Samak Sundaravej

Samak Sundaravej
สมัคร สุนทรเวช

25th Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
29 January 2008 – 9 September 2008
Monarch Rama IX
Preceded by Surayud Chulanont
Succeeded by Somchai Wongsawat
13th Governor of Bangkok
In office
23 July 2000 – 28 August 2004
Preceded by Bhichit Rattakul
Succeeded by Apirak Kosayothin
Born 13 June 1935
Bangkok, Thailand
Died 24 November 2009 (aged 74)
Bangkok, Thailand
Political party PPP
Spouse(s) Surat Sundaravej
Religion Buddhism
Signature

Samak Sundaravej (June 13, 1935 – November 24, 2009) (Thai: สมัคร สุนทรเวช; RTGS: Samak Sunthorawet) was a Thai politician who briefly served as the Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Defense in 2008, as well as the leader of the People's Power Party in 2008.

Contents

Early life and family

Samak was born in Bangkok, Thailand to Phraya Bumrungrajabhariphan (Samien Sundaravej) and his wife Khunying Umphan Bumrungrajabhariphan (Umphan Sundaravej). He was of Chinese descent (ancestral surname Lee (李))[1] and had five siblings. Samak studied at Saint Gabriel's College and Assumption Commercial College, then graduating from Thammasat University. He also received diplomas from Chulalongkorn University and Bryant & Stratton College.[2]

Besides being a politician, Samak was a well-known television chef. For seven years before the military coup of September 2006, he had hosted a cooking show called Tasting, Ranting on the Thailand ITV television network and on Royal Thai Army Radio and Television. He said that when he became Prime Minister, he would also resume his career as a TV chef and did. However, it is illegal for a government minister to hold another job, and on September 9, 2008, the full bench of the Constitutional Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for him to work in a private company, (Thailand ITV) and disqualified him from office. [3][4]

Samak was married to Khunying Surat Sundaravej, a financial adviser to the Charoen Pokphand Group. He has two children with her.

Political career

In 1968 Samak joined the opposition Democrat Party. Having strong ties military, Samak became head of its renegade right-wing faction.[5] In the 1976 general election, he defeated M. R. Kukrit Pramoj and became Deputy Interior Minister in the cabinet of M. R. Seni Pramoj. He quickly became prominent for arresting several allegedly far-left-wing activists.[6]

In late August 1976, Seni sent Samak to Singapore to persuade Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn not to return to Thailand.[7] Paul M. Handley contends, however, that Samak was a close confidant of Queen Sirikit and had been sent by King Bhumibol to guarantee royal support for the exiled Field Marshal.[8] This charge is apparently supported by Samak's claim during a cabinet meeting that the King had endorsed Thanom's return.

On October 5, Samak was removed from his ministerial position, and in reaction organized an anti-government demonstration calling for the removal of three liberal Democrat ministers he branded as being "communists".[8]. It had been said that Samak was involved in the 6 October 1976 Massacre at Thammasat University in which students were protesting against the return of a military dictator. Samak played a crucial role in instigating violence against the students he called "communists". The incident ended violently, the victims were brutally slaughtered and burnt.

Although in interviews he gave to CNN and al-Jazeera in 2008 Samak denied involvement in the 6 October 1976 massacre that officially left at least 46 dead, he also insisted that only one person was killed intentionally. Accounts from witnesses, documents and published reports clearly identify Samak as a program host on the "Armoured Brigade" radio station, a military-run ultra-right wing station that constantly expounded anti-communist and pro-right propaganda. Samak used this program to stir up hatred against student demonstrators at Thammasat University, and intentionally disobeyed the Prime Minister's orders to "stop creating divisiveness." In defending the return of 1973-ousted Field Marshal Thanom over the radio, Samak told listeners that students demonstrating against the dictator's return were committing suicide.

Following the coup of 6 October 1976, Samak became Minister of the Interior in the administration of Tanin Kraivixien, a royalist anti-Communist with a reputation for honesty. Samak immediately launched a campaign which saw hundreds of alleged leftists, many of whom were writers and other intellectuals, arrested.[7]

In 1979 Samak founded the right-wing Prachakorn Thai Party. In the 1979 General Elections it defeated the incumbent Democrat Party by winning 29 of the 39 seats in Bangkok. In the 1983 General Elections it extended its base to 36 seats, and did not suffer too greatly from the Democrat surge in 1986.[9]

In 1992, as Deputy Prime Minister in the Suchinda administration, Samak justified the military's brutal suppression of pro-democracy demonstrators by declaring that the government had the right to do so as long as the United States could send troops to kill people in other countries, a reference to the Gulf War which defeated Iraq led by Saddam Hussein taking place from 2 August 1990 to 28 February 1991.[10] He remained unrepentant and continued to stand by his justification, stating that the military was merely trying to restore law and order after the pro-democracy demonstrators, which he branded as "troublemakers", had resorted to "mob rule".[11]

From 2001 to 2006, the Thai Rak Thai was the ruling party under Prime Minister and its founder Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2006 the military staged a coup to remove Thaksin from power. His Thai Rak Thai party was dissolved on May 30, 2007 by the military appointed Constitutional Tribunal for violation of electoral laws. Members of the dissolved party formed a new party under the name People's Power Party.

In 2007 the People's Power Party came to power after the first election since the military coup ousted Thaksin in 2006. Samak, the party's leader, became Prime minister of Thailand. He was accused as being a proxy for the exiled Thaksin by his opponents and massive street protests by the PAD lead to him being sentenced to two years in jail[12], however that sentence was suspended pending appeal. On 25 September 2008, the Appeals Court upheld the two year jail sentence.[13] Shortly afterwards he jumped bail and fled the country heading for the United States, supposedly in order to receive cancer treatment.

Censure (no-confidence) motion

The Democrat Party, led by Sathit Wongnongtoei, on 18 June 2008 submitted to Deputy House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranan a censure motion of no-confidence against Samak Sundaravej and 7 cabinet ministers in the parliament, to oust his coalition government. The marathon debate was held on 28 June.[14][15]

Amid 4 months in power and public street protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Samak and all 7 cabinet members survived the no-confidence motion. The 3 days of censure debate were finally terminated by the voting session on June 27th. As predicted by opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, of 442 MPs present, Samak got 280 votes of confidence and 162 votes of no-confidence.[16]

Resignations and impeachment

Samak Sundaravej's 5-month-old government was in great trouble on 10 July 2008 after Pattama the third top official in the ruling People Power Party (PPP) resigned from this post, effective Monday. The deputy leader of the party Yongyut Tiyapairat, was banned from politics for 5 years, after the Supreme Court affirmed vote buying charges against him. Then, Chiya Sasomsub was removed from office by another supreme court, for illegally concealing his wife's assets. The Constitutional Court ruled on 8 July that Noppadon and the entire cabinet violated the charter by failing to ask parliamentary approval for a Cambodia deal. Noppadon signed the agreement on June, to support Cambodia's bid to seek World Heritage status for the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.[17] The Opposition filed a petition with deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanit to impeach Noppadon Pattama over Preah Vihear Temple issue. Sathit Wongnongtoei submitted 141 signatures of MPs. Noppadon was accused of violating Article 190 and 270 of the Constitution. The Opposition filed the motion before Noppadon stepped down.[18]

2008 political crisis

Main article: 2008 Thai political crisis

Even though the campaigns demanding Samak resign from the premiership were abundant, he remarked, "I will never resign in response to these threats. I will not dissolve the House. I will meet the king today to report what's going on." Later Samak met with King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Hua Hin palace.[19]

A few days after, 30,000 protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy occupied Sundaravej's Government House compound in central Bangkok so as to force him and his advisers to work out of a military command post. Riot police entered the occupied compound and delivered a court order for the eviction of protesters.[20] Chamlong Srimuang ordered 45 PAD guards to break into the main government building on Saturday.[21] 3 regional airports remain closed and 35 trains between Bangkok and the provinces were canceled. Protesters raided the Phuket International Airport tarmac on the resort island of Phuket Province resulting in 118 flights canceled or diverted, affecting 15,000 passengers.[22] He returned ashen-faced from the meeting but soon recovered his brazen approach.

Protesters also blocked the entrance of the airports in Krabi and Hat Yai (which was later re-opened). Police issued arrest warrants for Sondhi Limthongkul and 8 other protest leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, unlawful assembly and refusing orders to disperse.[23] Meanwhile, Gen Anupong Paochinda stated: "The army will not stage a coup. The political crisis should be resolved by political means." Samak and the Thai Party ruling coalition called urgent parliamentary debate and session for 31 August.[24][25]

On 2 September 2008, following the clashes between the pro and anti-government protesters which led to at least one pro government protesters death, Sundaravej declared a controversial state of emergency.[26] The state of emergency was lifted on 14 September 2008.[3]

On 9 September of the year, the Constitutional Court of Thailand delivered a decision disqualifying Sundaravej from the premiership in accordance with the complaints lodged by the Senators and the Election Commission of Thailand. However, Sundaravej's People's Power Party vowed to vote him back to the premiership,[27][28] and he did not decline this nomination for prime minister as Kuthep Suthin Klangsang, PPP's deputy spokesman, said in a press release on 12 September: "Samak has accepted his nomination for prime minister. Samak said he is confident that parliament will find him fit for office, and that he is happy to accept the post. A majority of party members voted Thursday to reappoint Samak. Samak is the leader of our party so he is the best choice."

Despite objections from its coalition partners, the PPP, in an urgent meeting, unanimously decided to renominate Samak Sundaravej. Five coalition parties, namely Chart Thai, Matchima Thipataya, Pracharaj, Puea Pandin and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, unanimously agreed to support the People Power party (PPP) to set up the new government and vote for the person who should be nominated as the new prime minister. Chart Thai deputy leader Somsak Prissananantakul and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Chettha Thanajaro said the next prime minister who will be nominated on Friday. Caretaker prime minister Somchai Wongsawat said PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee will notify the 5 parties who the PPP nominates to take office again.[29][30][31] Some lawmakers, then said that they would propose an alternate candidate. Meanwhile, Thailand's army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda said he backed the creation of a unity government that would include all the country's parties, and he also asked for the lifting of a state of emergency that Samak imposed on September 2.[32]

Abandoned

Embattled Samak abandoned his bid to regain his Thailand Prime Minister post, and Teerapon Noprampa said Samak would also give up the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) leadership.[33][34][35][36]

Somchai Wongsawat – the fugitive ex-P.M. Thaksin Shinawatra's brother-in-law, was ratified by the National Assembly of Thailand as Prime Minister of Thailand on the 17th September[37], winning 298 votes against 163 votes[38] for Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Court decision

The Senate President lodged a complaint with the Constitutional Court of Thailand (ConCourt) on 2 June 2008, and the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) submitted a similar complaint 29 July 2008. The complaints requested the ConCourt to decide whether the premiership of Samak Sundaravej is terminated upon Section 91, Section 182 Paragraph One (7) and Section 267 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (2007).

On 9 September 2008, 15.30 hours, the ConCourt with Justice Chat Chonlaworn sitting as the President rendered its decision as follows:[39]

1. The essence of the first complaint (Senators' Complaint) could be summarised as follows: as Sundaravej was a holder of the political position as a Prime Minister, he was under the subject of Section 267 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (2007) prohibiting the Prime Minister and Ministers from having any position in a partnership, a company or an organisation carrying out business with a view to sharing profits or incomes or being an employee of any person. However, Sundaravej, who acknowledged the purpose of such Section so well, still worked for the Face Media Co., Ltd. as emcee of two cookery shows, Chim Pai Bon Pai (Tasting and Grumbling) and Yok Khayong Hok Mong Chao (All Set at 6am), and ceased from such works just when the ECT received a complaint concerning the case. Therefore the Senators exercised their right under Section 91 requesting the President of the Senate to submit their complaint to the ConCourt to make a decision as said.

2. The essence of the second complaint (ECT's Complaint) could be summarised as follows: On 17 April 2008, Senator Ruangkrai Leekijwattana lodged with the ECT a complaint that Sundaravej, pending his premiership, worked for Face Media Co., Ltd. which was a private company having commercial purpose. This was in breach of Section 267 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (2007) and led to the termination of his premiership as of the date the said prohibited act was performed. The ECT has appointed an inquisitorial panel to look into the case and discovered that it was a prima facie case, so it unanimously resolved to forward the case to the ConCourt to make a decision as said.

3. Sundaravej, after having received a quo warranto, represented to the accusation through submitting the letters dated 30 June, 14 August and 25 August 2008 to the ConCourt, stated that:

4. The Constitutional Court considered that:

5. Therefore, the ConCourt, by the unanimous resolution, held that Sundaravej has performed the acts in breach of Section 267 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (2007) which individually led to the termination of his premiership in accordance with Section 182 Paragraph One (7) of which, and called forth the vacating from office of the entire Council of Ministers under Section 180 Paragraph One (1). However, as the premiership has individually been terminated, all Ministers other than Sundaravej could remain in office as a caretaker government and continuing their functions until the new Council of Ministers is sworn in.

Reactions following the decision delivery

Karn Tienkaew, deputy leader of Samak's People's Power Party, said it planned to propose a parliamentary vote Wednesday on returning Samak to power: "Samak still has legitimacy. The party still hopes to vote him back unless he says no. Otherwise we have many other capable candidates."[40]

On 10 September 2008, however, the PPP shied away from their earlier statement they would renominate Sundaravej and was apparently looking for an alternative candidate instead;[41] with the new PM then scheduled to have bern nominated on 12 September 2008.[42]

People Power Party's deputy spokesman Kuthep Suthin Klangsang, on September 12, 2008, announced that: "Samak has accepted his nomination for prime minister. Samak said he is confident that parliament will find him fit for office, and that he is happy to accept the post. A majority of party members voted Thursday to reappoint Samak. Samak is the leader of our party so he is the best choice." Despite objections from its coalition partners, the PPP, in an urgent meeting, unanimously decided to renominate Samak Sundaravej. 5 coalition parties, namely Chart Thai, Matchima Thipataya, Pracharaj, Puea Pandin and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, unanimously agreed to support the People Power party (PPP) to set up the new government and vote for the person who should be nominated as the new prime minister. Chart Thai deputy leader Somsak Prissananantakul and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Chettha Thanajaro said the next prime minister who will be nominated on Friday. Caretaker prime minister Somchai Wongsawat said PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee will notify the 5 parties who the PPP nominates to take office again.[29][30][31] Some lawmakers, however, said they will propose an alternate candidate. Meanwhile, Thailand's army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda said he backed the creation of a unity government that would include all the country's parties, and he also asked for the lifting of a state of emergency that Samak imposed on September 2.[32]

Disapproval of Samak

On 12 September 2008, however, the Isan faction of People Power Party (PPP) and the coalition parties boycotted the vote on a new Prime Minister, resulting in a lack of quorum and subsequent postponement of the vote.[43] The boycott was a sign of the depth of ill-feeling towards Samak from both his own party's members and coalition parties. Finally Samak gave up his re-election bid, allowing his party to choose new a nominee. The majority of his party and the coalition partners eventually voted for Somchai Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister, to be the new premier.

Political profile

The leader of People's Power Party

On 29 July 2007, some former members of the Thai Rak Thai Party MPs agreed to contest the 2007 election as candidates of the People's Power Party. This was after the Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved by the Thai Supreme Court on 30 May 2007 and followed the ban on participating in politics for many former TRT party politicians, such as Newin Chidchob, Buriram and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Many other former TRT members have also formed their own parties, such as the Ruam Jai Thai and Puea Pandin parties.

Samak Sundaravej and former TRT Cabinet Minister Surapong Suebwonglee were elected People's Power Party leader and secretary general respectively on 24 August 2007. It was, also, widely known that Thaksin chose him to be the new head of his former party's members.

On 23 December 2007 General Election the PPP won 228 seats, sufficient to win the election ahead of the Democrat Party but short of the 241 seats needed for a majority of the 480-seat house.[44] He was able to form a six-party coalition, however, gaining a parliamentary majority of about two-thirds.[45]

In a parliamentary vote on 28 January 2008, Samak was elected Prime Minister, receiving 310 votes against 163 for Abhisit Vejjejava of the Democrat Party. He was endorsed as Prime Minister by the king on the next day.[45] On 6 February, his Cabinet, including himself as Minister of Defense, was endorsed by the king and sworn in.[46] Sundaravej angrily insisted he was the country's real leader on 29 February 2008 despite the triumphant return from exile of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the man considered the driving force behind the new government.[47]

Samak Sundaravej ended his campaign to regain his position on September 12 2008. Mr Samak's decision was revealed on September 11 by Theerapol Nopparampa, his close aide, after he spent about 50 minutes meeting Mr Samak at his home and he told AP that Samak told him to tell "every reporter that he is going to step down from being the party leader and he will not accept the prime ministership."[48] The ruling People's Power Party said earlier it was abandoning its bid to install Samak back in power. The announcements raise hopes of ending a political crisis buffeting the country.[49] Leaders of the People Power Party had said since Tuesday that they would seek to restore Samak, but they need to convince five other parties in the coalition to go along with that choice. Some lawmakers have indicated they will propose an alternate candidate.[50]

Death

At age 73 Samak admitted he had liver cancer and underwent laser surgery to remove a tumour and was treated at Bumrungrad Hospital on October 2, 2008. He was discharged on October 25.[51][52]

On the morning of November 24, 2009, it was reported that at 8:48a.m. Samak had died at Bumrungrad International Hospital of liver cancer at the age of 74.[53] Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai Prime Minister said, "My family and I express profound sorrow for the passing away of HE [His Excellency] Samak but I will not be able to attend his funeral."[54] Samak's funeral was held at the Wat Benchamabophit temple. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over the ceremonies, representing the King and Queen.[55]

Royal decorations

Samak has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

Samak cabinet

This Cabinet was active from 29 January 2008 to 9 September 2008

Position Name Party
Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Samak Sundaravej PPP
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Somchai Wongsawat PPP
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Mingkwan Saengsuwan PPP
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Surapong Suebwonglee PPP
Deputy Prime Minister Sahat Banditkul -
Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart CTP
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industry Suwit Khunkitti Puea Pandin Party
Minister for the PM's Office Choosak Sirinin PPP
Minister for the PM's Office Jakrapob Penkair PPP
Minister of Agriculture Somsak Prissanananthakul CTP
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sompat Kaewpichit CTP
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Teerachai Saenkaew PPP
Deputy Minister of Commerce Banyin Tangphakorn MCMP
Deputy Minister of Commerce Virun Techapaibul PPP
Minister of Culture Anusorn Wongwan PPP
Deputy Minister of Education Boonlue Prasertsopha PPP
Deputy Minister of Education Pongsakorn Annopporn PPP
Minister for Energy Lieutanent General Poonpirom Litapanlop RJCPP
Deputy Minister of Finance Pradit Pattaraprasit RJCPP
Deputy Minister of Finance Ranongrak Suwanchawee Puea Pandin Party
Minister of Foreign Affairs Noppadon Pattama PPP
Minister of Information and Communication Technology Man Pattanotai Puea Pandin Party
Minister of Interior Pol Cpt Chalerm Yoobumrung PPP
Deputy Minister of Interior Sithichai Kowsurat Puea Pandin Party
Deputy Minister of Interior Suphol Fongngam PPP
Minister of Justice Sompong Amornwiwat PPP
Minister of Labour Uraiwan Thienthong PRP
Minister for Natural resource and Environment Anongwan Thepsuthin MCMP
Minister of Public Health Chaiya Sasomsap PPP
Deputy Minister of Public Health Chaovarat Chanweerakul PPP
Minister for Science Wutthipong Chaisang PPP
Minister for Social Development and Human Security Sutha Chansaeng PPP
Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat CTP
Minister of Transport Santi Promphat PPP
Deputy Minister of Transport Songsak Thongsri PPP
Deputy Minister of Transport Anurak Jureemas CTP

See also

References

  1. ↑ [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. pp. 187. ISBN 962-620-127-4. 
  2. ↑ Samuk Sundaravej biography Mathichon Online retrieved on January 29, 2008.(Thai)
  3. ↑ Samak Found Guilty
  4. ↑ Court Says PM Most Resign
  5. ↑ David van Praagh. Thailand's Struggle for Democracy. Holmes & Meier (1996). 
  6. ↑ Paul M. Handley. The King Never Smiles. Yale University Press (2006). 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 van Praagh
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Handley
  9. ↑ David Murray. Angels and Devils. White Orchid Press (1996). 
  10. ↑ The Nation, 21 May 1992
  11. ↑ Murray
  12. ↑ nationmultimedia.com, Appeal court to rule on defamation suit
  13. ↑ Samak Fails to Overturn His Libel Conviction and Two-Year Jail Term
  14. ↑ xinhuanet.com, Thai Democrats launch no-confidence motion against PM and ministers in parliament
  15. ↑ nationmultimedia.com, Censure motion filed against PM, 7 ministers
  16. ↑ reuters.com, Thai PM survives no-confidence motion as expected
  17. ↑ afp.google.com, Thai government in disarray as foreign minister resigns
  18. ↑ nationmultimedia.com, Noppadon impeached by the Opposition
  19. ↑ news.bbc.co.uk, Thai PM Samak refuses to resign
  20. ↑ gulfnews.com/world, Thai minister to stay despite protests
  21. ↑ afp.google.com, Thai protesters break into government office as PM heads to consult king
  22. ↑ eleconomista.es, "I will never resign" says besieged Thai PM
  23. ↑ nytimes.com, Thai Protest of Premier Stops Trains and Planes
  24. ↑ news.bbc.co.uk, Pressure mounts on Thailand's PM
  25. ↑ bloomberg.com, Thai Party Calls Urgent Session as Protests Spread
  26. ↑ [1]
  27. ↑ BBC News. (2008, 9 September). Court says Thai PM 'must resign'. [Online]. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7605838.stm. (Accessed: 10 September 2008).
  28. ↑ Anyone But Samak
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Coalition parties to hold meeting this evening
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 ap.google.com, Thai ruling party re-nominates leader as PM
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 news.xinhuanet, Party spokesman: Samak accepts PM nomination
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 edition.cnn.com, Thai ruling party nominates Samak for PM
  33. ↑ www.presstv.ir, Samak pulls out of Thai PM vote
  34. ↑ washingtonpost.com, Ousted Premier Ends Attempt to Get Job Back
  35. ↑ bangkokpost.com, Somchai, Sompong are candidates for PM
  36. ↑ reuters.com, Thai ruling coalition begins search for new PM
  37. ↑ Parliament confirms Somchai
  38. ↑ Somchai elected new prime minister
  39. ↑ คำวินิจฉัยศาลรัฐธรรมนูญที่ 12-13/2551. [ออนไลน์]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: http://www.concourt.or.th/download/Center_desic/51/center12-13_51.pdf. (เข้าถึงเมื่อ: 12 กันยายน 2551).
  40. ↑ ap.google.com, Thai leader forced to resign over TV cooking show
  41. ↑ "Thai coalition looks for new PM". BBC News. 10 September 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7607863.stm. Retrieved 23 May 2010. 
  42. ↑ http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6497230.html
  43. ↑ http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/09/12/headlines/headlines_30083290.php House Adjourns Urgent Session
  44. ↑ Thaksin ally wins Thai election, BBC, 23 December 2007
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Thailand's king officially endorses new prime minister", Associated Press (Taipei Times), 30 January 2008.
  46. ↑ "Thailand's post-coup cabinet sworn in", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), 7 February 2008.
  47. ↑ "Thai PM: 'I'm the real prime minister'", AP (CNN), 29 February 2008.
  48. ↑ Samak steps aside after embarrassing no-vote, Bangkok Post, September 12, 2008.
  49. ↑ Samak steps back, Bangkok Post, September 12, 2008.
  50. ↑ Former Thai PM to end comeback bid, aide says, CNN, September 12, 2008.
  51. ↑ bangkokpost.com, SAMAK ADMITS HE HAS LIVER CANCER
  52. ↑ afp.google.com, Former Thai PM Samak has liver cancer: reports
  53. ↑ [2]
  54. ↑ Perry, Richard Lloyd (2009-11-24). "Ex-Thai prime minister Samak Sundaravej dies in Bangkok". London: Times Online. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6929249.ece. Retrieved 25 November 2009. 
  55. ↑ "Former Thai Prime Minister Samak dies". CNN. 2009-11-24. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/11/24/thailand.samak/. Retrieved 25 November 2009. 

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Pichit Rattakul		 Governor of Bangkok
2000 – 2004		 Succeeded by
Apirak Kosayothin
Preceded by
Surayud Chulanont		 Prime Minister of Thailand
2008		 Succeeded by
Somchai Wongsawat