Suchinda Kraprayoon

Suchinda Kraprayoon (Thai: สุจินดา คราประยูร; RTGS: Suchinda Khra-prayun, born 6 August 1933) was Prime Minister of Thailand from 7 April 1992 until 24 May 1992. Suchinda, son of Juang and Sompong Kraprayoon, was born 6 August 1933 in the Thonburi, Siam, and is of Chinese[1][2][3] and Mon descent.[4]

General Suchinda Kraprayoon
สุจินดา คราประยูร
Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 7 April 1992 – 24 May 1992
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by	Anand Panyarachun
Succeeded by	Meechai Ruchuphan (Acting)
Minister of Defence
In office 17 April 1992 – 24 May 1992
Prime Minister	himself
Preceded by	Praphat Kritsanajun
Succeeded by	Banjob Bunnag
Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
In office 1 October 1991 – 4 April 1992
Preceded by	Sunthorn Kongsompong
Succeeded by	Kaset Rojananil
Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office 29 April 1990 – 7 April 1992
Preceded by	Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Succeeded by	Isarapong Noonpakdee
Personal details
Born	(1933-08-06) 6 August 1933 Bangkok Noi, Thonburi, Siam
Nationality	Thai
Spouse(s)	Khun Ying Wannee Kraprayoon
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Royal Thai Army
Years of service	1953–1990
Rank	General Admiral Air Chief Marshal
Commands	Commander-in-Chief Royal Thai Armed Forces

Early life and education

Suchinda first attended Wat Rajabopit School and later Amnuayslip School. He studied medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok for 12 months before entering the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He graduated from Class 5 of the Academy, many of which would join in the National Peace Keeping Council. He also attended the US Army Command and General Staff Course at the Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the US Army Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Early military career

Suchinda returned to Thailand in 1953 to serve as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Thai Army. On 25 January 1958 he became Troop Leader in an artillery infantry regiment. He was gradually promoted and given more responsibilities including:[5]

• Lecturer at Army Command and General Staff College
• Director-General of Operations Department
• Assisting Chief of Staff (Army Operations) of the Royal Thai Army
• Deputy Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army
• Sub-Commander of the Royal Thai Army
• Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army (29 April 1990)
• Commander-in-Chief of the Supreme Command Headquarters (1 October 1991)

NPKC

Suchinda was a leader of the National Peace Keeping Council (NPKC), which conducted a coup d'etat that ousted the elected government of Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan on 23 February 1991. The NPKC installed former diplomat Anand Panyarachun as Prime Minister.

After the general election on 22 March 1992, five parties (Rassadorn, Justice Unity, Social Action, Thai Citizen, Chart Thai) designated Suchinda as the prime minister. His appointment as Prime Minister on 7 April 1992 resulted in large protests, culminating in a general curfew and military deployment in Bangkok. In the event known as Black May, hundreds of people are believed to have died when soldiers opened fire on unarmed students and demonstrators during the protests.[6] Further escalation was avoided by the intervention of King Bhumibol.

Suchinda resigned from the Premiership on 24 May 1992. The Deputy Prime Minister, Meechai Ruchuphan, became caretaker Prime Minister for an interim period until the new government was assigned. He was succeeded by Anand Panyarachun.

Post-downfall

After resigning, General Suchinda was appointed Chairman of Telecom Holdings, the holding company of Telecom Asia.[7] Telecom Asia was awarded an unprecedented concession to build 2 million telephone lines in Bangkok after the NPKC seized power.

Personal life

Suchinda is married to Khunying Wannee Kraprayoon (Noonpakdee). He has two sons: Jerdwut Kraprayoon and Janewit Kraprayoon, and five grandchildren: Jomphob (JJ) Kraprayoon, Polchate (Jam) Kraprayoon, Chyatash (Jeff) Kraprayoon, Titipat (Just) Kraprayoon, and Jittisa (Jane) Kraprayoon.

Honour

Military rank

• General,[8] Admiral and Air Chief Marshal[9]

Volunteer Defense Corps of Thailand rank

• Volunteer Defense Corps Colonel[10]

References

1. (in Chinese) 泰国华裔总理不忘“本” Archived 22 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine;
2. (in Thai) บิ๊กสรรพากรแท็คทีม ยืนความเห็นเคลียร์สตง. สู้ข้อครหาภาษีหุ้นชินฯ; พลิกแฟ้ม NGO ตอบคำถาม เงิน - ผลประโยชน์เพื่อใคร??
3. [泰国] 洪林, 黎道纲主编 (April 2006). 泰国华侨华人研究. 香港社会科学出版社有限公司. p. 185. ISBN 962-620-127-4.
4. The days before ceasefire between SLORC AND NMSP on 25 June 1995 Archived 17 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
5. "General Suchinda Kraprayoon". soc.go.th. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
6. "You Wonder What he Knows". Asiaweek. 2000. Archived from the original on 22 March 2006. Retrieved 4 May 2006.
7. Glen Lewis, The Asian Economic Crisis and Thai Communications Policy Archived 19 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
8. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2530/D/207/5.PDF
9. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2534/D/067/3478.PDF
10. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2526/D/006/1.PDF

Political offices
Preceded by Anand Panyarachun	Prime Minister of Thailand 1992	Succeeded by Meechai Ruchuphan
Preceded by Chavalit Yongchaiyudh	Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army 1990–1992	Succeeded by Itsaraphong Noonphakdi