Thai politician

Chuan Leekpai (Thai: ชวน หลีกภัย, RTGS::Chuan Likphai, pronounced ; Chinese: 呂基文; born 28 July 1938) is a Thai politician who is the current President of the National *embly of Thailand as well as the in*bent Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives. Previously he served as the Thai prime minister from 20 September 1992 to 19 May 1995 and again from 9 November 1997 to 9 February 2001.

As the leader of the Democrat Party, Chuan was elected in 1992 after the abortive coup by General Suchinda Kraprayoon, thus 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 *umed power in late-1997 following the fall of the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh administration, which was held responsible for the economic crisis that beset Thailand in 1997. Although criticised as a slow actor and allowing numerous corruption scandals, Chuan managed to meet factional demands and extend Thailand's social security system.

Contents

• 1 Early life
• 2 First term (1992-1995)
• 3 Second term (1997-2001)
  • 3.1 Economic reform
  • 3.2 Education reform
  • 3.3 Human rights
  • 3.4 Corruption
• 4 Personal life
• 5 Awards and decorations
  • 5.1 National honours
  • 5.2 Foreign decorations
• 6 References

Early life

Chuan is ethnic Hokkien, coming from a third-generation Thai Chinese family. His father's name was Niyom Leekpai and his mother's name was Tuan Leekpai. Chuan Leekpai has nine siblings and is the third child in the family. At a young age, Chuan moved 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 *ociation.

First term (1992-1995)

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.

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.
• 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.
• 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 do*ents distributed in *et Province. Fierce public and press criticism and dissolution of parliament were the reasons for his administration's downfall.

Second term (1997-2001)

With United States President Bill Clinton in Wellington, New Zealand at the APEC summit, 1999

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

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 gr*roots level. Opinions emerged that the Democrats were only helping big financial ins*utions 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 *ets 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. 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.

Education reform

During Chuan's second administration the National Education Act 1999 was enacted.

Human rights

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".

In March 1999, Chuan nominated Thanom Kittikachorn to the post of honorary royal guard to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, provoking widespread criticism. Thanom turned down the appointment Thanom was one of the "three tyrants" who ruled Thailand from 1963 to 1973 and ordered the m*acre 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 *ault.

Corruption

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.
• The "edible fence" seed scandal, in which m*ive overpricing of seeds distributed to rural areas happened. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture was forced to resign.
• 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.
• Sanan Kajornprasart, Interior Minister, as well as eight other cabinet ministers were found to have understated their declared *ets. Sanan was later barred by the Cons*utional Court from politics for five years.
• Chuan himself was found by the National Counter-Corruption Commission to have undeclared shareholdings in a rural cooperative.

Chuan stepped down as the Leader of Democrat Party in 2003.

Personal life

Chuan Leekpai has one son, Surabot Leekpai:, with Pakdiadult movie Sujaritkul (his common-law wife). He is a native speaker of Central Thai and Southern Thai, and was able to speak well in English.

Awards and decorations

National honours

• :Thailand:
  • Knight Grand Cordon (Special Cl*) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
  • Knight Grand Cordon (Special Cl*) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
  • Knight Grand Commander (Second Cl*, higher grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
  • Member of the Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati
  • Recipient of the King Rama IX Coronation Medal
  • Recipient of the 25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal
  • Recipient of the Commemorative Medal of King Rama X's Royal Visits to the United States of America and Europe
  • Recipient of the Commemorative Medal of the elevation of H.R.H. Princess Sirindhorn to "H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn"
  • Recipient of the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Celebration commemorative medal
  • Recipient of the 50th Birthday Medal of Queen Sirikit
  • Recipient of the 84th Birthday Medal of Princess Mother Srinagarindra
  • Recipient of the 60th Birthday Medal of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
  • Recipient of the Longest Reign Commemorative Medal
  • Recipient of the 60th Birthday Medal of Queen Sirikit
  • Recipient of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej Golden Jubilee Medal
  • Recipient of the 6th Cycle Birthday Medal of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
  • Recipient of the 60th Birthday Medal of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
  • Recipient of the 60th Birthday Medal of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
  • Recipient of the 84th Birthday Medal of Queen Sirikit
  • Recipient of the King Rama X Coronation Medal
  • First Cl* (Gold Medal) of the Red Cross Medal of Appreciation

Foreign decorations

• :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)
• :Nicaragua:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Rubén Dario (2000)
• :Romania:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania (2000)
• :Denmark
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (2001)

References

⯇ History of Thailand (1932–1973) • History of Thailand since 2001 ⯈:• :Thailand portal:• :History portal