Chatichai Choonhavan
| Chatichai Choonhavan | |
|---|---|
| ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ | |
 |
|
| 17th Prime Minister of Thailand |
|
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In office 4 August 1988 – 23 February 1991 |
|
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Preceded by | Prem Tinsulanonda |
| Succeeded by | Anand Panyarachun |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
5 April 1920 Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok, Siam |
| Died | 6 May 1998 (aged 78) London, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Political party |
Thai Nation Party (1974–1991) National Development Party (1992–1998) |
| Spouse(s) | Boonruen Choonhavan |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Royal Thai Army |
| Years of service | 1940–57 |
| Rank |
 Major-General
|
| Battles/wars |
Franco-Thai War World War II |
Chatichai Choonhavan (Thai: ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ; rtgs: Chatchai Chunhawan, 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 the coup d'état of February 1991.
Chatichai was the only son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan and Khunying Wibhulak Choonhavan. He was of Thai Chinese descent. His ancestors originated from the Chenghai District of Shantou City, Guangdong Province, China. 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, 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.
Chatichai studied at Debsirin School, 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 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.
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