Suchinda Kraprayoon

Suchinda first attended Wat Rajabopit School and later Amnuayslip School. He studied medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok for 12 months before entering the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He graduated from Class 5 of the Academy, many of which would join in the National Peace Keeping Council. He also attended the US Army Command and General Staff Course at the Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the US Army Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Suchinda returned to Thailand in 1953 to serve as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Thai Army. On 25 January 1958 he became Troop Leader in an artillery infantry regiment. He was gradually promoted and given more responsibilities including:[5]

• Lecturer at Army Command and General Staff College
• Director-General of Operations Department
• Assisting Chief of Staff (Army Operations) of the Royal Thai Army
• Deputy Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army
• Sub-Commander of the Royal Thai Army
• Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army (29 April 1990)
• Commander-in-Chief of the Supreme Command Headquarters (1 October 1991)

Suchinda was a leader of the National Peace Keeping Council (NPKC), which conducted a coup d'etat that ousted the elected government of Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan on 23 February 1991. The NPKC installed former diplomat Anand Panyarachun as Prime Minister.

After the general election on 22 March 1992, five parties (Rassadorn, Justice Unity, Social Action, Thai Citizen, Chart Thai) designated Suchinda as the prime minister. His appointment as Prime Minister on 7 April 1992 resulted in large protests, culminating in a general curfew and military deployment in Bangkok. In the event known as Black May, hundreds of people are believed to have died when soldiers opened fire on unarmed students and demonstrators during the protests.[6] Further escalation was avoided by the intervention of King Bhumibol.

Suchinda resigned from the Premiership on 24 May 1992. The Deputy Prime Minister, Meechai Ruchuphan, became caretaker Prime Minister for an interim period until the new government was assigned. He was succeeded by Anand Panyarachun.

After resigning, General Suchinda was appointed Chairman of Telecom Holdings, the holding company of Telecom Asia.[7] Telecom Asia was awarded an unprecedented concession to build 2 million telephone lines in Bangkok after the NPKC seized power.

Suchinda is married to Khunying Wannee Kraprayoon (Noonpakdee) and has two sons: Jerdwut Kraprayoon, currently an advisor to the Royal Thai Army and Janewit “Jack” Kraprayoon.