Chaiyasit Shinawatra

Thai general (born 1945)
Battles/warsAwards
  • Freemen Safeguarding Medal (Second Class, Second Category)
  • Border Service Medal
  • Chakra Mala Medal
  • Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)
Alma materChulachomklao Royal Military AcademySpouse(s)Wina SuksaphaChildren2Relations
  • Thaksin Shinawatra (first cousin)
  • Yingluck Shinawatra (first cousin)

Chaiyasit Shinawatra (Thai: ชัยสิทธิ์ ชินวัตร; RTGS: Chaiyasit Chinnawat; born 25 June 1945) is a former commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army.[2]

He was transferred from the army to become a special advisor to the Supreme Command Headquarters under the administration of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.[3] In August 2001, Chaiyasit was promoted to deputy commander of the Armed Forces Development Command.[4] In August 2002, he was promoted to the post of deputy commander-in-chief.

As a cousin of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his unexpected appointment was criticised as an act of nepotism. Both Chaiyasit and the Defence Minister, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, denied accusations of nepotism: "If I'm appointed to a significant post in the Army because of my connection with the prime minister, I won't have any friends left in the armed forces," said Chaiyasit. He said that Thaksin would not interfere with any high-level military reshuffles: "It's a shame that the prime minister's name was tainted by such a groundless rumour."[5]

He replaced General Surayud Chulanont, who was promoted to become supreme commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, as commander-in-chief in August 2003.[6]

He was replaced as army chief in 2004, succeeded by Prawit Wongsuwan,[7][8] and was transferred to Supreme Command. Chaisit was then replaced as supreme commander in 2005, succeeded by General Ruangroj Mararanont.[9]

References

  1. ^ [1] [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ Nation staff. August 25, 2006. "Former Army chief sues Sondhi" Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, The Nation (retrieved September 20, 2006).
  3. ^ The Nation (Thailand), Thaksin cousin tipped for No 2 spot - 2002-08-21
  4. ^ The Nation (Thailand), Reshuffle seen as less political - 2001-08-09
  5. ^ The Nation (Thailand), Chaiyasit transfer "not PM's idea" - 2002-08-08
  6. ^ The Nation (Thailand), Chaiyasit, PM’s power base more solid than ever - 2003-08-31
  7. ^ Nation staff. August 25, 2004. "MILITARY RE-SHUFFLE: Chaisit out, Prawit ascends" Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, The Nation {retrieved September 20, 2006.
  8. ^ Nation staff. August 25, 2004. "Prawit, a battle-hardened leader", The Nation (retrieved September 20, 2006).
  9. ^ Nation staff. September 8, 2005. "Long-delayed military reshuffle approved" Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, The Nation (retrieved September 20, 2006).
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