Jatuporn Prompan

Jatuporn Prompan
จตุพร พรหมพันธุ์
Jatuporn on UDD stage at Ratchaprasong, 2010
Personal details
Born Jatuporn Prompan
October 5, 1965
Surat Thani
 Thailand
Nationality Thai
Political party Pheu Thai Party (since 2008)
People's Power Party (2007-08)
Thai Rak Thai (1998-2007)
Palang Dharma (1996-98)
Other political
affiliations
UDD ("Red Shirts")
Alma mater Ramkhamhaeng University
Occupation Political activist
Religion Buddhist

Jatuporn Prompan (Thai: จตุพร พรหมพันธุ์; rtgs: Chatuphon Phromphan; Thai pronunciation: [t͡ɕàʔtùʔpʰɔːn pʰrompʰan]; born October 5, 1965) is a Thai politician and activist. He is one of the core leaders of the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the "Red Shirts", and a former Member of Parliament of the Pheu Thai Party.

Early life and education

Jatuporn was born in Amphoe Ban Na San, Surat Thani Province to Chuan Prompan and his wife Nuam Buakaew. At age 8, Jatuporn went to live with his older brother in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Following his father's death in 1977, he stayed at Bangkok's Wat Bowonniwet temple, where his brother was then a Buddhist monk. He completed vocational school training in building construction, then volunteered to teach in a remote, mountainous area near Chiang Mai. He returned to Bangkok 3 years later and studied political science at open admission Ramkhamhaeng University, eventually graduating with a bachelor's degree. Jatuporn is married and has three daughters.[1]

Political activism

Jatuporn Prompan at a UDD rally at Rajamangala Stadium, 2008

In the May 1992 pro-democracy uprising after government troops secured the area around Phan Fa Bridge and the Democracy Monument, Jatuporn joined protest leaders in demonstrations at Ramkhamhaeng University, eventually resulting in military-backed Prime Minister Suchinda Kraprayoon's resignation on 24 May 1992.

Jatuporn joined the Palang Dharma Party in 1996, but he defected to Thaksin Shinawatra's new Thai Rak Thai Party two years later. After the dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai Party for vote buying, he ran as a candidate of the People's Power Party in the 2007 parliamentary election. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the Power Party was simply a proxy for the already banned TRT. Jatuporn moved to the Pheu Thai Party and retained his seat as an MP and became one of the core leaders of the pro-Thaksin National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), commonly known as the "Red Shirts".

Jatuporn led the Red-shirts in the massive 2010 Thai political protests that seized control of downtown Bangkok and culminated in violence in April and May. Jatuporn, Nattawut Saikua and other Red-Shirt leaders surrendered to police to prevent further bloodshed following the military crackdown on 19 May 2010.[2]

Jatuporn, along with Nisit Sinthuprai, was jailed on terrorism charges for alleged involvement in the shooting of Army Major General "Seh Daeng" Khattiya Sawasdipol,[3] after bail was denied on 12 May 2011.

Jatuporn, number 8 on the Pheu Thai party list candidates, was unable to vote in the general election on 3 July. This disqualified him from serving as a Member of Parliament.[4] However, when the House of Representatives was convoked, the Election Commission (EC) ignored this and endorsed Jatuporn's status as a party list MP,[5] and he was released on bail on 2 August 2011.[6]

In November 2011, the Election Commission reconsidered its approval, forwarding the matter to the Constitutional Court. On 18 May 2012, the court ruled that Jatuporn was ineligible.[7]

He remains active in Red-Shirt affairs and on 16 March 2014 he was named their leader, replacing Thida Thavornseth, who was considered too non-violent.[8]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jatuporn Prompan.
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  1. Jansuttipan, Monruedee (December 22, 2011), "Red Shirt Leader Jatuporn Prompan on Politics, Thaksin and Fears of Assassination", BK Magazine, archived from the original on August 31, 2012
  2. James Hookway (May 20, 2010). "Spreading Violence Locks Down Bangkok". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  3. "'Conspiracy' behind' Seh Daeng death". Bangkok Post. June 23, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  4. "New bid soon for Jatuporn's release". Bangkok Post. July 4, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  5. "Jatuporn finally gets his MP status". Bangkok Post. August 2, 2011. Retrieved 3 Aug 2011.
  6. "Jatuporn, Nisit out of jail". Bangkok Post. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  7. Laohong, King-Oua; Sattaburuth, Aekarach (May 19, 2012). "Jatuporn banned as MP". Bangkok Post.
  8. "Red shirts welcome Jatuporn". Bangkok Post. March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.