Defence until 1986. Prem led three governments and often shifted coalition partners. [5]
- 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 Action, 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 in 1988, Prem dismissed the parliament and resigned. He left politics and was appointed a member of the Privy Council of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in which he became the successor to Sanya Dharmasakti.
[edit] Educational activities
Prem is actively involved in many charities, including the Prem Foundation, and established the Prem Tinsulanonda International School, which opened in August 2001 in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The campus covers 90 acres, and the student body numbers over 400, with more than 36 nationalities represented.
[edit] March 2006 bombing
On 9 March 2006, a small bomb exploded outside Prem's residence in Bangkok. Two people were slightly injured, including a passing tourist. Police said 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] Role in political crisis and 2006 coup
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Prem found himself involved in the Thailand political crisis 2005-2006 and allegedly played a key role in the subsequent September 2006 military coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.[8] Prem also is said to have played a 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."[9][10][11]
Prem's alleged involvement in the coup and the subsequent junta has been harshly criticized. Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University said 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."[8] The military junta took legal action against Prem's critics and those calling for him to resign. A junta spokesman stated that Prem was not behind the coup.[12] Thai police Lieutenant-General Theeradech Rodphot-hong, head of the Special Branch, cautioned that the appeal was improper as it could involve the King in a political conflict. He also urged the activists to drop their campaign as it could create conflict within the country[13].
On July 22, 2007, several thousand protestors demonstrated in front of Prem's house, calling for him to resign. When the demonstration became violent, police cracked down and arrested several protest leaders, including an interim National Human Rights Commissioner and a former Chief Justice of the Criminal Court (both former members of deposed prime minister Thaksin's political party).[14] Afterwards, junta chief Sonthi Boonyaratklin visited Prem to apologise for the protests on behalf of the government. A day later, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, along with 34 members of his Cabinet, went to Prem's house to apologize to Prem for "failing to take good care of him." Surayud accused the protestors of trying to "bring down the highest institution of the country."[15]. Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalap said Prem categorically denied the protestors' allegations that he was behind the military coup. According to Yongyuth, Prem said that the charges were repetitive, baseless and provocative.[16]
Prem is reportedly considering whether to take legal action against the UDD for defamation. A source close to him said Gen Prem was compiling evidence and would soon decide whether to file defamation charges against nine key anti-coup figures[17]. Prem continues to wield considerable influence over the junta. Interior Minister Aree Wongarya and his deputy, Banyat Chansena, held talks with Prem at his residence on 1 August 2007. During the meeting, Prem gave advice on resolving the South Thailand insurgency and on providing assistance for family members of the victims in accordance with the government’s Sarn Jai Thai Su Jai Tai campaign[18].
[edit] Pojaman's visit
On Oct 26, 2006 Prem received ousted PM Thaksin's wife, Pojaman, who claimed the visit was only a social call. This created an outpouring of speculation, to which Prem told the press, "Don't panic. Nothing is exciting!" It is claimed that Thaksin's wife offered a donation to charity and sought Privy Council chief's backing for Thaksin's return. In response, Prem told her he had no authority to make any agreement with her and suggested she talk to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and the Council for National Security[19].
[edit] Corporate positions
Prem has served as a director and advisor for numerous large Thai companies. In early 2007, he resigned as chief adviser of the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group in order to distance himself from a junta-led corruption investigation. The investigation concerned alleged bid rigging in a para rubber saplings supply contract granted during the Thaksin government when Prem had still held his position in the Group.[20]
[edit] References
- ^ The Nation, Thailand has its 'Hitlers', 5 October 2006
- ^ Asia Sentinel, Could Thailand be Getting Ready to Repeat History?, 2 April 2007
- ^ Former Thai PM Prem Tinsulanonda had key role in coup - analysts
- ^ Bangkok Post, UDD aims to damage monarchy, 25 July 2007
- ^ Suchit Bunbongkarn, "The Military in Thai Politics, 1981-1986", published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1987.
- ^ The Telegraph, British tourist injured in Bangkok bomb blast, 10 March 2006
- ^ Times Online, Thailand tourist alert after Bangkok bomb, 9 March 2006
- ^ a b Asia Sentinel, Could Thailand be Getting Ready to Repeat History?, 2 April 2007
- ^ 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
- ^ Bangkok Post, CNS to take action against Prem's critics, April 2007
- ^ Asia Media Post, Petitioners cautioned that appeal improper, April 2007
- ^ Bangkok Post, Six protesters held, 23 July 2007
- ^ The Nation, PM says sorry to Prem over mob violence, July 2007
- ^ The Bangkok Post PM: UDD aims to damage monarchy, 25 July 2007
- ^ The Bangkok Post Prem may take UDD to court, July 26, 2007
- ^ Bangkok Post, Ministers talk to Prem on southern unrest, 1 August 2007
- ^ The Nation News Paper:POJAMAN'S 'OFFER' TO PREM: 'Seize assets' if they're illegal. Retrieved on Oct 28, 2006.
- ^ Bangkok Post, Prem quits role at CP, 20 June 2007
[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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