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General '''Prayuth Chan-ocha''' ({{lang-th|ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา}}; born 21 March 1954) is a [[Thailand|Thai]] [[Royal Thai Army|army]] officer. Since October 2010, he has been [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Army|Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Terry|last=Fredrickson|title=Gen Prayuth takes command |newspaper=Bangkok Post|date= October 1, 2010|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/199149/gen-prayuth-takes-command|accessdate=March 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ron|last=Corben|title= Thailand's new army chief takes office|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle|DW]]|accessdate=October 1, 2010|accessdate=March 19, 2012|url=http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6066746,00.html|archiveurl=
General Dictator '''Prayuth Chan-ocha''' ({{lang-th|ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา}}; born 21 March 1954) is a [[Thailand|Thai]] [[Royal Thai Army|army]] officer. Since October 2010, he has been [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Army|Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Terry|last=Fredrickson|title=Gen Prayuth takes command |newspaper=Bangkok Post|date= October 1, 2010|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/199149/gen-prayuth-takes-command|accessdate=March 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ron|last=Corben|title= Thailand's new army chief takes office|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle|DW]]|accessdate=October 1, 2010|accessdate=March 19, 2012|url=http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6066746,00.html|archiveurl=
//web.archive.org/web/20140522164247/http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6066746,00.html|archivedate= May 22, 2014}}</ref> On 22 May 2014 he staged [[2014 Thai coup d'état|a coup]] against the caretaker government of Thailand. Since then, he has executed the governmental power as head of the [[National Council for Peace and Order]].
//web.archive.org/web/20140522164247/http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,6066746,00.html|archivedate= May 22, 2014}}</ref> On 22 May 2014 he staged [[2014 Thai coup d'état|a coup]] against the caretaker government of Thailand. Since then, he has executed the governmental power as head of the [[National Council for Peace and Order]].


Revision as of 16:56, 17 June 2014

Prayuth Chan-ocha
ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา
Leader of the National Council for Peace and Order of Thailand
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 May 2014
Preceded byPosition established
Prime Minister of Thailand
Acting
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 May 2014
MonarchBhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded byNiwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan (Acting)
Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 October 2010
Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajiva
Yingluck Shinawatra
Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan (Acting)
Preceded byAnupong Paochinda
Personal details
Born (1954-03-21) 21 March 1954 (age 70)
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Alma materNational Defence College of Thailand
Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance Thailand
Branch/service Royal Thai Army
Rank General

General Dictator Prayuth Chan-ocha (Thai: ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา; born 21 March 1954) is a Thai army officer. Since October 2010, he has been Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army.[1][2] On 22 May 2014 he staged a coup against the caretaker government of Thailand. Since then, he has executed the governmental power as head of the National Council for Peace and Order.

At the time of his appointment as army chief in 2010, Prayuth was characterised as a strong royalist and opponent of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Considered as a hardliner within the military, he was one of the leading proponents of the military crackdowns on the "Red Shirts" uprisings of April 2009 and April/May 2010.[3][4] After his appointment, he sought to moderate his profile, talking to relatives of protesters who were killed in the bloody conflict,[5] and co-operating with the government of Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra[6] who won the parliamentary election in July 2011. During the political crisis that began in November 2013, Prayuth claimed that the army was neutral.[7]

After violent attacks on anti-government protesters, Prayuth declared martial law on 20 May 2014, appointing himself head of the "Peace and Order Maintaining Command" (POMC) that has far-reaching authorities. In spite of having insisted that the caretaker government was still in office and his intervention was not a coup d'état,[8] Prayuth formally launched a coup against the caretaker government on 22 May 2014 and leads a junta called the National Council for Peace and Order.[9]

Military education

Prayuth studied at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS) Class 12, Command and General Staff College (CGSC) Class 63 and National Defence College of Thailand (NDC) 5020 and attended Infantry Officer Basic Course Class 51, Infantry Officer Advanced Course Class 38. He studied Bachelor of Science in Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.[10]

Like his direct predecessor Anupong Paochinda and former defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Prayuth is a member of the "Eastern Tigers" clique within the army. Most of them have — like Prayuth — started their career in the 2nd infantry division (with quarters in Eastern Thailand), especially in the 21st infantry regiment (Queen's Guards).[11][12][13][14]

Military career

Prayuth (left) meets US General Martin Dempsey (right) during his visit to Bangkok (2012)

After graduating from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Prayuth served in the 21st Infantry Regiment of the Queen's Guards. In 2002, he served as a Deputy Commanding General in the 2nd Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army, ascending to the rank of Commanding General one year later. In 2005, he became a Deputy Commanding General for the 1st Army Area of which the 2nd Infantry Division is a part, and again became its Commanding General within a year.

Prayuth was the Chief of Staff for the Royal Thai Army from 2008 to 2009 and in 2009 was appointed honorary adjutant of the king. In 2010, he succeeded Anupong Paochinda as Commander in Chief of the army.[10][15]

Non-military activities

After the 2006 Thai coup d'état, Prayuth was appointed to the National Legislative Assembly. In this capacity, he joined the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Prayuth sits on the executive boards of a number of companies including the state electricity utility companies MEA. From 2007 to 2010 he was Independent Director at Thai Oil Public Co Ltd. Since October 7, 2010 he has been a Director of the Thai Military Bank[10] and Chairman of Army United Football Club.

2014 coup d'état

Following the 2013–14 Thai political crisis, Prayuth launched the 2014 Thai coup d'état. As a result, a military junta began governing Thailand, with Prayuth as leader.

References

  1. ^ Fredrickson, Terry (October 1, 2010). "Gen Prayuth takes command". Bangkok Post. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  2. ^ Corben, Ron. "Thailand's new army chief takes office". DW. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  3. ^ "Thai king appoints hardliner as next army chief". The Hindu. September 2, 2010. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Q+A: Are Thailand's "red shirts" regrouping?". Reuters. November 19, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  5. ^ "Gen Prayuth takes command". Bangkok post. October 1, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  6. ^ "No coup, Prayuth tells Yingluck". Bangkok Post. May 27, 2013.
  7. ^ "Prayuth says army neutral". Bangkok Post. November 30, 2013.
  8. ^ "Prayuth 'won't allow bloodshed': Govt officials should continue working as normal, says Prayuth". Bangkok Post. May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "'ประยุทธ์-เหล่าทัพ'แถลง'ควบคุมอำนาจรัฐ'" (in Thai). Komchadluek. May 22, 2014. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ a b c "Prayut Chan-O-Cha: Executive Profile & Biography". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  11. ^ Avudh Panananda (June 8, 2010). "Is Prayuth the best choice amid signs of Army rivalry?". The Nation. Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  12. ^ John Cole; Steve Sciacchitano (October 13, 2012). "Thai military resists political pressure". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  13. ^ Wassana Nanuam (December 12, 2013). "'Silent' military coup beats having a real one". Bangkok Post. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  14. ^ Wassana Nanuam (January 2, 2014). "Will this crisis lead to another coup?". Bangkok Post. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  15. ^ "ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา". Thai Rath. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army
2010–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council of Thailand as
Prime Minister of Thailand
Acting
2014–present 		Incumbent

Template:Current EAS Leaders

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