Thanom Kittikachorn | |
|---|---|
ถนอม กิตติขจร | |
 Thanom in 1968 | |
| 10thPrime Minister of Thailand | |
| In office 9 December 1963 – 14 October 1973 | |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Deputy | See list |
| Preceded by | Sarit Thanarat |
| Succeeded by | Sanya Dharmasakti |
| In office 1 January 1958 – 20 October 1958 | |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Deputy | See list |
| Preceded by | Pote Sarasin |
| Succeeded by | Sarit Thanarat |
| Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces | |
| In office 11 December 1963 – 30 September 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Sarit Thanarat |
| Succeeded by | Dawee Chullasapya |
| Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army | |
| In office 11 December 1963 – 1 October 1964 | |
| Preceded by | Sarit Thanarat |
| Succeeded by | Praphas Charusathien |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand | |
| In office 9 February 1959 – 8 December 1963 | |
| Prime Minister | Sarit Thanarat |
| Preceded by | Sukich Nimmanheminda |
| Succeeded by | Praphas Charusathien |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 19 December 1972 – 14 October 1973 | |
| Prime Minister | himself |
| Preceded by | Jaroonphan Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya |
| Succeeded by | Jaroonphan Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya |
| President ofChiang Mai University[citation needed] | |
| In office 21 February 1964 – 20 February 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | himself |
| Preceded by | University established |
| Succeeded by | Sukich Nimmanheminda |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 23 September 1957 – 14 October 1973 | |
| Prime Minister |
|
| Preceded by | Plaek Phibunsongkhram |
| Succeeded by | Dawee Chullasapya |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thanom[a] (1911-08-11)11 August 1911 Tak, Nakhon Sawan, Siam (nowMueang Tak, Tak, Thailand) |
| Died | 16 June 2004(2004-06-16) (aged 92) Bangkok, Thailand |
| Party | United Thai People's Party |
| Other political affiliations | National Socialist Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6, includingNarong |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Thailand |
| Branch/service |  Royal Thai Army |
| Years of service | 1929–1973 |
| Rank | |
| Commands | Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces |
| Battles/wars | |
Thanom Kittikachorn (Thai:ถนอม กิตติขจร,RTGS: Thanom Kittikhachon,pronounced[tʰā.nɔ̌ːmkìt.tì(ʔ).kʰā.tɕɔ̄ːn]; 11 August 1911 – 16 June 2004) wasPrime Minister of Thailand from 1963 to 1973. Prior to taking office, he supported and initiated military coups and served as Thailand's defence minister. He was forced to step down afterpublic protests which exploded into violence in 1973. His return from exile in 1976 sparked protests which led toa massacre of demonstrators, followed bya military coup.
Thanom Kittikachorn was born to Hainamese parents[1] inTak Province toKhun Amphan Kittikachorn and his wife, Linchee Kittikachorn. His family was ofThai Chinese descent.[2] He attended Wat Koak Plu Municipal School, then was admitted to the Army Cadet Academy. After receiving his commission, he reported for duty with Infantry Regiment VII inChiang Mai. Thanom later studied at the Cartography School and the Infantry School, and graduated from the National Defense College in its first class.
After theBritish Raj colonial destructions and serving in the Shan States of Burma during theBritish Raj, then Lieutenant Colonel Thanom took part in a successful 1947 coup headed by ColonelSarit Thanarat. He became a regimental commander and was head of theLopburi military department. He was soon promoted to colonel, commanding the 11th Infantry Division. Thanom was appointed amember of parliament in 1951, his first political role. He was promoted to major general the same year.
In February 1953, Thanom led the suppression of a rebellion against military rule, and was rewarded with promotion to lieutenant general. He represented Thailand at the ceremony to mark the end of theKorean War in July 1953 and was later promoted as commander of the 1st Region Army.
He was appointed deputy cooperatives minister in 1955. Thanom supported Sarit in his coup against the government of Field MarshalPlaek Phibunsongkhram, and was subsequently appointed defence minister inPote Sarasin's puppet regime in 1957. Thanom consolidated his power base as the second military leader and right-hand man of Sarit. A few days after theDecember 1957 general election, in which the pro-governmentSahaphum Party ("United Land") had performed disappointingly, Thanom co-founded theNational Socialist Party(Chat Sangkhomniyom). He became the deputy leader of this party, designed to extend the pro-government camp and win over former members of Phibunsongkhram'sSeri Manangkhasila Party who had been reelected to parliament as independents.[3]
In 1958, he was made a full general and assumed the offices of prime minister and defence minister. He was prime minister for nine months, after which he was replaced by Sarit himself and made deputy prime minister, defence minister, and armed forces deputy supreme commander.
Thanom succeeded his predecessor as prime minister one day after Sarit's death in 1963. He subsequently appointed himself commander-in-chief of the army. One year later, he promoted himself to the concurrent ranks of field marshal,admiral of the fleet, andmarshal of the air force. Thanom continued the pro-American andanti-communist politics of his predecessor, which helped to ensure massive US economic and financial aid during theVietnam War. Although he was personally popular, his regime was known for massive corruption. He established and led theUnited Thai People's Party (Saha Prachathai) in October 1968.
Thanom reappointed himself prime minister in February 1969 after general elections had been completed. The following year saw the beginnings of the1970s peasant revolts in Thailand. Then, in November 1971, he staged aself-coup, citing the need to suppress communist infiltration. He dissolved parliament and appointed himself Chairman of the National Executive Council, and served as a caretaker government for one year. In December 1972, he appointed himself prime minister for a fourth time, also serving as the defence and foreign ministers. Thanom, his son ColonelNarong, and Narong's father-in-law GeneralPraphas Charusathien became known as the "three tyrants".
Public discontent against Thanom's government grew in 1973 following a military poaching incident atThung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary inTak province, and the expulsion of nine students fromRamkhamhaeng University for publishing satire criticising the government. Fuelled by other grievances with Thanom's government, university students began protesting. In early October, mass student demonstrations prompted by the arrest of 13 students and faculty members forced Thanom to agree to the return of a constitutional government.[4] However, tensions escalated on October 14 when the police and military, in an attempt to disband a demonstration in front of theGrand Palace, open fired on the group - 66 were killed, and 876 were injured. Shortly after, King Bhumibol announced over the radio and television that Thanom had resigned as Prime Minister. Fighting between police and students ended on October 15 when it was announced that Thanom, alongside Narong and Praphas, had fled Thailand.[5]
In Thanom's place, Bhumibol appointedSanya Dharmasakti as Prime Minister to form a new government and draft a new constitution.[5] Ageneral election was subsequently held in 1975. However, this period of democracy post-Thanom was short lived when the military staged a coup on 6 October 1976 following Thanom's return from exile.
During his exile, Thanom was ordained atWat Ananda Metyarama in Singapore.[6] In October 1976, Thanom returned to Thailand in the robes of a novice monk,[7] to stay at Bangkok'sWat Bowonniwet. Even though he announced he had no desire to enter politics, his return triggered student protests, which eventually moved onto the campus ofThammasat University. This was only a year afterSouth Vietnam and Thailand's neighborsLaos andCambodia had fallen to the communists, and right-wing Thais suspected the protesters wished the same fate for their own country. On 6 October 1976, right-wing militants, aided by government security forces, stormed the Thammasat campus, violently broke up the protests, andkilled many protesters. That evening, the military seized power from the elected civilian government of Democrat MRSeni Pramoj and installed hard-line royalistThanin Kraivichien as premier.
Thanom soon left his monkhood, but he remained out of politics. Later in his life, he attempted to rehabilitate his tarnished image and recover properties seized when his government was overthrown.
Controversy arose in early 1999 when it became known that Thanom was appointed as an honorary officer of theRoyal Guard by prime ministerChuan Leekpai as recommended by the military.[8] Thanom settled the matter himself by resigning.[9][10]
Thanom Kittikachorn died in 2004 at the age of 92 inBangkok General Hospital, after suffering a stroke and aheart attack two years earlier.[11] His family's medical expenses were paid by KingBhumibol Adulyadej, which some saw as recognition of Thanom's agreeing to the king's request that he leave the country to end the violence in 1973. Thanom's cremation was held on 25 February 2007 at Wat Debsirin. QueenSirikit presided over the cremation ceremony, lighting the royal flame on behalf of King Bhumibol. Her youngest daughter, the PrincessChulabhorn, was also present. Thanom's wife died in 2012, aged 96.
Thanom received the following royal decorations in theHonours System of Thailand:[12]
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Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most IllustriousOrder of Chula Chom Klao
Knight Grand Commander of the HonourableOrder of Rama_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_ribbon.svg)
Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati (Special Class)_ribbon.svg)
Bravery Medal with wreath_ribbon.svg)
Victory Medal -World War II_ribbon.svg)
Victory Medal -Korean War (with flames)_ribbon.svg)
Victory Medal -Vietnam War (with flames)_ribbon.svg)
Freeman Safeguarding Medal (First Class)_ribbon.svg)
Safeguarding the Constitution Medal_ribbon.svg)
Medal for Service Rendered in the Interior_ribbon.svg)
Border Service Medal_ribbon.svg)
Chakra Mala Medal_ribbon.svg)
King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, Third Class_ribbon.svg)
King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, First Class_ribbon.svg)
King Rama VII Coronation Medal_ribbon.svg)
King Rama IX Coronation Medal
150 Years Commemoration of Bangkok Medal_ribbon.svg)
25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal.svg)
Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, First Class
Taiwan :
Special Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Sacred Tripod
Special Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Cloud and Banner
Special Grand Cordon of theOrder of Brilliant Star
Special Grand Cordon of theOrder of Propitious Clouds
Special Breast of the Order of the Yun Hui
South Korea :
Republic of Korea Medal of theOrder of Merit for National Foundation
Taegeuk of theOrder of Military Merit_Blue_Stripes.png)
Blue Stripes of theOrder of Service Merit
South Vietnam :
Grand Cross of theNational Order of Vietnam
Kim Khanh Decoration, First Class
Philippines :
Grand Collar of theOrder of Sikatuna
Chief Commander of theLegion of Honor
Spain :
Grand Cross of theOrder of Civil Merit_pasador.svg)
Grand Cross with White Decoration of theOrder of Military Merit
Vatican City :
Grand Cross of theOrder of St. Gregory the Great
Grand Cross of theOrder of Saint Sylvester
United States :
Commander of theLegion of Merit (4 December 1959)[13]
Officer of theLegion of Merit (8 February 1955)[14]
Denmark :
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Dannebrog
Portugal :
Grand Cross of theOrder of Christ(G.C.C.) (20 January 1961)[15]
Germany :
Grand Cross 1st Class of theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Luxembourg :
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Oak Crown
Sweden :
Commander Grand Cross of theRoyal Order of the Sword
Italy :
Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic(O.M.R.I.)
Netherlands :
Grand Cross of theOrder of Orange-Nassau
Belgium :
Grand Cordon of theOrder of Leopold
Indonesia :_Bintang_Mahaputera_Adipradana.png)
Star of Mahaputera, 2nd Class[16]
Argentina :
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Liberator General San Martín
Japan :
Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Rising Sun
Kingdom of Laos :
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol
United Kingdom :
Honorary Grand Cross of theOrder of St Michael and St George(G.C.M.G.) - Sir.
Ethiopian Empire :_-_ribbon_bar.gif)
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Holy Trinity
Malaya :_-_SMN.svg)
Honorary Grand Commander of theOrder of the Defender of the Realm (1962)[17](S.M.N.) - Tun.
Austria :
Grand Star of theDecoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
Kingdom of Greece :
Grand Cross of theOrder of George I
Kingdom of Norway :
Grand Cross of theOrder of St. Olav
Imperial Iran :
Knight of theOrder of the Crown (Iran)
Tunisia :
United Nations :| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Thailand 1958 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Thailand 1963–1973 | Succeeded by |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by | Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces 1963–1973 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army 1963–1964 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
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