Chaiyasit Shinawatra | |
|---|---|
| Native name | ชัยสิทธิ์ ชินวัตร |
| Nickname(s) | Tui |
| Born | 25 June 1945 Bangkok, Thailand |
| Allegiance |  Thailand |
| Service |  Royal Thai Army |
| Years of service | 1969–2005 |
| Rank | .svg){kind=small} General.svg){kind=small} Admiral .svg){kind=small} Air Chief Marshal[1] |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards |
|
| Alma mater | Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy |
| Spouse(s) | Wina Suksapha |
| Children | 2 |
| Relations |
|
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]
- ^ [1] [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Nation staff. August 25, 2006. "Former Army chief sues Sondhi" Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, The Nation (retrieved September 20, 2006).
- ^ The Nation (Thailand), Thaksin cousin tipped for No 2 spot - 2002-08-21
- ^ The Nation (Thailand), Reshuffle seen as less political - 2001-08-09
- ^ The Nation (Thailand), Chaiyasit transfer "not PM's idea" - 2002-08-08
- ^ The Nation (Thailand), Chaiyasit, PM’s power base more solid than ever - 2003-08-31
- ^ 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.
- ^ Nation staff. August 25, 2004. "Prawit, a battle-hardened leader", The Nation (retrieved September 20, 2006).
- ^ Nation staff. September 8, 2005. "Long-delayed military reshuffle approved" Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, The Nation (retrieved September 20, 2006).