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Kriangsak Chamanan

General
Kriangsak Chamanan
เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันทน์
Kriangsak Chomanan.png
15th Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
11 November 1977 – 3 March 1980
Monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by Tanin Kraivixien
Succeeded by Prem Tinsulanonda
Personal details
Born (1917-12-17)17 December 1917
Died 23 December 2003(2003-12-23) (aged 86)
Nationality Thai
Spouse(s) Wirat Chomanan
Religion Theravada Buddhism
Signature
Military service
Service/branch Royal Thai Army
Years of service 1940 - 1980
Rank Thai army O9.png General
Commands Supreme Commander
Battles/wars Franco-Thai War
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War

General Kriangsak Chamanan (Thai: เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันทน์, pronounced [kria̯ŋ.sàk tɕʰā.má(ʔ).nān]; 17 December 1917 – 23 December 2003) served as prime minister of Thailand from 1977 to 1980.

A professional soldier, Kriangsak fought against the French in the Franco-Thai War, and against the communists in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1977, as Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, he staged a successful coup d'état against Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien.

Kriangsak is widely credited for defusing a long-running Communist insurgency in northern Thailand. Allegedly, he allowed the People's Republic of China to ship arms to the rebel Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in exchange for the PRC withdrawing its support of the communists in Thailand. However, this is denied by the Thai government, which cites his offer of amnesty as the primary reason.

Kriangsak voluntarily retired in February 1980 and was succeeded by General Prem Tinsulanonda.


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