Suchinda Kraprayoon

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Suchinda Kraprayoon (Thai: สุจินดา คราประยูร, born August 6, 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 province of Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. He married Khunying Wannee Kraprayoon (Noonpakdee).

1 Early life and education
2 Early military career
3 NPKC
4 Post-downfall
5 References

[edit] Early life and education

Suchinda first attended Wat Rajabopit School and later Amnuayslip School. He studied pre-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.

[edit] 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:

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 of the Royal Thai Army
Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army (April 29, 1990)
Commander-in-Chief of the Supreme Command Headquarters (October 1, 1991)

[edit] 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 1992. The NPKC installed former diplomat Anand Panyarachun as Prime Minister. The Anand government awarded a multi-billion baht concession to Telecom Asia (today known as True) to build and operate two million telephone lines in Bangkok.[1]

After the general election on 22 March 1992, five parties (Rassadorn, Samakkee Dhamma, Social Action, Thai Citizen, Chart Thai) supported 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, up to 300 people are believed to have died when soldiers opened fire on unarmed students and demonstrators during the protests.^[1] Further escalation was avoided by the intervention of King Bhumibol.

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