Arthit Kamlang-ek

General Arthit Kamlang-ek (31 August 1925 – 19 January 2015; Thai: อาทิตย์ กำลังเอก, Thai pronunciation: [ʔaːtʰít kamlaŋʔèːk]) was a Thai general. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1982 to 1986 and parallel the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces from 1983 to 1986. He was particularly influential during the 1980s during the government of Prem Tinsulanonda.

Education and early career

Arthit graduated from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He later attended the Royal Thai Army's Staff College.

Family

General Arthit has two sons, one daughter and one stepson. His youngest son, Titiwat Kamlang-ek, has two children: Peerawut Kamlang-ek and Athittaya Kamlang-ek.

1981 Young Turk coup

General Arthit was a leader of the counter-coup against the Young Turk coup of 1981. Afterwards, he was promoted to Commander of the First Army Region, traditionally regarded as the most strategic post for coups and counter-coups.

Clash with Prem

General Arthit's subsequent rapid rise to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army in October 1982 was unprecedented.^[1] Also serving as the Supreme Commander starting September 1983, General Arthit at times challenged the propriety of key government policies. In November 1984, for example, he made a televised condemnation of the government's currency devaluation policy. Also in 1984, apparently with General Arthit's blessing, some active-duty and retired army officers pressed for constitutional amendments aimed at enhancing their political influence. A showdown between Arthit's camp and Prem's ruling coalition was narrowly averted when General Arthit urged the officers to abandon the amendments.

General Arthit also played a role in the 1985 election which brought Chamlong Srimuang to the governorship of Bangkok. Arthit urged his subordinates and their families to vote against any party that had an anti-military orientation, particularly the Democrats.

Downfall

In 1986, General Arthit lobbied vigorously to extend his term as Army Commander another year to September 1987, which would allow him to retain influence after the expiration of Prem's term as Prime Minister.^[1] But on March 24, 1986, the government announced that Arthit would be retired as scheduled on September 1, 1986. Then on 27 May, Prem stunned the nation by dismissing Arthit from his position as Army chief and replacing him with General Chaovalit Yongchaiyut, a Prem loyalist. Prior to that, no Army Chief had ever been fired. This unprecedented action came amid the flurry of rumours that the general was involved in behind-the-scenes manoeuvres to undermine Prem's chances for another premiership after the July 1986 parliamentary elections. General Arthit, whose largely ceremonial post as Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces until September 1986 was not affected by the dismissal order, denied any role in such maneuvers.

Post-military career

In early 1991, Arthit was appointed by Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan as Deputy Defense Minister.^[2] Early rumors of his appointment seriously angered many military leaders, especially Army chief Suchinda Kraprayoon and his former classmates from the 5th Class of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. A military coup led by Suchinda and the National Peace Keeping Council soon overthrew Chatichai's government.^[3]

Footnotes

History of Thailand since 1973

Politics	Military and institutions	Key events

Prime Ministers of Thailand Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn Sanya Dharmasakti Seni Pramoj Kukrit Pramoj Thanin Kraivichien General Kriangsak Chomanan General Prem Tinsulanonda General Chatichai Choonhavan Anand Panyarachun Suchinda Kraprayoon Chuan Leekpai Banharn Silpa-archa Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Thaksin Shinawatra General Surayud Chulanont Samak Sundaravej Somchai Wongsawat Abhisit Vejjajiva Yingluck Shinawatra General Prayut Chan-o-cha	Military dictators Field Marshal Praphas Charusathien Colonel Narong Kittikachorn General Arthit Kamlang-ek General Sunthorn Kongsompong General Sonthi Boonyaratglin Institutions Constitution of Thailand Monarchy of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej National Council for Peace and Order	Key events History of Thailand (1932–1973) 6 October 1976 Massacre 1976 Thai coup d'état March 1977 Thai coup d'état October 1977 Thai coup d'état Vietnamese border raids in Thailand 1981 Thai military rebellion 1985 Thai coup d'état 1991 Thai coup d'état National Peace Keeping Council Black May (1992) 1997 Asian financial crisis Premiership of Thaksin Shinawatra Policies of the Shinawatra administration South Thailand insurgency 2005–2006 Thai political crisis 2006 Thai coup d'état 2008–2010 Thai political crisis 2010 Thai political protests 2013–14 Thai political crisis 2014 Thai coup d'état

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 207306275 SUDOC: 147989140

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