Kraisak Choonhavan

Kraisak Choonhavan (Thai: ไกรศักดิ์ ชุณหะวัณ, born 8 October 1947 in Bangkok) is a Thai politician. He was a member of the Senate for Nakhon Ratchasima Province from 2000 till 2006.

Born as son of former prime minister General Chatichai Choonhavan and Than Phu Ying Bunruen Choonhavan, Kraisak received a bachelor's degree in International Relations at the George Washington University, U.S., and master's degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, United Kingdom. He taught political economy at the Kasetsart University (1976–1989) and was known for his development studies; taught politics of South East Asia countries and became an activist on regional human rights and the environment. He was adviser to the Prime Minister (1989–91) and was in charge of peace negotiation with Cambodia. After the coup in 1991, he was appointed chief adviser to the Governor of Bangkok (until 1995)on urban pollution and arts and culture. He was elected senator in 2001 and became the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate prior to the 2006 Thailand coup.

In the senate he was a leading member of a progressive group of 45 senators who opposed human right violations, corruption and other abuses under the Thaksin Shinawatra government. He was often interviewed on these issues by the BBC, ABC, CNN, Reuters, AP and other international media agenies.

After the coup, local media claimed that the military junta approached him to become the foreign minister of the interim civilian government. However, he denied the junta made such an approach.

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