Thanom Kittikachorn

Field marshal
Thanom Kittikachorn
PChW SR MPCh MWM SMN GCC KmstkSO OMRI GCS GCMG LOM
Field marshal Thanom Kittikachorn PChW SR MPCh MWM SMN GCC KmstkSO OMRI GCS GCMG LOM
ถนอม กิตติขจร
	Thanom in 1968
10th Prime Minister of Thailand
	In office; 9 December 1963 – 14 October 1973
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Deputy	See list Praphas Charusathien; Prince Wan Waithayakon; Pote Sarasin;
Preceded by	Sarit Thanarat
Succeeded by	Sanya Dharmasakti
	In office; 1 January 1958 – 20 October 1958
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Deputy	See list Praphas Charusathien; Prince Wan Waithayakon; Sukich Nimmanheminda;
Preceded by	Pote Sarasin
Succeeded by	Sarit Thanarat
Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
	In office; 11 December 1963 – 30 September 1973
Preceded by	Sarit Thanarat
Succeeded by	Dawee Chullasapya
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
	In office; 11 December 1963 – 1 October 1964
Preceded by	Sarit Thanarat
Succeeded by	Praphas Charusathien
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
	In office; 9 February 1959 – 8 December 1963
Prime Minister	Sarit Thanarat
Preceded by	Sukich Nimmanheminda
Succeeded by	Praphas Charusathien
Minister of Foreign Affairs
	In office; 19 December 1972 – 14 October 1973
Prime Minister	himself
Preceded by	Jaroonphan Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya
Succeeded by	Jaroonphan Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya
President of Chiang Mai University[citation needed]
	In office; 21 February 1964 – 20 February 1972
Prime Minister	himself
Preceded by	University established
Succeeded by	Sukich Nimmanheminda
Minister of Defence
	In office; 23 September 1957 – 14 October 1973
Prime Minister	Pote Sarasin; Sarit Thanarat; himself;
Preceded by	Plaek Phibunsongkhram
Succeeded by	Dawee Chullasapya
Personal details
Born	Thanom; 11 August 1911; Tak, Nakhon Sawan, Siam (now Mueang Tak, Tak, Thailand)
Died	16 June 2004 (aged 92); Bangkok, Thailand
Political party	United Thai People's Party
Other political; affiliations	National Socialist Party
Spouse	Jongkol Thanad-rob (m. 1930)
Children	6, including Narong
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Royal Thai Army
Years of service	1929–1973
Rank	Field Marshal; Admiral of the Fleet; Marshal of the Air Force;
Commands	Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces
Battles/wars	Franco-Thai War; World War II;

Thanom Kittikachorn (Thai: ถนอม กิตติขจร, RTGS: Thanom Kittikhachon, pronounced [tʰā.nɔ̌ːm kìt.tì(ʔ).kʰā.t͡ɕɔ̄ːn]; 11 August 1911 – 16 June 2004) was Prime Minister of Thailand from 1963 to 1973, military officer, who supported and initiated military coups and became Thailand's defence minister. He rose to power when he staged a self-coup, until public protests which exploded into violence forced him to step down. His return from exile in 1976 sparked protests which led to a massacre of demonstrators, followed by a military coup.

Early life

Thanom Kittikachorn was born in Tak Province to Khun Amphan Kittikachorn and his wife, Linchee Kittikachorn. His family was of Thai Chinese descent.^[1] He attended Wat Koak Plu Municipal School, then was admitted to the Army Cadet Academy. After receiving his commission, he reported for duty with Infantry Regiment VII in Chiang Mai. Thanom later studied at the Cartography School and the Infantry School, and graduated from the National Defense College in its first class.

Rise to power

After the Anti-Indian sentiment riots and serving in the Shan States of Burma during the British Colonial destruction, then Lieutenant Colonel Thanom took part in a successful 1947 coup headed by Colonel Sarit Thanarat. He became a regimental commander and was head of the Lopburi military department. He was soon promoted to colonel, commanding the 11th Infantry Division. Thanom was appointed a member of parliament in 1951, his first political role. He was promoted to major general the same year.

In February 1953, Thanom led the suppression of a rebellion against military rule, and was rewarded with promotion to lieutenant general. He represented Thailand at the ceremony to mark the end of the Korean War in July 1953 and was later promoted as commander of the 1st Region Army.

He was appointed deputy cooperatives minister in 1955. Thanom supported Sarit in his coup against the government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, and was subsequently appointed defence minister in Pote Sarasin's puppet regime in 1957. Thanom consolidated his power base as the second military leader and right-hand man of Sarit. A few days after the December 1957 general election, in which the pro-government Sahaphum Party ("United Land") had performed disappointingly, Thanom co-founded the National Socialist Party (Chat Sangkhomniyom). He became the deputy leader of this party, designed to extend the pro-government camp and win over former members of Phibunsongkhram's Seri Manangkhasila Party who had been reelected to parliament as independents.^[2]

In 1958, he was made a full general and assumed the offices of prime minister and defence minister. He was prime minister for nine months, after which he was replaced by Sarit himself and made deputy prime minister, defence minister, and armed forces deputy supreme commander.

Prime minister of Thailand

Prime Minister Thanom succeeded his predecessor one day after Sarit's death in 1963. He subsequently appointed himself commander-in-chief of the army. One year later, he promoted himself to the concurrent ranks of field marshal, admiral of the fleet, and marshal of the air force. Thanom continued the pro-American and anti-communist politics of his predecessor, which helped to ensure massive US economic and financial aid during the Vietnam War. Although he was personally popular, his regime was known for massive corruption. He established and led the United Thai People's Party (Saha Prachathai) in October 1968.

Thanom reappointed himself prime minister in February 1969 after general elections had been completed. The following year saw the beginnings of the 1970s peasant revolts in Thailand. Then, in November 1971, he staged a coup against his own government, citing the need to suppress communist infiltration. He dissolved parliament and appointed himself Chairman of the National Executive Council, and served as a caretaker government for one year. In December 1972, he appointed himself prime minister for a fourth time, also serving as the defence and foreign ministers. Thanom, his son Colonel Narong, and Narong's father-in-law General Praphas Charusathien became known as the "three tyrants".

Public discontent grew, along with demands for a general election to choose a new parliament. Student-led demands for a return to constitutional government led to days of violence followed by the sudden downfall of his government. Thanom and the other "tyrants" flew to exile in the United States and Singapore. Thanom's departure was followed by a restoration of democratic rule in Thailand.

After step down

Thanom in press conference

In October 1976, Thanom returned to Thailand in the robes of a novice monk,^[3] to stay at Bangkok's Wat Bowonniwet. Even though he announced he had no desire to enter politics, his return triggered student protests, which eventually moved onto the campus of Thammasat University. This was only a year after South Vietnam and Thailand's neighbors Laos and Cambodia had fallen to the communists, and right-wing Thais suspected the protesters wished the same fate for their own country. On 6 October 1976, right-wing militants, aided by government security forces, stormed the Thammasat campus, violently broke up the protests, and killed many protesters. That evening, the military seized power from the elected civilian government of Democrat MR Seni Pramoj and installed hard-line royalist Thanin Kraivichien as premier.

Thanom soon left the monkhood, but he kept his word never to take part in politics again. Late in his life, he attempted to rehabilitate his tarnished image and recover properties seized when his government was overthrown.

Controversy arose in early 1999 when it became known that Thanom was appointed as an honorary officer of the Royal Guard by prime minister Chuan Leekpai as recommended by the military.^[4] Thanom settled the matter himself by resigning.^[5]^[6]

Thanom Kittikachorn died in 2004 the age of 92 in Bangkok General Hospital, after suffering a stroke and a heart attack two years earlier.^[7] His family's medical expenses were paid by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which some saw as payback for Thanom's agreeing to the king's request that he leave the country to end the violence in 1973. Thanom's cremation was held on 25 February 2007 at Wat Debsirin. Queen Sirikit presided over the cremation ceremony, lighting the royal flame on behalf of King Bhumibol. Her youngest daughter, the Princess Chulabhorn, was also present. Thanom's wife died in 2012, aged 96.

Honours

Thanom received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:^[8]

1961 - Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
1965 - Knight Grand Commander of the Honourable Order of Rama
1956 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
1955 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
1988 - Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati (Special Class)
1972 - Bravery Medal with wreath
1962 - Victory Medal - World War II
1955 - Victory Medal - Korean War (with flames)
1972 - Victory Medal - Vietnam War (with flames)
1969 - Freeman Safeguarding Medal (First Class)
1934 - Safeguarding the Constitution Medal
1943 - Medal for Service Rendered in the Interior
1962 - Border Service Medal
1944 - Chakra Mala Medal
1950 - King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, Third Class
1964 - King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, First Class
1952 - King Rama VII Coronation Medal
1950 - King Rama IX Coronation Medal
1932 - 150 Years Commemoration of Bangkok Medal
1957 - 25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal
1972 - Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, First Class

Foreign honours

Taiwan :
- Special Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Tripod
- Special Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner
- Special Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Star
- Special Grand Cordon of the Order of Propitious Clouds
- Special Breast of the Order of the Yun Hui

South Korea :
- Republic of Korea Medal of the Order of Merit for National Foundation
- Taegeuk of the Order of Military Merit
- Blue Stripes of the Order of Service Merit

South Vietnam :
- Grand Cross of the National Order of Vietnam
- Kim Khanh Decoration, First Class

Philippines :
- Grand Collar of the Order of Sikatuna
- Chief Commander of the Legion of Honor

Spain :
- Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit
- Grand Cross with White Decoration of the Order of Military Merit

Vatican City :
- Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
- Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Sylvester
United States :
- Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit

Denmark :
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog

Portugal :
- Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (G.C.C.)

Germany :
- Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Luxembourg :
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown

Sweden :
- Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Sword

Italy :
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (O.M.R.I.)

Netherlands :
- Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau

Belgium :
- Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold

Indonesia :
- Star of Mahaputera, 2nd Class^[9]

Argentina :
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín

Japan :
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

Kingdom of Laos :
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol

United Kingdom :
- Honorary Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (G.C.M.G.) - Sir.

Ethiopian Empire :
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Trinity

Malaya :
- Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (1962)^[10] (S.M.N.) - Tun.

Austria :
- Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
Kingdom of Greece :
- Grand Cross of the Order of George I
Kingdom of Norway :
- Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav
Imperial Iran :
- Knight of the Order of the Crown (Iran)
Tunisia :
- Order of the Republic (Tunisia)
United Nations :
- United Nations Korea Medal

Notes

^ On 17 November 1971 he a self-coup, Repeal 1968 constitution, Repeal National Assembly which consists of Senate and House of Representatives and use of the powers of Prime Minister as head of the Revolutionary Council until 18 December 1972 He returned as Prime Minister after the promulgation of 1972 temporary charter.
^ At that time, Thailand did not have surnames

References

^ Chaloemtiarana, Thak (2007), Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism, Ithaca NY: Cornell Southeast Asia Program, p. 88, ISBN 978-0-8772-7742-2
^ Thak Chaloemtiarana (2007), Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism, Ithaca NY: Cornell Southeast Asia Program, p. 88, ISBN 978-0-8772-7742-2
^ In the book of exile, Thaksin pens his legacy
^ Thabchumpon, Naruemon (1999). "THAILAND: A Year of Diminishing Expectations". Southeast Asian Affairs: 321. JSTOR 27912233.
^ Singh, Ajay; Gearing, Julian (28 January 2000). "The Murky Events of October 1973". Asia Week. Vol. 26, no. 3. Retrieved 30 March 2023 – via CNN.
^ "ให้พ้นจากตำแหน่งนายทหารพิเศษ" (PDF) (in Thai). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 29 March 1999. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
^ John Aglionby (21 June 2004). "Thanom Kittikachorn". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^ Biography Archived 18 September 2012 at archive.today, Royal Thai Army website (in Thai). Retrieved on 4 December 2008.
^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชาอนุญาตประดับเครื่องอิสริยาภรณ์ต่างประเทศ, เล่ม ๗๘ ตอนที่ ๗๑ ง หน้า ๑๙๖๐, ๕ กันยายน ๒๕๐๔
^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1962" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2016.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Pote Sarasin	Prime Minister of Thailand 1958	Succeeded by Sarit Thanarat
Preceded by Sarit Thanarat	Prime Minister of Thailand 1963–1973	Succeeded by Sanya Dharmasakti
Military offices
Preceded by Sarit Thanarat	Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces 1963–1973	Succeeded by Dawee Chullasapya
Preceded by Sarit Thanarat	Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army 1963–1964	Succeeded by Praphas Charusathien