Chatichai Choonhavan
Encyclopedia
General Chatichai Choonhavan was the Prime Minister of Thailand
from 1988 to 1991. He was the only son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan
, and is of Thai Chinese
descent with ancestry from Chenghai District
. Chatichai served as Thailand
's Foreign Minister
from 1975-1976.
In the Thai General Elections of 1988, the Thai Nation Party won the most votes, resulting in its leader Chatichai becoming the new prime minister. His government was able to achieve improved relations with Cambodia and Laos and also promoted international trade with these countries and others. It also supported the Sihanouk-led Government of Cambodia. The government was a key initiator of many infrastructure projects, including an expansion of the telecommunications network in partnership with the state-owned Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT), development of the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand
and road and rail networks in partnership with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) in the Greater Bangkok Area.
On February 23, 1991, he was deposed by a military coup d'etat
led by generals Sunthorn Kongsompong
and Suchinda Kraprayoon
. He died of liver cancer
in 1998.
Chatichai is married to Boonruean Sophoj, cousin of Srinagarindra
. They have two children: Kraisak Choonhavan (son) and Vani Hongpraphas (daughter).
Prime Minister of Thailand
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....
from 1988 to 1991. He was the only son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan
Phin Choonhavan
Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan was a Thai military leader. Phin was a leader of several coups against the government, most notably the 1947 coup...
, and is of Thai Chinese
Thai Chinese
The Thai Chinese are an overseas Chinese community who live in Thailand. Thailand is home to the largest, oldest, most prominent, and most integrated overseas Chinese community in the world with a population of approximately 9.5 million people...
descent with ancestry from Chenghai District
Chenghai District
Chenghai or Tenghai is a district of the city of Shantou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.It is the birthplace of Qin Mu, and Hai-Hong, the father of Taksin who was a Thai king....
. Chatichai served as Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
's Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
from 1975-1976.
In the Thai General Elections of 1988, the Thai Nation Party won the most votes, resulting in its leader Chatichai becoming the new prime minister. His government was able to achieve improved relations with Cambodia and Laos and also promoted international trade with these countries and others. It also supported the Sihanouk-led Government of Cambodia. The government was a key initiator of many infrastructure projects, including an expansion of the telecommunications network in partnership with the state-owned Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT), development of the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand
Eastern Seaboard of Thailand
The Eastern Seaboard of Thailand is an emerging economic region, and plays a key role in Thailand's economy. Its importance lies in the fact that it is Thailand's center for export oriented industries. High value goods, such as Japanese branded automobiles, which are manufactured there and...
and road and rail networks in partnership with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) in the Greater Bangkok Area.
On February 23, 1991, he was deposed by a military coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
led by generals Sunthorn Kongsompong
Sunthorn Kongsompong
General Sunthorn Kongsompong was the de facto head of government of Thailand from 1991 - 1992, following a military coup d'etat led by Sunthorn and General Suchinda Kraprayoon deposed the government of Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan on February 23, 1991...
and Suchinda Kraprayoon
Suchinda Kraprayoon
Suchinda Kraprayoon was Prime Minister of Thailand from 7 April 1992 until 24 May 1992.Suchinda, son of Juang and Sompong Kraprayoon, was born 6 August 1933 in the province of Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and is of Chinese and Mon descent...
. He died of liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
in 1998.
Chatichai is married to Boonruean Sophoj, cousin of Srinagarindra
Srinagarindra
Srinagarindra was a member of the Thai Royal Family and was a member of House of Mahidol, which is descended from Chakri Dynasty, originated by Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkla, son of King Chulalongkorn...
. They have two children: Kraisak Choonhavan (son) and Vani Hongpraphas (daughter).