Somsak Kosaisuuk

Somsak Kosaisuuk
สมศักดิ์ โกศัยสุข
Somsak Kosaisuuk in 2009
Born (1945-03-02) 2 March 1945 (age 79)
Khuan Koei, Ron Phibun, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Occupations
  • Politician
  • activist
Years active1992–2017

Somsak Kosaisuuk (Thai script: สมศักดิ์ โกศัยสุข; born 2 March 1945) is a Thai union official and politician.

He was the Secretary-General of the State Enterprise Labour Relations Confederation (SELRC), a union of government owned enterprises' employees, and in this position very active in organizing a campaign against the privatization of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. Currently, he is an adviser to the union.

Kosaisuuk was one of the five leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).[1] When the PAD registered a political party, the New Politics Party (NPP), Somsak became its chairman. In late April 2011, he resigned from the PAD leadership in a split that separated the PAD from the NPP.

According to a poll conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion during September 2010, Kosaisuuk was named the least liked politician in Thailand.[2]

In protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2013–14, his cousin Suthin Taratin, one of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) allies, was shot dead in front of Sri Iam Temple, Bangkok's Bang Na area.[3]

  1. ^ Sumanat, Wanitcha (April 12, 2009). "PAD ready to confront ill-intentioned sides". National News Bureau of Thailand. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  2. ^ Zubair, M. (October 13, 2010). "Business and Politics in the Muslim World". Gilani Research Foundation. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
  3. ^ "เปิดประวัติ "สุทิน ธราทิน" กปท. ดับวัดศรีเอี่ยม" ["Suthin Taratin" biography of PDRC, passed away at Sri Iam Temple]. Sanook.com (in Thai). 2014-01-27. Retrieved 2023-05-18.