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Arthit Kamlang-ek

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Arthit Kamlang-ek (31 August 1925 – 19 January 2015; Thai: อาทิตย์ กำลังเอก, Thai pronunciation: [ʔaːtʰít kamlaŋʔèːk]) was a Thai general. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1982 to 1986 and in parallel the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces from 1983 to 1986. He was particularly influential during the 1980s during the government of Prem Tinsulanonda.

Arthit Kamlang-ek
อาทิตย์ กำลังเอก
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
17 December 1994 – 12 July 1995
Prime MinisterChuan Leekpai
In office
26 August 1990 – 23 February 1991
Prime MinisterChatichai Choonhavan
Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
In office
1 October 1983 – 31 August 1986
Preceded bySaiyud Kerdphol
Succeeded bySupa Gajaseni
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office
1 October 1982 – 27 May 1986
Preceded byPrayut Jarumanee
Succeeded byChavalit Yongchaiyudh
Personal details
Born(1925-08-31)31 August 1925
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Siam (now Bangkok, Thailand)
Died19 January 2015(2015-01-19) (aged 89)
Phramongkutklao Hospital, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
Political partyNational Development Party
Other political
affiliations		Thai People's Party (1988-1992)
Justice Unity Party (1992)
Spouse(s)Prapasri Kamlang-ek (div.)
Pornsun Kamlang-ek
ChildrenTitiwat Kamlang-ek
Alma materRoyal Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance Thailand
Branch/service Royal Thai Army
Rank General
CommandsCommander-in-Chief
Supreme Commander

Education and early career

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Arthit graduated from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He later attended the Royal Thai Army's Staff College.

Family

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General Arthit has two sons, one daughter and one stepson. His youngest son, Titiwat Kamlang-ek, has two children: Peerawut Kamlang-ek and Athittaya Kamlang-ek.

1981 Young Turk coup

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General Arthit was a leader of the counter-coup against the Young Turk coup of 1981. Afterwards, he was promoted to Commander of the First Army Region, traditionally regarded as the most strategic post for coups and counter-coups.

Clash with Prem

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General Arthit's subsequent rapid rise to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army in October 1982 was unprecedented.[1] Also serving as the Supreme Commander starting September 1983, General Arthit at times challenged the propriety of key government policies. In November 1984, for example, he made a televised condemnation of the government's currency devaluation policy. Also in 1984, apparently with General Arthit's blessing, some active-duty and retired army officers pressed for constitutional amendments aimed at enhancing their political influence. A showdown between Arthit's camp and Prem's ruling coalition was narrowly averted when General Arthit urged the officers to abandon the amendments.

General Arthit also played a role in the 1985 election which brought Chamlong Srimuang to the governorship of Bangkok. Arthit urged his subordinates and their families to vote against any party that had an anti-military orientation, particularly the Democrats.

Downfall

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In 1986, General Arthit lobbied vigorously to extend his term as Army Commander another year to September 1987, which would allow him to retain influence after the expiration of Prem's term as prime minister.[1] But on March 24, 1986, the government announced that Arthit would be retired as scheduled on September 1, 1986. Then on 27 May, Prem stunned the nation by dismissing Arthit from his position as Army chief and replacing him with General Chaovalit Yongchaiyut, a Prem loyalist. Prior to that, no Army Chief had ever been fired. This unprecedented action came amid the flurry of rumours that the general was involved in behind-the-scenes manoeuvres to undermine Prem's chances for another premiership after the July 1986 parliamentary elections. General Arthit, whose largely ceremonial post as Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces until September 1986 was not affected by the dismissal order, denied any role in such maneuvers.

Post-military career

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In early 1991, Arthit was appointed by Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan as Deputy Defense Minister.[2] Early rumors of his appointment seriously angered many military leaders, especially Army chief Suchinda Kraprayoon and his former classmates from the 5th Class of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. A military coup led by Suchinda and the National Peace Keeping Council soon overthrew Chatichai's government.[3]

Honours

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Foreign honours

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b Nations Encyclopedia, "Thailand: Political Developments: 1980-1987"
  2. ^ Suchit Bunbongkarn, Coups and Democratisation: The Military and Democracy in Thailand
  3. ^ Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe, The Politics of Authoritarianism: The State and Political Soldiers in Burma, Indonesia and Thailand, Chapter 5: Thailand: Military Intervention and the Politics of Authoritarian Domination
  4. ^ HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WASHINGTON, DC, 27 January 1984
  5. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
  6. ^ https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXIV/AB/10542/imfname_251156.pdf [bare URL PDF]
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