Thailand: General Kriangsak Chomanan (1917-2003), Prime Minister of Thailand 1977-1980

General Kriangsak Chomanan (17 December 1917 – 23 December 2003) served as Prime Minister of Thailand from 1977 to 1980.

A professional soldier, General Kriangsak fought against the communists in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1977, as the Supreme Commander of the Thai army, he staged a successful coup d'etat against Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien.

General Kriangsak is widely credited for defusing a long-running Communist insurgency in northern Thailand. Allegedly, he allowed the People's Republic of China to ship arms to the rebel Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in exchange for the PRC withdrawing its support of the communists in Thailand. However this is denied by the Thai government, which cites his offer of amnesty as the primary reason.

General Kriangsak voluntarily retired in February 1980 and was succeeded by General Prem Tinsulanonda.

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