Seni Pramoj

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Seni Pramoj at the Thai Legation in Washington, D.C., in September 1944, when he was ambassador to the United States. This photo, from US government archives, was taken during a party in celebration of King Ananda Mahidol's 19th birthday. The king was in Switzerland at the time.

Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj (May 20, 1905 - July 28, 1997), (Thai เสนีย์ ปราโมช) was a Thai politician and three times prime minister. A lesser member of the Thai royal family, he was a descendant of King Rama II.

[edit] Biography

Born a son of HSH Prince Khamrob and Mom Daeng (Bunnag), he was educated at Trent College in Nottinghamshire before receiving his Bachelor of Law with second honours at the Worchester College (Oxford University). He continued his studies at Greys Inn, London, receiving first honours. After returning to Thailand he studied Thai Law, and following six months as trainee at the Supreme Court, he started to work at the Justice Civil Court. Later, he was transferred to the Foreign Ministry and became ambassador to the United States.

[edit] Free Thai Movement

When the Japanese invaded Thailand on December 8, 1941, during the Second World War, Seni opposed the collaboration of the Thai government of Prime Minister Plaek Pibulsonggram with the Japanese. Pibul issued a declaration of war against the United States on January 25, 1942, but Seni simply put it in his desk drawer and refused to deliver it. Instead, he began creating the Free Thai Movement from Thai university students in the United States.

[edit] Post war years

He returned to Thailand after the war and was appointed as prime minister on September 17, 1945. His main achievement was to avoid a British protectorate over Thailand, which had been viewed as a serious possibility due to the declaration of war on the United Kingdom. However, following a coup d'etat led by Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan, Seni was removed from office on January 31, 1946.

[edit] Seni in the 70s

Seni returned to his law practice, but remained active in the Democrat Party during this period of military rule. He served again briefly as prime minister from February 17 to March 17, 1975, when he was defeated and replaced by his younger brother, Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj. However, Kukrit's government only lasted until April 21, 1976, when Seni regained the top political office.

Seni's final term was a time of crisis in the nation. A rightwing backlash against leftist student demonstrators culminated in the Thammasat University massacre on October 6, 1976, and the military forced him out of office.

Seni decided to resign as leader of the Democrat Party and left politics for good. He quietly practiced law until his retirement.

[edit] See also

• Pridi Phanomyong

[edit] External link

• Biography at the Thai government

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