Chatichai Choonhavan

Chatichai Choonhavan ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ
Choonhavan with George H.W. Bush at the White House in 1990
17th Prime Minister of Thailand
In office August 4, 1988 – February 23, 1991
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by	Prem Tinsulanonda
Succeeded by	Anand Panyarachun
Personal details
Born	(1920-04-05)April 5, 1920 Bangkok, Thailand
Died	May 6, 1998(1998-05-06) (aged 78) London, United Kingdom
Nationality	Thai
Political party	Thai Nation Party
Spouse(s)	Boonruean Choonhavan
Signature

General Chatichai Choonhavan (Thai: ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ; RTGS: Chatchai Chunhawan, 5 April 1920 — 6 May 1998) was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1988 to 1991. He was the only son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan, and is of Thai Chinese descent^[1] with ancestry from Chenghai District.^[2][3][4] Chatichai served as Thailand's Foreign Minister from 1975-1976.

In the Thai General Elections of 1988, the Thai Nation Party won the most votes, resulting in its leader Chatichai becoming the new prime minister. His government was able to achieve improved relations with Cambodia and Laos and also promoted international trade with these countries and others. It also supported the Sihanouk-led Government of Cambodia. The government was a key initiator of many infrastructure projects, including an expansion of the telecommunications network in partnership with the state-owned Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT), development of the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand and road and rail networks in partnership with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) in the Greater Bangkok Area.

On February 23, 1991, he was deposed by a military coup d'etat led by generals Sunthorn Kongsompong and Suchinda Kraprayoon. He died of liver cancer in 1998.^[5]

Chatichai was married to Boonruean Sophoj, a cousin of Srinagarindra, the late Princess Mother.^[6] They had two children: Kraisak Choonhavan (son) and Vani Hongpraphas (daughter).^[7]

References

v t e Prime Ministers of Thailand (List) King Rama VII Phraya Manopakorn Nititada Phraya Phahon Phonphayuhasena King Rama VIII Plaek Phibunsongkhram Khuang Aphaiwong Tawee Boonyaket Seni Pramoj Khuang Aphaiwong Pridi Banomyong King Rama IX Thawan Thamrongnawasawat Khuang Aphaiwong Plaek Phibunsongkhram Pote Sarasin Thanom Kittikachorn Sarit Thanarat Thanom Kittikachorn Sanya Dharmasakti Seni Pramoj Kukrit Pramoj Seni Pramoj Thanin Kraivichien Kriangsak Chomanan Prem Tinsulanonda Chatichai Choonhavan Anand Panyarachun Suchinda Kraprayoon Meechai Ruchuphan† Anand Panyarachun Chuan Leekpai Banharn Silpa-archa Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Chuan Leekpai Thaksin Shinawatra Chitchai Wannasathit† Thaksin Shinawatra Surayud Chulanont Samak Sundaravej Somchai Wongsawat Chaovarat Chanweerakul† Abhisit Vejjajiva Yingluck Shinawatra "italics" indicate military officeholders "†" indicate acting or caretaker officeholders.