General Kriangsak Chamanan |
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เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันทน์ | |
15th Prime Minister of Thailand | |
In office 11 November 1977 – 3 March 1980 |
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Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
Preceded by | Tanin Kraivixien |
Succeeded by | Prem Tinsulanonda |
Personal details | |
Born | 17 December 1917 |
Died | 23 December 2003 | (aged 86)
Nationality | Thai |
Spouse(s) | Wirat Chomanan |
Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Service/branch | Royal Thai Army |
Years of service | 1940 - 1980 |
Rank | General |
Commands | Supreme Commander |
Battles/wars |
Franco-Thai War World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
General Kriangsak Chamanan (Thai: เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันทน์, pronounced [kria̯ŋ.sàk tɕʰā.má(ʔ).nān]; 17 December 1917 – 23 December 2003) served as prime minister of Thailand from 1977 to 1980.
A professional soldier, Kriangsak fought against the French in the Franco-Thai War, and against the communists in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1977, as Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, he staged a successful coup d'état against Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien.
Kriangsak is widely credited for defusing a long-running Communist insurgency in northern Thailand. Allegedly, he allowed the People's Republic of China to ship arms to the rebel Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in exchange for the PRC withdrawing its support of the communists in Thailand. However, this is denied by the Thai government, which cites his offer of amnesty as the primary reason.
Kriangsak voluntarily retired in February 1980 and was succeeded by General Prem Tinsulanonda.