Sonthi Boonyaratglin

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Sonthi Boonyaratglin สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน
Council of National Security
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 September 2006
Preceded by	Thaksin Shinawatra (as Prime Minister)

Born	2 October 1946
Political party	None
Profession	Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army
Religion	Islam

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin (Thai: สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน, RTGS: Sonthi Bunyaratkalin) (b. 2 October 1946) is Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. He is the first Muslim in charge of the mostly Buddhist army<ref>Thailand Set To Reshuffle Southern Army Commander Again Defense News</ref>. On 19 September 2006, he became the de facto head of government of Thailand after a coup d'état.<ref name=COUP>Coup chief cites intense conflicts CNN</ref>

1 Education and early career
2 Conflicts with Thaksin Shinawatra
3 Southern Thailand insurgency
4 Military coup
5 Quotes
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Education and early career

Sonthi Boonyaratglin graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1969 and was commissioned into the Royal Army Infantry Corps. He went on to lead several top units, including the elite Special Warfare Command based in Lopburi province.<ref>The Star, Sonthi’s meteoric ascent to power, 21 September 2006</ref>

In August 2004, Sonthi was appointed Deputy Army Commander.<ref name=OFFICIAL>Thailand's military reshuffle officially announced People's Daily Online</ref> Against public expectations, Sonthi was promoted to Army Commander in October 2005. Sonthi's fast rise was backed by retired armed forces Supreme Commander General Surayud Chulanont (with whom he had served while leading the Special Warfare Command) and Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda.<ref>The Nation, WARNING FROM SURAYUD: Thaksin's return 'a threat', 28 September 2006</ref> Both serve as advisers to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

[edit] Conflicts with Thaksin Shinawatra

As Army Commander, General Sonthi repeatedly assured the public that the army would not interfere in the political crisis, although he has said that "His Majesty must have been saddened" by the nation's political problems.<ref name=AUDIENCE>Thai military chief seeking audience with King Bhumibol Taipei Times</ref><ref name=STAY>Should Thaksin Stay? Times Asia</ref> He has also protested Thaksin's unsuccessful attempt to promote a large number of his own former classmates from Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School to army units responsible for Bangkok's security.<ref name=ELECTIONS>Thaksin fall from grace Asia Times Online</ref>

The 2006 annual military reshuffle was delayed due to the political crisis, as caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra denied that he planned to remove Sonthi as Army Commander.<ref name=DELAYED>Thaksin denies planning to remove Thai army chief People's Daily</ref><ref name=REMOVE>Thaksin denies planning to remove Thai army chief China View</ref> Despite this, Sonthi consolidating his personal power base by transferring out 129 mid-ranking officers under generals that he thought were loyal to the Prime Minister. Some observers saw this as a message to the Government that Sonthi was still firmly in charge of the Army.<ref name=OBSERVERS>Thai army chief delivers 'counter punch' to Thaksin Taipei Times</ref>

As late as May 2006, Sonthi publicly denied the need for a military coup:

Whenever soldiers get involved in politics, it seems that the nation's problems begin to escalate and become worse. Military officers, accordingly, must step back from politics. With that firm and clear stance, I assure everyone that there definitely won't be a coup.<ref>Thai News Agency, "Thai army chief reaffirms non-interference in politics", 18 May 2006</ref>

[edit] Southern Thailand insurgency

See also: South Thailand insurgency

After being appointed Army Commander in 2005, Sonthi expressed confidence that he could resolve the insurgency. He claimed that he would take a "new and effective" approach to a crisis and that "The army is informed [of who the insurgents are] and will carry out their duties."<ref name=INFORM>Thailand: Mollifying the Muslim SOBAKA</ref> Sonthi was granted an extraordinary increase in executive powers to combat unrest in the far South.<ref>Army commander's powers to rise: Thai Deputy PM China Economic Net</ref> However, up to 19 September 2006, the Army admitted that they had no idea who the insurgents were.<ref name="NoIdea19Sep">The Bangkok Post, "Deep South: Army wants peace talks but unsure who with", 19 September 2006</ref> The drastic escalation of the insurgency during his leadership of the Army led to much public criticism of Army efforts.

While assigned to the South, Sonthi suggested that former communist insurgents might be playing a role in the unrest. Leaders of the southern provinces displayed skepticism over his suggestion and investigations did not reveal any communist link.<ref name=NOCOMMUNISTS>Governors to look into Sonthi's claim of communist hand in Southern unrest The Nation</ref>

Sonthi was also blamed for failing to rescue two teachers who had been severely beaten by a mob in May 2006.<ref name=BEATEN>Hostage Taking: Army's image takes beating The Nation</ref> One of them, Juling Pangamoon, is still in a coma and attracted fame for being the focus of attention from the royal family of Thailand.<ref>The Nation, "HRH Crown Prince to visit Juling"</ref>

On August 2006 after 22 commercial banks were simultaneously bombed in Yala province, Sonthi announced that he would break with government policy and negotiate with the leaders of the insurgency. However, he noted that "We still don't know who is the real head of the militants we are fighting with."<ref name=NEGOTIATE>Sonthi calls for talks The Nation</ref> In a press conference the next day, he attacked the government for criticizing him for trying to negotiate with the anonymous insurgents, and demanded that the government "Free the military and let it do the job."<ref>The Bangkok Post, Sonthi slams meddling</ref> Afterwards, insurgents bombed 6 department stores in Hat Yai city, which up until then had been free of insurgent activities. As always, the identity of the insurgents was not revealed. On 8 September, Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya promised to give Sonthi increased powers to better deal with the insurgency.<ref name=POWERS>Army commander's powers to rise: Thai Deputy PM China Economic Net</ref> However, by 19 September 2006, the Army admitted that it still was unsure who to negotiate with.<ref name="NoIdea19Sep" />

Three days later, Sonthi led a coup against the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Sonthi's former superiors, Deputy Prime Minister for national security Chidchai Vanasatidya and Defense Minister Thammarak Isaragura na Ayuthaya were immediately arrested and have been detained ever since.

[edit] Military coup

Main article: 2006 Thailand coup d'état

On 19 September 2006, Sonthi and other military leaders launched a military coup against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra. The coup-makers originally called themselves the Council for Democratic Reform. Tanks surrounded Government House in Bangkok and the military took over all broadcast media. Thaksin Shinawatra declared a state of emergency from New York City (where he had been attending a meeting of the United Nations, but his broadcast was cut in mid-sentence when the military seized the television station.

Sonthi dissolved Cabinet, Parliament, and the Constitutional Court, and temporarily gave himself powers equivalent to Prime Minister. He declared that the council would hand over power in two weeks.<ref name=HANDOVER>Thailand coup leader vows new PM in weeks CNN</ref> On the second day of the coup, he received a formal mandate from King Bhumibol Adulyadej.<ref name=CAR>Thailand's king gives blessing to coup CNN</ref>

General Sonthi later said in an interview that the coup was originally planned for 20 September, to coincide with a major anti-Thaksin rally also planned for that day. He cited the "Portuguese example" in which anti-government rallies coincided with a successful military rebellion which overthrew King Manuel II of Portugal and established the Portuguese First Republic. The coup was moved up to 19 September, when Thaksin was still in New York. Sonthi also stated that the coup was not an urgent measure mooted just a couple of days earlier. Sonthi also claimed that during a lunch that Thaksin had with the commanders of the armed forces, Thaksin had asked him "Will you stage a coup?" Sonthi replied: "I will."<ref>The Nation, Sonthi told Thaksin he would stage a coup, 27 October 2006</ref> This contradicted earlier public statements where he denied that the military would stage a coup.<ref>International Herald Tribune, Thaksin refuses to resign despite protests in Bangkok, 6 March 2006</ref> He also revealed that as early as his 11 September visit to Myanmar, he had been wary of his personal safety. During flight, he carried a conceiled pistol and sat next to the entrance to the cockpit.<ref>The Nation, Sonthi told Thaksin he would stage a coup, 27 October 2006</ref>

Sonthi and other junta leaders flew to Chiang Mai on a Air Force C-130 on 3 November 2006 to visit a prominent fortune-teller and perform a religious ceremony to ward off bad luck over their staging of the coup. The fortune teller, Varin Buaviratlert, had been Sonthi long-time personal fortune-teller, and had foretold Sonthi's rise to become Army Commander.<ref>Bangkok Post, Coup-Makers Try to Keep Bad Luck At Bay, 4 November 2006</ref>

[edit] Quotes

"There is nobody who wants to stage a coup. I can assure that the military will not." 28 February 2006<ref>AFP, Thai PM open to concessions, ready to postpone snap polls, 28 February 2006</ref>

"The army will not get involved in the political conflict. Political troubles should be resolved by politicians. Military coups are a thing of the past.", 6 March 2006, <ref>International Herald Tribune, Thaksin refuses to resign despite protests in Bangkok, 6 March 2006</ref>

"Nobody was behind us. We decided on our own, and we took care of it on our own ... because the people have called for it and also because of the mismanagement of the government.", 20 September 2006<ref name=MISMANAGEMENT>Thailand military consolidates grip Al Jazeera</ref>

"Thaksin is a Thai and a fellow countryman and there will be no problem should he decide to return. We are like brothers.", 20 September 2006<ref name=THAKISTHAI>Thai coup leader to install new PM in two weeks ABC News</ref>

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Preceded by: Pravit Wongsuwan	Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army 2005–present	Succeeded by: Incumbent
Preceded by: Thaksin Shinawatra (as Prime Minister of Thailand)	President of the Administrative Reform Council (de facto head of government) 19th September 2006–1st October 2006	Succeeded by: Surayud Chulanont (as Prime Minister of Thailand)

Persondata
NAME	Boonyaratglin, Sonthi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน (Thai); Boonyaratkalin, Sondhi (alternate transliteration)
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Thai military leader
DATE OF BIRTH	2 October 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH	living
PLACE OF DEATH