Chuan Leekpai
Chuan Leekpai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ชวน หลีกภัย | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() Chuan in 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20th Prime Minister of Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 9 November 1997 – 9 February 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Thaksin Shinawatra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 20 September 1992 – 13 July 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Anand Panyarachun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Banharn Silpa-archa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the National Assembly of Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 28 May 2019 – 20 March 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarch | Vajiralongkorn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Prayut Chan-o-cha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Pornpetch Wichitcholchai (President of the National Legislative Assembly) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Wan Muhamad Noor Matha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the National Assembly of Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 4 August 1986 – 29 April 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Prem Tinsulanonda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Uthai Pimchaichon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Panja Kesornthong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 29 December 1988 – 26 August 1989 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Chatichai Choonhavan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Leader of the Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 11 March 2001 – 3 May 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Banyat Bantadtan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 4 August 1995 – 8 November 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Banharn Silpa-archa Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Banharn Silpa-archa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Democrat Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 26 January 1991 – 4 May 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Bhichai Rattakul | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Banyat Bantadtan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the House of Representatives for the Democrat Party List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 6 January 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the House of Representatives for Trang 1st District | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 10 February 1969 – 9 November 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Korkieart Sudsen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Suwan Kusujarit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Mueang Trang, Trang, Siam | 28 July 1938||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Democrat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic partner | Phakdiporn Sucharitakul (cohabitating wife) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | Surabot Leekpai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Thammasat University (LL.B.) The Thai Bar (Barrister) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profession |
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Chuan Leekpai MPCh MWM TCW (Thai: ชวน หลีกภัย, RTGS: Chuan Likphai, pronounced [tɕʰūan lìːk.pʰāj]; Chinese: 呂基文; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lū Ki-bûn; born 28 July 1938) is a Thai politician who is the former president of the National Assembly of Thailand as well as the speaker of the Thai House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023.[1] Previously he twice served as the 20th Prime Minister of Thailand, from 20 September 1992 to 19 May 1995 and from 9 November 1997 to 9 February 2001.
As the leader of the Democrat Party, Chuan was elected in September 1992, becoming Thailand's first prime minister to come to power without either aristocratic or military backing. His first administration consisted of a five party coalition of the Democrat, New Aspiration, Palang Dhamma, Social Action, and Social Unity Parties until he was defeated in the 1995 election, but assumed power in late-1997 following the fall of the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh administration, which was held responsible for the economic crisis that beset Thailand that year. Although criticised as a slow actor and allowing numerous corruption scandals, Chuan managed to meet factional demands and extend Thailand's social security system.[2]
Early life
[edit]Chuan was born on 28 July 1938 in Mueang Thap Thiang, Trang province, Thailand, to a teacher, Niyom Leekpai[3] and Tuan Leekpai, Chuan has nine siblings and is the third child in the family. He would later move to the temple school at Wat Amarintraram in Bangkok where he lived for six years. He went on to study law at Thammasat University, Bangkok and later became a barrister-at-law of the Thai Bar Association. Chuan is ethnic Hokkien, coming from a third-generation Thai Chinese[4][5] and Peranakan family.[6]
First term (1992–1995)
[edit]In the aftermath of Bloody May, the Democrat Party won a plurality of seats in the September 1992 elections, with 79 seats, compared to the Chart Thai Party with 77 seats. Chuan formed a coalition government with the New Aspiration Party and Ekkaparb parties. The Phalang Dharma Party joined his cabinet after the New Aspiration Party left in 1994.[7]
Key policies of Chuan's first administration included:
- Engagement with Burma. As with all previous administrations, the Chuan government employed a policy of constructive engagement with the military government of Burma, provoking much criticism.[8]
- Reforestation. A huge five million rai reforestation programme in honour of King Bhumibol's 50th anniversary of accession to the throne (1996) was initiated in 1994. The reforestation programme was officially declared a failure, with less than 40 percent of the target realised. The director-general of the RFD was suspended from his post for alleged corruption.[9]
- Emphasis on national economic stability, decentralisation of the administrative powers to the rural provinces, fostering income, opportunity and economic development distribution to the regions.
The first Chuan administration fell when members of the cabinet were implicated in profiting from Sor Phor Kor 4-01 land project documents distributed in Phuket Province. Fierce public and press criticism and dissolution of parliament were the reasons for his administration's downfall.[10]
Second term (1997–2001)
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Bill_Clinton_Chuan_Leekpai.jpg/220px-Bill_Clinton_Chuan_Leekpai.jpg)
Chuan became prime minister for the second time on 9 November 1997, replacing Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, with a shaky line-up of a six party coalition and 12 independent defectors from a seventh party, Prachakorn Thai. The ruling coalition increased its 20-seat majority in October 1998, by including the Chart Pattana Party.
Economic reform
[edit]Chuan's second government enacted several economic reforms for which it was severely criticised. Chuan's "bitter medicine" policies brought little economic relief in the years following the 1997 economic crisis, particularly at the grassroots level. Opinions emerged that the Democrats were only helping big financial institutions and making the country more dependent of foreign investors. Nevertheless, many of the reforms recommended by the IMF were in line with the policies of market economies such as Australia and New Zealand. The subsequent government's economic growth was based even more strongly on selling national assets and private organisations abroad such as the Shin Corporation, while most of its economic gains were built on the frugality of the Democrat policy platform.[citation needed] Thai Rak Thai painted the Democrats as having "open contempt" for the plight of the common Thai which set off a revenge vote against the party during the 2001 election, which gave a landslide victory to Thaksin Shinawatra.[11]
Education reform
[edit]During Chuan's second administration the National Education Act 1999 was enacted.[12]
Human rights
[edit]Chuan's second government came under fire for the violent arrest of 223 villagers protesting the Pak Mun Dam. Historian Nidhi Iawsriwong noted that "the present situation is as worse as that of the May event (the bloody crackdown of anti-government protesters in 1992). We have a tyrannical government that is arrogant and not accountable to the public. This is dangerous because the government still sees itself as legitimate and claims that it is democratic. In fact, it is as brutal as the military government".[13]
Controversy arose in early 1999 when it became known that Chuan nominated Thanom Kittikachorn to the post of honorary royal guard, provoking widespread criticism. The situation was resolved when Thanom resigned.[14][15] Thanom was one of the "three tyrants" who ruled Thailand from 1963 to 1973 and ordered the massacre of pro-democracy students on 14 October 1973, after which he was ordered to step down and be exiled by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
In April 2000, the editor in chief of the Chiang Mai daily newspaper Pak Nua was shot and seriously wounded in an attempted murder, but recovered. The editor believed that his repeated critical reporting on the government led to the assault.[16]
Corruption
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99_%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A2_%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B9%E0%B9%89%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%8E%E0%B8%A3_Photographed_by_Peak_Hora_01.jpg/220px-%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99_%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A2_%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B9%E0%B9%89%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%8E%E0%B8%A3_Photographed_by_Peak_Hora_01.jpg)
Although generally regarded as relatively clean and honest when compared to other Thai administrations, Chuan's government found itself plagued with corruption scandals and rumours. Key cases of corruption included:
- Rakkiat Sukhthana, Health Minister, was charged with taking a five million baht (US$125,000) bribe from a drug firm and forcing state hospitals to buy medicine at exorbitant prices. After being found guilty, he jumped bail and went into hiding.
- Suthep Thaugsuban, Minister of Transport and Communications, whose brokering of illegal land deals caused the fall of the Chuan 1 government, was linked to abuse of funds in setting up a co-operative Surat Thani Province.[17]
- The "edible fence" seed scandal, in which massive overpricing of seeds distributed to rural areas happened. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture was forced to resign.[18]
- The Salween logging scandal, where up to 20,000 trees were felled illegally in the Salween forest in Mae Hong Son. Some of them turned up in the compound of the Democrat party's office in Phichit Province.[18]
- Sanan Kajornprasart, Interior Minister, as well as eight other cabinet ministers were found to have understated their declared assets. Sanan was later barred by the Constitutional Court from politics for five years.[19]
- Chuan himself was found by the National Counter-Corruption Commission to have undeclared shareholdings in a rural cooperative.[19][citation needed]
Chuan stepped down as the Leader of Democrat Party in 2003.[20]
Personal life
[edit]Chuan Leekpai has one son, Surabot Leekpai , with Pakdiporn Sujaritkul, his common-law wife. His mother tongue is Southern Thai,[21] but his proficiency in Central Thai is native level. He is able to speak English well.[22]
Awards and decorations
[edit]National honours
[edit]Thailand:
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
Knight Grand Commander (Second Class, higher grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati
Recipient of the King Rama IX Coronation Medal
25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal
Serving Free Peoples Medal
First Class (Gold Medal) of the Red Cross Medal of Appreciation
Foreign decorations
[edit]Philippines:
Grand Collar (Raja) of the Order of Sikatuna (1993)
Peru:
Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun (1999)
Portugal:
Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (1999)[23]
Nicaragua:
Grand Cross of the Order of Rubén Dario (2000)[24]
Romania:
Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania (2000)[25]
Denmark
Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (2001)[26]
References
[edit]- ^ ‘ชวน’ แถลงปิดฉาก ‘ปธ.สภา’ ภูมิใจทำหน้าที่ 4 ปี ฝ่าวิกฤตสารพัด
- ^ "Welcome to World Bank Intranet" (PDF).
- ^ "Chuan Leekpai | Biography & Facts | Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Chris Baker, Pasuk Phongpaichit (2005). A History of Thailand. Cambridge University Press. back matter. ISBN 0-521-81615-7.
- ^ (in Chinese) 泰国华裔地位高 出过好几任总理真正的一等公民 Archived 8 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ต้นตระกูล” หลีกภัย” จากจีน โพ้นทะเล สู่ เปอรานากัน แดนใต้ เมืองสยาม (in Thai). MToday. 17 June 2020.
- ^ "เลือกตั้งส.ส.แต่ละครั้งต้องใช้งบฯเท่าไหร่ มีส.ส.คนไหนเคยลาออกบ้าง-เพราะอะไร".
- ^ The Asean Way to Human Rights and Democracy
- ^ Thailand's Community Forest Bill: U-Turn or Roundabout in Forest Policy?
- ^ Media and democratic transitions in Southeast Asia Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine by Duncan McCargo
- ^ Shawn W. Crispin, Rodney Tasker (18 January 2001). "Thailand Incorporated". The Far Eastern Economic Review.
- ^ "National Education Act of B.E. 2542 (1999)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ focusweb.org
- ^ 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.
- ^ terrorismcentral.com
- ^ atimes.com
- ^ a b Corruption: Is there any hope at all? Archived 25 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine by Pasuk Phongpaichit
- ^ a b "Encyclopædia Britannica". Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2006.
- ^ "ประวัตินายชวน หลีกภัย - ประวัตินายกรัฐมนตรีไทย".
- ^ Meeseangsri, Nawaporn (2005). "วาทลีลาในโวหารทางการเมืองของนายชวน หลีกภัย" [A Linguistic and Rhetorical Analysis of Chuan Leekpai's Style of Political Oratory]. ภาษาและภาษาศาสตร์ [Language and Linguistics] (in Thai). 24 (1). Thammasat University: 28–29, 37.
- ^ ""Chuan" opens the ASEAN parliament meeting in English, while "Prayut" speaking Thai ("ชวน" เปิดประชุมรัฐสภาอาเซียน เป็นภาษาอังกฤษ ส่วน "บิ๊กตู่" ขอพูดภาษาไทย)". Retrieved 14 April 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชานุญาตให้ประดับเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ต่างประเทศ, เล่ม ๑๑๗ ตอนที่ ๕ ข หน้า ๑, ๑ มีนาคม ๒๕๔๓
- ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชานุญาตให้ประดับเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ต่างประเทศ, เล่ม ๑๑๗ ตอนที่ ๑๘ ข หน้า ๑, ๑๑ กันยายน ๒๕๔๓
- ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชานุญาตให้ประดับเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ต่างประเทศ, เล่ม ๑๑๗ ตอนที่ ๒๑ ข หน้า ๑๕, ๑๖ ตุลาคม ๒๕๔๓
- ^ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชานุญาตให้ประดับเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ต่างประเทศ เล่ม 118 ตอนที่ 2 ข ราชกิจจานุเบกษา 8 กุมภาพันธ์ 2544
- 1938 births
- Living people
- Prime ministers of Thailand
- 20th-century Thai lawyers
- Thai politicians of Chinese descent
- Grand Crosses of the Order of the Sun of Peru
- Grand Crosses of the Order of Christ (Portugal)
- Grand Crosses of the Order of the Star of Romania
- Knights Grand Commander of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
- Grand Crosses of the Order of the Dannebrog
- Democrat Party (Thailand) politicians
- Leaders of the Democrat Party (Thailand)
- People from Trang province
- Members of the 25th House of Representatives of Thailand
- Ministers of defence of Thailand
- Thammasat University alumni
- Ministers of commerce of Thailand
- Deputy prime ministers of Thailand
- Ministers of education of Thailand
- Ministers to the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand
- Ministers of justice of Thailand
- Ministers of agriculture and cooperatives of Thailand
- Ministers of public health of Thailand
- Speakers of the House of Representatives (Thailand)
- Presidents of the National Assembly of Thailand