Suthep Thaugsuban

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Suthep Thaugsuban
สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ
MPCh MWM
Secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee
In office
29 November 2013[1] – today
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand (Security affairs)
In office
20 December 2008 – 9 August 2011
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
Personal details
Born (1949-07-07) 7 July 1949
Phunphin, Surat Thani, Thailand
Nationality Thai
Political party Democrat Party
Domestic partner Srisakul Promphan[2]
Alma mater Chiang Mai University,
Middle Tennessee State University
Profession Politician
Religion Buddhism

Suthep Thaugsuban (Thai: สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ; RTGS: Suthep Thueaksuban, [sù.tʰêːp tʰɯ̂ːak.sù.ban]) (born 7 July 1949, Tha Sathon, Phunphin District, Surat Thani Province) is a Thai politician and former Member of Parliament for Surat Thani province. Until 2011, he was secretary-general of the Democrat Party and a deputy prime minister under the unelected Abhisit Vejjajiva Democrat-led government. He resigned his seat in Parliament in November 2013 to become the self-appointed Secretary-general[3] of the People's Democratic Reform Committee,[4] which is conducting mass protests to try to unseat the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whom they accuse of being corrupt and a puppet for her self-exiled brother, Thaksin Shinawatra.

1995 to present corruption scandal

As part of the Sor Por Kor 4-01 (สปก.4-01) land reform scheme, Suthep gave title deeds to 592 plots of land in Khao Sam Liam, Kamala and Nakkerd hills of Phuket province to 489 farmers. It was later found that members of 11 wealthy families in Phuket were among the recipients. Suthep addressed a huge crowd in his Surat Thani constituency a month before a no-confidence debate and called on his supporters to march on Bangkok in the hundreds of thousands to defend his reputation.[5] The scandal led Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Democrat Party to dissolve the House of Representatives in July 1995 in order to avoid the no-confidence debate.[6] In subsequent elections, Thai Nation Party won a majority, leading to the downfall of Chuan Leekpai's Democrat Party-led government.

Wikileaks diplomatic cables from the US embassy revealed that many members of his own party have long complained of his corrupt and unethical behavior.[7][8][9]

2009 disqualification as MP

In 2009, Suthep was accused of violating the Constitution of Thailand by holding equity in a media firm that had received concessions from the government. Under the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, which Suthep had supported, Members of Parliament are banned from holding stakes in companies which have received government concessions. In July 2009, the Election Commission announced that it would seek a ruling by the Constitutional Court to disqualify Suthep.

Suthep held a press conference a day later, announcing his decision to resign from Parliament. Suthep's resignation as an MP did not affect his status as a Deputy Prime Minister and as a Cabinet member. If his case had been submitted to the Constitution Court, he would have been suspended from duty as Deputy Prime Minister. He insisted his resignation was not a proof that he had done anything wrong but that he was worried about status as Deputy Prime Minister.[10]

2011 elections

In the general election on 3 July 2011, the Democrats were defeated, receiving 34% of the votes in contrast to the Pheu Thai Party's 47%. In response, Suthep immediately stepped down as the party's secretary-general. When the government of Pheu Thai Party-leader Yingluck Shinawatra took office on 9 August 2011, his term as deputy prime minister ended.

2013 Indictment for murder charge over 2010 strife

After several Criminal court ruling that deaths and injuries sustained by red-shirt protesters during the political unrest in April and May 2010 are the direct result of order to soldier given by Suthep Thaugsuban, the director of the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), the Department of Special Investigation, public prosecutors and police agreed to file murder charges against him.[11][12] Suthep was also found responsable by the Court for the assassination of Italian journalist Fabio Polenghi, who was covering the 2010 protests. [13]

"People's Democratic Reform Committee" (PDRC)

2013 Protests

Suthep Thaugsuban holds a speech on the day of the general elections at the Si Lom anti-government protest site

On the 11 of December 2013 Suthep resigned as an MP to lead protests seeking dissolution of parliament and the installation of an unelected council to carry our national reform.[14]

Main article: 2013–14 Thai political crisis

Political Offices

References

  1. ↑ "Suthep declares 'people's revolt'". Bangkok Post. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014. 
  2. ↑ Sinlapalawan, Budsarakham (15 March 2009). "Fast-tracked to fame". The Nation (Thailand). 
  3. ↑ "Suthep declares 'people's revolt'". Bangkok Post. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014. 
  4. ↑ "Suthep, eight other Democrat MPs resign". The Nation (Thailand). 11 November 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013. 
  5. ↑ McCargo, Duncan (February 2004). "Southern Thai Politics: A Preliminary Overview". University of Leeds. p. 15. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
  6. ↑ "September 13, 1992: Democrats win election". The Nation (Thailand). 10 September 2007. 
  7. ↑ The Associated Press (27 November 2013). "Thailand's ex-deputy PM Thaugsuban becomes street fighter". CBC News. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 
  8. ↑ "Thai protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban". France24. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 
  9. ↑ The Associated Press (27 November 2013). "Mastermind of Thai protests ditches politics to lead uprising". CTV News. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 
  10. ↑ Srivalo, Piyanart (17 July 2009). "Suthep resigns as MP". The Nation (Thailand). 
  11. ↑ "Abhisit, Suthep hit with murder charges". Bangkok Post. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Abhisit, Suthep face more murder charges over 2010 strife". The Nation. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 
  13. ↑ http://www.voanews.com/content/thailand-courts-ruling-troops-shot-italian-journalist-fabio-polenghi-dead-in-bangkok/1670616.html
  14. ↑ "Suthep, eight other Democrat MPs resign". The Nation. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 

See also


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