THAILAND’S 19th prime minister Gen. Suchinda Kraprayoon, nicknamed Big Su, passed away peacefully from old age at the age of 91 years and 10 months at Phramongkutklao Hospital at 1.57 a.m. this morning (June 10), Naewna newspaper said.
Gen. Suchinda was born on August 6, 1933. He was both a military officer and a politician, having held important positions such as Minister of Defence, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. He was also a member of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that staged a coup in 1991. The funeral schedule will be announced later.
Gen. Suchinda received royal command to assume the position of 19th prime minister of Thailand on April 7, 1992. When he took office, he said, “I am sworn in for the nation,” even though he had previously said that he would not accept the position of prime minister.
In addition, Gen. Suchinda appointed Gen. Issarapong Noonpakdee, the NCPO secretary-general and his wife’s brother, to the position of interior minister. This was opposed by several political activist groups who rallied to demand that Gen. Suchinda resign, as it was an extension of the NCPO’s dictatorial power, leading mass protests and subsequent crackdowns by security forces and police in Bangkok between May 17-20, 1992. On May 24, 1992, Gen.Suchinda resigned.
Gen. Suchinda is also remembered alongside his wife, Khunying Wanee Kraprayoon (née Noonpakdee), who passed away of old age on September 21, 2021, at the age of 84, at Phramongkutklao Hospital.
CAPTION:
Late Gen. Suchinda Kraprayoon. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page composite photo: Naewna
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