Banharn Silpa-archa | |
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บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา | |
 Banharn before 1977 | |
| 21stPrime Minister of Thailand | |
| In office 13 July 1995 – 25 November 1996 | |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Preceded by | Chuan Leekpai |
| Succeeded by | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 27 May 1994 – 19 May 1995 | |
| Prime Minister | Chuan Leekpai |
| Preceded by | Pramarn Adireksarn |
| Succeeded by | Chuan Leekpai |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 7 April 1992 – 9 June 1992 | |
| Prime Minister | Suchinda Kraprayoon |
| Preceded by | Nukul Prachuabmoh |
| Succeeded by | Nukul Prachuabmoh |
| In office 5 August 1986 – 3 August 1988 | |
| Prime Minister | Prem Tinsulanonda |
| Preceded by | Samak Sundaravej |
| Succeeded by | Montri Pongpanich |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 14 December 1990 – 23 February 1991 | |
| Prime Minister | Chatichai Choonhavan |
| Preceded by | Veeraopng Ramangkoon |
| Succeeded by | Sutee Singsane |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 9 January 1990 – 9 December 1990 | |
| Prime Minister | Chatichai Choonhavan |
| Preceded by | Pramarn Adireksarn |
| Succeeded by | Pramarn Adireksarn |
| Minister of Industry | |
| In office 3 March 1988 – 9 January 1990 | |
| Prime Minister | Chatichai Choonhavan |
| Preceded by | Pramual Sabhavasu |
| Succeeded by | Pramarn Adireksarn |
| Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives | |
| In office 3 March 1980 – 4 March 1981 | |
| Prime Minister | Prem Tinsulanonda |
| Preceded by | Kriangsak Chamanan |
| Succeeded by | Arnat Arpapirom |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tekchiang Saebe 19 August 1932 Doem Bang Nang Buat,Suphan Buri, Thailand |
| Died | 23 April 2016(2016-04-23) (aged 83) Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital,Bangkok Noi,Bangkok, Thailand |
| Political party | Thai Nation (Chart Thai) (1974–2008) Chart Thai Pattana (2009–2016) |
| Spouse | Jamsai Silpa-archa |
| Children |
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| Relatives |
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| Profession |
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| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Thailand |
| Branch/service | Volunteer Defense Corps |
| Years of service | 1990-2016[1] |
| Rank | VDC Gen. (Honour Rank) |
Banharn Silpa-archa[2][3] (Thai:บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา,RTGS: Banhan Sinlapa-acha,Thai pronunciation:[ban.hǎːnsǐn.lá.pà.ʔaː.t͡ɕʰaː];Chinese:馬德祥,mǎdéxiáng; 19 August 1932 – 23 April 2016) was a Thai politician. He was thePrime Minister of Thailand from 1995 to 1996. Banharn made a fortune in the construction business before he became aMember of Parliament representing his home province ofSuphan Buri. He held different cabinet posts in several governments. In 1994, he became the leader of theThai Nation Party. In 2008, the party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court and Banharn was banned from politics for five years.
Banharn was born on 19 August 1932 inSuphan Buri to a Teochew Chinese merchant family.[4] His birth name wasTekchiang Saebe (Chinese:馬德祥;pinyin:Mǎ Déxiáng;[5]Thai:เต็กเชียง แซ่เบ๊). He marriedKhunying Jamsai Silpa-archa and they have three children.[4]
Banharn dropped out of secondary school duringWorld War II. He went to work with his older brother, then founded his own building company. Years later, when he was a politician, he completed his education at theopen admissionsRamkhamhaeng University, graduating with aBachelor of Laws degree in 1986, and finally a Master of Laws.[6]
Banharn's construction company was very successful in the 1960s, when large sums were invested in major infrastructure projects, including military facilities. His business made Banharn a billionaire.[6]
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Banharn Silpa-archa was persuaded to enter politics byBooneua Prasertsuwan, a veteran member of theHouse of Representatives.[7] In 1976, Banharn Silpa-archa made his political debut when he was elected a Member of Parliament, representing Suphan Buri Province. He joined theThai Nation Party, a conservative party dominated by the "Rajakru clan" aroundPramarn Adireksarn andChatichai Choonhavan. His party participated in a coalition government under Prime MinisterSeni Pramoj and Banharn was appointed deputy minister of industry. He was elected to theSenate in 1977, but returned to represent his constituency in the House of Representatives the next year. Banharn was re-elected Member of Parliament for Suphan Buri in all following elections, receiving steadily more than 100,000 votes (60 to 90 percent of the votes cast), which made him one of the highest vote-getters in the country.[6]
He sponsored the construction of schools, bridges, and other infrastructure in his home province, which in turn were named after him. This has led to the common saying that he "owns the province".[6] When his party was a junior partner in the government ofPrem Tinsulanonda from 1980 to 1983, Banharn wasMinister of Agriculture. In 1981, he became secretary-general of the Thai Nation Party. Banharn, being one of the main financiers of the party, accumulated considerable influence inside the party, although he was not a member of the originally dominant Rajakru clan. The local press has once dubbed him "Mr. (Mobile) ATM" (automated teller machine), due to the suspicion that he had bought the loyalty of political associates in exchange for money.[6]
In 1986 Prime Minister Prem again called him up to the government, this time naming him Minister of Transport. After his party had won the elections in 1988 and Thai Nation leader Chatichai Choonhavan had become Prime Minister, Banharn was appointedMinister of Industry. In January 1990, he switched offices with Pramarn Adireksarn and becameinterior minister. In December of the same year, Chatichai made himMinister of Finance. The Chatichai government was deposed by a military coup d'état in 1991. Banharn returned to the cabinet as early as April 1992, when he once again became Minister of Transport in the short-lived government of GeneralSuchinda Kraprayoon. His party went into opposition after early elections in September 1992. Banharn took over the leadership of the Thai Nation Party from Pramarn Adireksarn in 1994 and also became officialleader of the opposition.[4]
Under the leadership of Banharn, the Thai Nation Party won theparliamentary election in 1995, and he became the 21stPrime Minister of Thailand, leading a seven-party coalition. Banharn was involved in numerous corruption scandals, one of which diminished confidence in his administration and caused him to resign.[8] His short-lived yet inept administration is believed to have paved the way for the economic crisis of 1997.[9]
On 21 January 2008, Banharn announced that his Thai Nation Party would join a coalition with thePeople's Power Party, successor to theThai Rak Thai Party of former Prime MinisterThaksin Shinawatra. Due to his earlier vow before theEmerald Buddha never to rejoin Thaksin because of the corruption scandals, this move reinforced Banharn's image as a "slippery eel".[10]
Upon the dissolution of his Thai Nation Party by theConstitutional Court on 2 December 2008, Banharn Silpa-archa was banned from politics for five years. Non-executive members of the Thai Nation Party immediately founded theChartthaipattana Party (Thai National Development), chaired by Banharn's younger brother,Chumpol Silpa-archa. Chumphol wasMinister of Tourism and Sports in thecabinet ofAbhisit Vejjajiva. His sonVarawut was deputy transport minister, and his daughter Kanchana was deputy education minister.[11]
Banharn died ofasthma on the morning of 23 April 2016 atSiriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital at the age of 83.[12][13]
On 23 April 2019, a bronze statue of Banharn Silpa-archa was opening in the vicinity of the province's city shrine by the donations of Suphanburi people and the Silpa-archa family contributed to the remaining part to commemorate the things that Banharn has done for Suphanburi Province for over 40 years.[14][15]
Banharn has received the following royal decorations in theHonours System of Thailand:
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Knight Commander (Second Class, lower grade) of The Most IllustriousOrder of Chula Chom Klao_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most AdmirableOrder of the Direkgunabhorn_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most ExaltedOrder of the White Elephant_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most NobleOrder of the Crown of Thailand.svg)
Red Cross Medal of Appreciation (First Class)_ribbon.png)
Border Service Medal
Japan: Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Rising Sun
United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Crossof the Most DistinguishedOrder of St Michael and St George (GCMG)[16]
Media related toBanharn Silpa-Archa at Wikimedia Commons
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Thailand 1995–1996 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | Chairperson ofASEAN 1995 | Succeeded by |
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