Chuan Leekpai
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| Chuan Leekpai ชวน หลีกภัย |
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| In office September 23, 1992 – May 24, 1995 November 9, 1997 - February 9, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Anand Panyarachun (1992) Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (1997) |
| Succeeded by | Banharn Silpa-Archa (1995) Thaksin Shinawatra (2001) |
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| Born | July 28, 1938 Trang, Thailand |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Political party | Democrat Party |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Chuan Leekpai (Thai: ชวน หลีกภัย, Chinese: 呂基文; pinyin: Lǚ Jīwén; born July 28, 1938 in Trang) was the Prime Minister of Thailand from September 23, 1992 to May 24, 1995 and again from November 9, 1997 to February 9, 2001.
A third-generation Thai Chinese[1] [2], Chuan was born in Trang province in a grass-roofed house. The walls were woven from strips of betel-nut wood. The floor was the earth. His father's name was Niyom Leekpai. His mother's name was Tuan Leekpai. Tuan Leekpai is half-Chinese like other Trang locals. Niyom Leekpai was a teacher, so his salary was trifling. Tuan Leekpai sold Thai dessert and worked in Para rubber garden. Chuan Leekpai has 9 siblings, and he is the third child in the family. Because of his big family, Chuan's life was not comfortable.
Chuan lived in and studied at the temple called 'Wat Amarintraram', Bangkok for 6 years. Then he went to study Law at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand. After he graduated, he worked as a lawyer and then became a politician.
He has one son, Surabot Leekpai, with Pakdiporn Sujaritkul (his common-law wife). He has a younger brother, Raluek Leekpai (ระลึก หลีกภัย).
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.[citation needed] He was defeated in the 1995 election, but assumed power in late 1997 following the fall of the Chavalit Yongchaiyut administration, which was held responsible for the currency crisis that beset Thailand from July 1997. Though criticised as a "slow" actor, Chuan attempted to manage competing factional demands while abiding by the rule of law.[citation needed]
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[edit] Raluek Leekpai scandal
In 1987, when Chuan was Parliament Speaker, his younger brother Raluek Leekpai was charged with embezzling 231.8 million THB (approx. 10 million USD) from Thai Farmers Bank.[3] Raluek had been an executive at TFB. Responding to accusations in Parliament, Chuan publicly defended the innocence of his brother. Raluek fled the country, and his whereabouts are currently unknown.[citation needed]
[edit] First government(1992-1995)
Key policies of Chuan's first government 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.[4]
- Reforestation. A huge 5 million rai reforestation programme in honour of King Bhumibol's 50th anniversary of accession to the throne was initiated in 1994. The reforestation programme was officially declared a flop, with less than 40% of the target realised. The Director General of the RFD was suspended from his post for alleged corruption within the programme.[5]
The first Chuan government fell when members of the cabinet were implicated in profiting from Sor Phor Kor 4-01 land titles distributed in Phuket province. Fierce public and press criticism have been cited for his administration's downfall.[6]
[edit] Second government(1997-2001)
Chuan became prime minister for the second time in early December 1997, replacing Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, with a shaky line-up of six parties in coalition and 12 defectors from a seventh party, Prachakorn Thai. The ruling coalition increased its 20-seat majority in October 1998, by including the Chart Pattana party.
[edit] 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 grassroots level.[citation needed] Perceptions grew that the Democrats were helping only big financial institutions and selling out the nation to foreign investors, although it is interesting to note that many of the recommended reforms are in line with the policies of high growth free market economies such as Australia and New Zealand. Interestingly, the subsequent government's economic growth was based even more strongly on selling national assets and private organisations abroad such as the Shin empire, while most of their 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.[7]
[edit] Human Rights
Chuan's second government came under fire for the violent arrest of 223 villagers protesting the Pak Mun dam. Respected 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 violent as a military government".[8]
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 assault.[9]
In March 1999, Chuan nominated Thanom Kittikachorn to the post of honorary royal guard to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, provoking widespread criticism.[10] Thanom was one of the "Three Tyrants" who ruled Thailand from 1963 to 1973 and ordered the massacre of pro-democracy students on 14 October 1973, after which he was ordered to step down by HM Bhumibol Adulyadej.
[edit] Corruption
Although generally regarded as relatively clean and honest when compared to other administrations, past and present, Chuan's government found itself plagued with corruption scandals and rumors. Key cases of corruption included:
- Rakkiat Sukhthana, Health Minister, was charged with taking a five million THB (125,000 USD) 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 in his southern constituency of Surat Thani.[11]
- The "edible fence" seed scandal, in which collusion led to massive overpricing of seeds distributed to rural areas. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture was forced to resign.[12]
- The Salween logging scandal, where up to 20,000 logs 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.[12]
- Sanan Kajornprasart, Interior Minister, as well as 8 other cabinet ministers were found to have understated their declared assets. Sanan was later barred by the Constitution Court from politics for 5 years.[13]
- Chuan himself was found by the National Counter-Corruption Commission to have undeclared shareholdings in a rural cooperative.[13]
Chuan stepped down as the head of the Democrat Party in 2003.
[edit] Criticisms
- Chuan also got the nickname 'Chang Ta See' (painter in Thai). When Democrat Party's members were accused of corruption, he always helped them by telling the press his party's members were clean.[citation needed]
[edit] Quotes
- "I haven't received any reports yet." -- (in Thai "ผมยังไม่ได้รับรายงาน") Chuan Leekpai's classic phrase when he faced many Thai reporters about some important issues or urgent issues.
- "The committee is still evaluating it." -- (in Thai "ทางคณะกำลังพิจารณาอยู่ครับ") One of his most famous quotes.
[edit] References
- ^ A History of Thailand. Cambridge University Press, back matter. ISBN 0521816157.
- ^ (Chinese) 泰国华裔地位高 出过好几任总理真正的一等公民
- ^ [28 September 1987, Manager Weekly]
- ^ The Asean Way to Human Rights and Democracy
- ^ Thailand's Community Forest Bill: U-Turn or Roundabout in Forest Policy?
- ^ Media and democratic transitions in Southeast Asia by Duncan McCargo
- ^ Shawn W. Crispin, Rodney Tasker. "Thailand Incorporated", The Far Eastern Economic Review, 2001-18-01.
- ^ focusweb.org
- ^ terrorismcentral.com
- ^ "Forgiven? But not forgotten", Asiaweek.
- ^ atimes.com
- ^ a b >Corruption: Is there any hope at all? by Pasuk Phongpaichit
- ^ a b Encyclopedia Britannica
| Preceded by Anand Panyarachun |
Prime Minister of Thailand 1992–1995 |
Succeeded by Banharn Silpa-Archa |
| Preceded by Chavalit Yongchaiyudh |
Prime Minister of Thailand 1997–2001 |
Succeeded by Thaksin Shinawatra |
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