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54-473: The Thai Nation Party was founded in 1974 by Chatichai Choonhavan , son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan , and his in-laws Pramarn Adireksarn and Siri Siriyothin, who were at the time major-generals like him. The three belonged to the "Rajakru clan", a military, economic and political interest group established by Field Marshal Phin. The party represented the rightist and pro-military wing of Thai politics during

108-590: A constituency in Nakhon Ratchasima Province . The Thai Nation Party joined a government coalition under Kukrit Pramoj . Chatichai served as minister of foreign affairs from 17 March 1975 to 21 April 1976. After the snap election in April 1976 , in which the Thai Nation Party expanded its share of seats significantly, he was minister of industry in the government of Seni Pramoj until it was overthrown by

162-545: A final decision. Abhisit said that the elections "lacked legitimacy' and were an attempt by Thaksin to "divert public attention." from the Shin Corp scandal. "Boycotting the poll is one option but the parties still have to explore other possibilities allowed by the constitution," he said. Thaksin's behaviour was "exposing the country to a new political system, the Thaksin system, which bent the constitution,". Abhisit said. "The charter

216-1592: A hospital in London. received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand: Monarchy of Thailand Prime Ministers of Thailand Military dictators Institutions Key events April 2006 Thailand legislative election Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) Dipangkorn Rasmijoti Paetongtarn Shinawatra ( PTP ) Phumtham Wechayachai ( PTP ) Suriya Juangroongruangkit ( PTP ) Anutin Charnvirakul ( BTP ) Pirapan Salirathavibhaga ( UTN ) Pichai Chunhavajira ( PTP ) Prasert Jantararuangtong ( PTP ) Wan Muhamad Noor Matha ( PCC ) Mongkol Surasajja [REDACTED] Wan Muhamad Noor Matha ( PCC ) Pichet Chuamuangphan ( PTP ) Paradorn Prissanananthakul ( BTP ) Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut ( PP ) [REDACTED] Mongkol Surasajja Kriangkrai Srirak Bunsong Noisophon President: Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul President: Prasitsak Meelarp President: Nakarin Mektrairat Diplomatic missions of / in Thailand Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Borders : Cambodia Laos Malaysia Myanmar (Maritime : India Indonesia Vietnam) Foreign aid General elections were held in Thailand in April 2006. Elections for

270-587: A leading communication company, for 73 billion baht (about $ US1.88 billion), an enormous profit on which the Shinawatras legally paid no tax, even though family members bought and sold shares in the company in a 24-hour period. This sparked a series of angry demonstrations in the capital. Nevertheless, Thaksin's parliamentary position was under no threat. The English-language newspaper the Bangkok Post reported Thaksin as saying, "I cannot allow mob rule to supersede

324-666: A long-standing, prestigious, all-boys school in Bangkok, and at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy . He entered active military service as second lieutenant and cavalry platoon leader in 1940. During World War II , he was assigned to the Phayap Army ("Northwest Army"), under the command of his father Phin, and participated in the invasion of the Shan States of Burma . After the war, he continued his training at

378-584: A military coup d'état after the Thammasat University massacre of 6 October 1976. From 1980 to 1983, Chatichai served as industry minister under Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda . After three years of opposition, the party returned to government and Chatichai was deputy prime minister under Prem. The Thai Nation Party won the most votes in the 1988 Thai general election , resulting in Chatichai being appointed prime minister on 4 August 1988. This made him

432-405: A pledge to implement constitutional reforms. The Bangkok Post reported Abhisit as saying that "under the current circumstances" a fair general election was unlikely. What was likely, he said, "was an election that would yield the outcome Mr Thaksin was expecting." "The prime minister does not respond to the intention of the three political parties," Abhisit said. "He is diverting from the heart of

486-502: A reinforcement of the role of Parliament, in which many businessmen from the province were represented who had gained wealth and growing political ambitions, vis-à-vis the traditionally powerful, but not democratically legitimised administration. Chatichai's government was deposed by a military coup d'état in 1991. The putschists accused the Prime Minister and several other members of the cabinet of having acquired "unusual wealth". After

540-484: A reinforcement of the role of parliament, in which politicians from the provinces were strongly represented, in contrast with the unelected power elites in the administration and military which had made political decisions during the tenure of Chatichai's predecessor, Prem Tinsulanonda. Chatichai's government emphasised the economic development of the periphery at the expense of Bangkok's big businesses and military expenditures, which it tried to cut. These policies challenged

594-469: A rejection of his call for an overwhelming mandate. In parts of Bangkok and in southern Thailand, most TRT candidates were elected on minority votes after the majority of voters used the "abstain" option on their ballot papers. In a number of southern seats TRT candidates failed to poll the required 20% of registered voters, rendering these southern seats invalid and resulting in party dissolution charges against Thai Rak Thai and Democrat Parties. TRT won all

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648-449: A relative and confidante of Princess Mother Srinagarindra —the mother of kings Ananda Mahidol and Bhumibol Adulyadej . Chatichai and Boonruen had two children, daughter Wanee Hongpraphas, and their son political scientist, social activist, and former senator Kraisak Choonhavan . The former deputy prime minister Korn Dapparansi is his nephew. Chatichai studied at Debsirin School ,

702-526: A seven-party coalition supporting Democrat Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. In the 2001 elections , the Thai Nation Party won 41 out of 500 seats and formed a coalition government with the largest party, the populist Thai Rak Thai , formerly led and co-founded by tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra . The party lost some seats in the 2005 elections , despite the support of the popular politician and former " massage parlour " owner Chuwit Kamolvisit . The party won 11.4% of

756-447: Is like starving yourself to death." In the general election of 1988 , the Thai Nation Party won the most votes, resulting in its leader Chatichai Choonhavan becoming the prime minister. Chatichai was the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand in over a decade. Chatichai's government became known as the "buffet cabinet" for its members scrambling overtly over the distribution of public funds. The Thai Nation Party advocated

810-651: The 1991 coup d'état . Chatichai was the only son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan and Khunying Wibunlak Choonhavan. His father was the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1948 to 1954 and exerted a strong influence on the country's politics and economy. Chatichai had four sisters. The eldest was married to General Phao Siyanon , who was one of Thailand's strongmen during the 1950s. Another sister married Pramarn Adireksarn , who later became Chatichai's political ally. Chatichai married Boonruen Sopoj,

864-562: The 1992 Black May , he founded the National Development Party and was again elected in his constituency in Nakhon Ratchasima . Chatichai was known for his fondness of cigars , fine wines, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Even in old age, he practised several sports and visited parties and discothèques, earning him a reputation of being a playboy. On 6 May 1998, at the age of 78, Chatichai died from liver cancer in

918-780: The Sihanouk -led Government of Cambodia. Chatichai's government initiated many infrastructure projects, including an expansion of the telecommunications network in partnership with the state-owned Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT), development of the Eastern seaboard of Thailand , and road and rail networks in partnership with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) in the Greater Bangkok Area . During Chatichai's premiership, Thailand's economy saw annual growth rates of up to 13 percent. Under Chatichai's government, there

972-560: The Thai Nation Party taking 26 seats. The opposition Democratic Party of Thailand won 96 seats. Thaksin's decision to call early elections followed a mounting campaign of criticism of his personal financial dealings. In January the government changed regulations for telecommunications companies allowing an increase in foreign ownership from 24% to 49%, and within the same month he and his family sold its stake in Shin Corporation ,

1026-495: The coalition government since 2008. Chatichai Choonhavan Chatichai Choonhavan ( Thai : ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ ; RTGS :  Chatchai Chunhawan , pronounced [tɕʰâːt.tɕʰāːj tɕʰūn.hà.wān] ; 5 April 1920 – 6 May 1998) was a Thai army officer, diplomat and politician. From 1986 to 1991, he was the chairman of the Thai Nation Party and served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from August 1988 until

1080-620: The 2007 election. The non-executive MPs of the parties were given 60 days to defect to new or existing parties. MPs from the Chart Thai and Matchima parties announced that they would stick with MPs from the PPP party in forming a new government, but failed to do so due to the party dissolution. Thereafter, most former Chart Thai MPs and members convened to found the Chart Thai Pattana Party ( Thai Nation Development Party ), which has been part of

1134-536: The Central, Northern and North-Eastern regions voted overwhelmingly for TRT candidates, who were unopposed in the great majority of seats in these regions. But the majority of voters in Bangkok and in the Southern region rejected the government. In many constituencies in these areas voters used the "abstain" option on their ballot papers to reject TRT candidates, even when they were running unopposed. TRT received fewer votes than

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1188-511: The Choonhavan clan (also known as the Soi Rajakru clan , after the family's residence) of having embezzled millions of dollars of public funds and hiding them in Swiss bank accounts. This ended Chatichai's military career. Chatichai was transferred to the diplomatic service and assigned to the relatively unimportant post of ambassador to Argentina. During the following years he consecutively served as

1242-482: The Democratic Party and the Thai Nation Party to boycott the elections meant that almost the whole of southern Thailand lost its previous political representation, since at the 2005 election, Thaksin's party won only one seat in the south. Unofficial results published by Bangkok newspapers showed that TRT received over 61% of all valid votes (about 53% of all votes cast), and won about 460 of the 500 seats. Voters in

1296-491: The House of Representatives, partly as a result of the decision by the major opposition parties to boycott the elections . Nearly complete results showed that TRT received 61% of the valid vote and about 460 of the 500 seats. Despite this, Thaksin announced his resignation two days after the election. Although TRT easily won the election in terms of both votes and seats, the results were seen by Thaksin's opponents and media critics as

1350-537: The March 1992 general election, the Thai Nation Party — now led by Air Chief Marshal Somboon Rahong — joined a military-sponsored coalition led by the Justice Unity Party (Samakkhi Tham) , under coup leader General Suchinda Kraprayoon . During the street protests and bloody crackdown of Black May 1992 , it was therefore considered one of the "devil parties". One of the party's factions rejected this alliance and left

1404-496: The PAD claimed that this allowed onlookers to peek over voters' shoulders and see who they voted for. After unofficial voting results became public, the PAD declared that it would ignore the results of the election. He further said that the "PAD will go on rallying until Thaksin resigns and Thailand gets a royally-appointed prime minister". The elections were finally declared invalid by Thailand's Constitutional Court , which found that

1458-653: The Palestinian Black September organisation in December 1972, he and the Agriculture Minister Dawee Chullasapya negotiated with the terrorists. In exchange for the release of the Israeli diplomats, they lent themselves as guarantees and accompanied the terrorists on their freedom flight to Cairo . Chatichai continued as deputy foreign minister after the 1973 democratic uprising , serving in

1512-722: The Thai Army Cavalry School and the United States Army Armor School in Fort Knox , Kentucky. In 1949, he was appointed military attaché in Washington, DC . At the age of 31, Chatichai was a major-general. In 1951, the military, led by Chatichai's father and his brother-in-law, Phao Siyanon, effectively assumed power in Thailand in a " silent coup ". They used their political influence to extend their activities to

1566-629: The Thai ambassador to Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia, the Holy See and the United Nations . In 1972, he returned to Bangkok to become the director of the Foreign Ministry 's political department. In the government of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn , Chatichai was appointed deputy minister of foreign affairs in 1972. During the hostage-taking in the Israeli embassy by a terrorist commando of

1620-758: The country's traditional elites. On 23 February 1991, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Sunthorn Kongsompong , and the generals of the Chulalongkorn Military Academy class 5, Suchinda Kraprayoon , Issarapong Noonpakdi , and Kaset Rojananil , formed the National Peace Keeping Council to depose Chatichai's government in a coup d'état. They accused the elected government of massive corruption and abuse of power for its own advantage. They charged several cabinet members, including Chatichai, with "unusual wealth". At

1674-518: The country. In 1994 Banharn Silpa-archa, a billionaire construction building contractor and "godfather of Suphan Buri ", became the party's chairman. The party won the 1995 elections that were heavily tainted with vote-buying. Banharn became Prime Minister, but his government coalition broke as early as in November 1996. After new elections, Chart Thai was in opposition against the short-lived government of Chavalit Yongchaiyudh . In November 1997, it joined

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1728-652: The economic sphere. Chatichai served in the Korean War as the commander of the 1st Cavalry Battalion. Then, he became director and commander of the Thai Army Armor School. In 1957, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat —a rival of Chatichai's father and brother-in-law—staged a coup d'état against the government of Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram . He ousted the Phin-Phao clique and filled the important political and military posts with his own followers. The new regime accused

1782-461: The first democratically elected head of government after 12 years of dictatorship and "semi-democracy". His government improved relations with communist-ruled Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, which had been Thailand's enemies during the Cold War . It promoted international trade with these countries and others. Chatichai's slogan was to turn Indochina "from a battlefield into a marketplace". It also supported

1836-505: The government . The elections followed the decision by Prime Minister Thaksin to dissolve the House of Representatives. King Bhumibol Adulyadej granted Thaksin a dissolution even though the last election was held only in February 2005, and even though Thaksin's party had a huge majority in the House. At the February 2005 election, the TRT won 375 seats out of 500, with its former coalition partner,

1890-492: The interim cabinet of Sanya Dharmasakti . In December 1973, one and a half years before Thailand officially established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, Chatichai and Dawee—who was then minister of defence —were the first Thai government officials to visit Beijing . There, they negotiated a contract for the supply of 50,000 tons of diesel oil at a "friendship price" and promised to remove trade barriers between

1944-435: The law," and citing intelligence reports of "instigators of violence" seeking to exploit the divisive situation as a reason for dissolving the House of Representatives. The country could not suffer a new round of "bruises" when it was still suffering from the violent events of May 1992, with relatives of victims still to be healed, Thaksin said. Thaksin also cited the impact on the economy of the political situation, pointing to

1998-577: The lower house of the Thai National Assembly , the House of Representatives , were held on 2 April 2006 and elections for the upper house, the Senate , were held on 19 April 2006. The Constitutional Court later invalidated the House of Representatives election results and ordered a new round of voting. The ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won a majority seats in

2052-603: The number of abstention votes in 28 of 36 Bangkok constituencies. In 2005, TRT won 30 of the Bangkok seats. On 3 April 2006 the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) petitioned the Administrative Court to suspend the results of the election and accused the Election Commission of violating voter privacy. The EC repositioned voting booths so that voters' backs were to the public, whereas in previous elections, voters faced

2106-452: The party to found the National Development Party (Chart Pattana) . It was led by former Thai Nation leader and Prime Minister Chatichai. After return to democracy in 1992, the Thai Nation Party became the main opposition force against the Democrat -led government of Chuan Leekpai . In a 1993 representative survey, 50% of the respondents identified the Thai Nation Party as the most corrupt of

2160-537: The popular vote and 27 out of 500 seats. Due to policy conflicts, the Chart Thai Party subsequently defected from the coalition with the Thai Rak Thai party. The party, along with the 2 other largest opposition parties, boycotted the elections of April 2006 hoping to make it impossible for a new Thai Rak Thai-led government to form. The Thai Nation Party participated in the 2007 general election and won 8.87% of

2214-515: The positioning of the voting booths violated voter privacy. The Constitutional Court later pressured the Election Commission to resign for its management of the April elections. The Court was unsuccessful in pressuring the EC head to resign; however, it did prevent the Senate from appointing a replacement for commissioner Jaral Buranapansri who had died. This prevented the EC from having a quorum. It later found

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2268-483: The principles of good governance and ethics, not authoritarianism." The next day, however, it was announced that the Democratic Party, along with other opposition parties, were considering boycotting the elections. At a press conference Abhisit joined the Thai Nation Party's Banharn Silpa-archa and the Mahachon Party 's Sanan Kachornprasart and said that the three parties would consult with party members before making

2322-457: The public, with a board one-half meter tall at the front of the booth separating the voter from the public. The EC claimed the new arrangement was designed to prevent various forms of poll fraud including the use of cameras by voters to take photographs of their ballots. After the 2005 election, cameras and cameraphones had been banned from voting stations due to fears that canvassers would demand ballot photographs in return for money. However,

2376-445: The questions it had raised about the future of megaprojects and the ups and downs on the stock market. "I am ready to accept the decisions of the people. But I will never accept those outside the system who claim to be deciding for the people," he said. On 25 February the Post reported Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as saying he was "ready to become a prime minister who adheres to

2430-502: The relatively liberal and democratic years from 1973 to 1976. During the campaign for the election in April 1976 , the party called for "the Right to kill the Left", and party chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Pramarn declared in a cabinet meeting on October 6, 1976, that it was the right moment to destroy the student movement, which was eventually executed in the Thammasat University massacre . In

2484-496: The same time, they acted in the interest of the traditional elite of the bureaucracy, military and Bangkokian business circles, whose influence the Chatichai government had sought to curtail. The coup group called the form of governance under Chatichai "parliamentary dictatorship" and alleged a moral decline. Chatichai temporarily went into exile in the United Kingdom. After his return, he continued his political activity. After

2538-521: The seats in the Northern and North-Eastern ( Isan ) regions, and also in the Central region apart from Bangkok. Due to the election result, King Bhumibol Adulyadej took the unprecedented step of calling the elections undemocratic, and soon later the election was declared invalid by the Constitutional Court. New elections were scheduled for October 2006, but were canceled when the military overthrew

2592-515: The solution and creating the process that sees only uncertainties and complications. That does not assure us that there will be serious political reform." Deputy Thai Rak Thai leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan said that the government was doing its best to find a way out of the political crisis. "Dissolving the House to return power to the people is the best way out under this constitution and democracy," she said. "But you do not accept it. What better choice could Thai Rak Thai make?" The decision by

2646-410: The subsequent elections 1976, 1979, 1983 and 1986, the party consistently was the second-strongest party. During the 1980s, the party deideologized itself. It was a "government party" that tried to be part of the ruling coalition at any rate. Only between 1983 and 1986 it was the main parliamentary opposition. According to then-secretary general Banharn Silpa-archa , "for a politician, being in opposition

2700-506: The title of a popular song by folk rock singer Aed Carabao and entered Thai common parlance. Chatichai was heavily criticised when he tried to downplay the damage caused by Typhoon Gay , which resulted in 360 deaths, in the same way. The formerly right-wing Thai Nation Party had de-ideologized itself and now represented the interests of the rising class of provincial businessmen. It pursued policies that boosted their businesses and involved them in lucrative government contracts. It advocated

2754-473: The two nations. In 1974, Chatichai and his in-laws Pramarn Adireksarn and Siri Siriyothin —also major generals—founded the conservative and aggressively anti-communist Thai Nation Party ( Chart Thai ). It ran in the January 1975 general election , the first democratic election after the end of military dictatorship, and became the third-strongest party. Chatichai was elected member of parliament, representing

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2808-613: The vote (37 of 480 seats), coming in third after the People Power Party (led by former Thai Rak Thai members) and the Democrats . In January 2008, the Thai Nation Party joined the PPP and five others in the six-party coalition government. Along with the coalition members People Power Party and Matchima , the Thai Nation Party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court on December 2, 2008, with party executives banned from Thai politics for five years, amid charges of electoral fraud during

2862-406: Was once the people's charter. Now it has been hijacked." Banharn said the sudden dissolution left opposition political parties "no time to prepare a list of constituency candidates and list candidates." Only Thai Rak Thai was well equipped with wealth, people and power," he said. On 27 February the three opposition parties announced a boycott of the election after Thaksin reportedly refused to sign

2916-440: Was rampant corruption. The parties and politicians in Chatichai's coalition scrambled overtly over the distribution of public funds. The Thai press dubbed them the "buffet cabinet", referring to their "take-what-you-like" mentality. Chatichai's standard answer whenever he was confronted by the press with difficulties or corruption allegations against members of his government was "no problem". A parody variant, "no plomplam", became

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