Apirat Kongsompong

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Apirat Kongsompong
อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์
อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์.jpg
Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office
1 October 2018 – 30 September 2020
Preceded byChalermchai Sitthisart
Succeeded by
Personal details
Born (1960-03-23) March 23, 1960 (age 61)
Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse(s)Associate Professor Kritika Kongsompong, Ph.D.
Children2
Alma materNational Defence College
Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy
Military service
AllegianceThailand
Branch/serviceRoyal Thai Army
Royal Security Command
Years of service1985 - 2020
RankGeneral
CommandsThai Army
Commander of the 1st Army Area
1st Corps
1st Division, King's Guard

11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard
Battles/warsSouth Thailand insurgency[1]

Apirat Kongsompong (Thai: อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์; RTGS: Aphirat Khongsomphong; born 23 March 1960) is the former Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army who served from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2020.[2] He previously served as Assistant Commander in Chief from October 2017 to September 2018 and the Commanding General of the 1st Army Area[3] from October 2016 to September 2017. General Apirat Kongsompong also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Government Lottery Office,[4] and was formerly an Independent Director at Bangchak Petroleum Public Co.,[5][6][7] and a member of the National Legislative Assembly.[8]

Early life[]

Apirat was born in Bangkok on 23 March 1960. He is the eldest son of General Sunthorn Kongsompong, the former Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, and Khunying Orachorn Kongsompong. He completed his primary and part of secondary education at St. Gabriel's College. He later attended the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (Class 20) and went on to attend Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (Class 31) where he graduated in 1985.

Education[]

Career[]

General Apirat with U.S. Army General James McConville chief of staff, U.S. Army at Arlington National Cemetery

General Apirat received a commission as an army officer upon graduation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1985. He served as a pilot at the Army Aviation Center at the beginning of his military career. He completed UH-1H Maintenance/Test Pilot Training at Fort Eustis, Virginia, USA. He also completed the AH-1H (Cobra) Pilot Training Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama, USA. Apirat is also a graduate of Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. In October 1990, Apirat was appointed Assistant Logistics Officer at the Royal Thai Army Defense Attache Office in Washington D.C.

General Apirat commanded 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard in Bangkok. He went on to command 11th Infantry Regiment King's Guard.[9][10] He served as the Commanding General of in Chachoengsao Province. He went on to serve as the Commanding General of 15th Military Circle in Petchaburi Province. Apirat commanded 1st Division, King's Guard[11][12] in Bangkok. He was later appointed the Commanding General of 1st Corps in 2015. In 2016, General Apirat was appointed the Commanding General of the 1st Army Area.[13][14][15][16]

Apirat's key staff assignments include Combat Intelligence Assistant Staff Officer, 1st Division, King's Guard; Assistant Director of Planning Section, 1st Corps; Civil Affairs Staff Officer, 1st Division, King's Guard; Chief of Staff, 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard; Executive Officer, 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard; Division Chief of Staff, 1st Division, King's Guard; Deputy Commanding General, 1st Division, King's Guard; and Deputy Commanding General, 1st Army Area.

Apirat's deployment experience includes anti-communist operations in 1986. He served as the Commander of Task Force 14 which conducted counter-insurgency operations in Yala Province in 2004.

Apirat is associated with the military clique Wong Thewan, in turn associated with the 1st Division, the King's Guard.[2] While Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy, Prawit Wongsuwon are members of the rival 2nd Division clique, Burapha Phayak ('tigers of the east'), Apirat is known to have close ties with them.[2]

Army chief[]

Apirat as a Army chief in 2019

Barely a month into his tenure as army chief, Apirat created a media firestorm with his comments on the necessity for military intervention in Thai politics should turmoil surface.[17][18][19]

In October 2019, Gen. Apirat host the special sermon about propaganda in Thailand. As the National security officer, Gen. Apirat heavily concern on digital propaganda via social media because of the hasty widespread the idea of communist or extreme left which is hard to identify.[20] Unfortunately, this mentioned idea is led to overthrow the monarchy which trend to influenced by riot in Hong Kong and define this operation as a “Hybrid Warfare” for destroy the foundation of the state.[21][22][23][24]

In October 2019, Apriat warned in a speech to military officers, policemen, and uniformed students that, "Propaganda in Thailand is severe and worrying. There is a group of communists who still have ideas to overthrow the monarchy, to turn Thailand to communism..."[25][26] His performance prompted the Bangkok Post to remark, "It was 'a lecture' that should never have been given by any army chief, for its combination of accusations against 'the left' and young people, and sensational and biased political messages."[27][28] The speech prompted one analyst to urge that rival factions end the "enemy mindset".[29] His comments sparked criticism online for being a partisan bureaucrat.[30]

Gen. Apirat provide the urgent policy for detect and solve the difficulty on the welfare for the officer of Royal Thai Army.[31] Gen. Apirat found the direct call centre for officer who has obstacle to provide confidential information to Commander in chief directly. Moreover, Due to Nakhon Ratchasima shootings in 2020 cause by the welfare housing system, Gen. Apirat establish the investigation committee for examine the source of obstacle and find the solution include provide remedy for the victim.[32] The hot line provide valuable evidence lead to the undercover problem in Royal Thai Army and sent it to the specialist organization such as office of the national Anti-corruption commission.[33]

After Nakhon Ratchasima shootings in 2020, in which the perpetrator cited corruption in the army as motives, he as the army chief created an anonymous complaint hotline program on 17 February 2020.[34] However, some media reported no concrete achievements.[35] Later in April, an army sergeant filed a complaint about another corruption in the army via the program, but he was retaliated.[36][37][38]

In July 2020, Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, a former police chief and leader of an opposition party Seree Ruam Thai, condemned Apirat's intervention in politics.[39]

Royal careers[]

On 15 September 2020, King Vajiralongkorn ordered the Bureau of the Royal Household to accept a transfer of Apirat from the retirement of the Royal Thai Army to the Bureau of the Royal Household in the position of Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.[40][41]

Awards and decorations[]

National honours[]

Foreign decorations[]

References[]

  1. ^ "ผบ.ทบ.เยือนอินโดฯ ชู "อาเจะห์โมเดล" ดับไฟใต้ "สร้างความเข้าใจ ไม่แยกดินแดน"". สำนักข่าวอิศรา. January 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Nanuam, Wassana (3 September 2018). "Army reshuffle sees loyalists appointed". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Coups and Plots in Thailand - Khmer Times". October 4, 2016.
  4. ^ Mail, Pattaya (May 4, 2015). "PM appoints Apirat Kongsompong as the new GLO chief".
  5. ^ "ประวัติกรรมการบริษัท บางจากปิโตรเลียม จำกัด (มหาชน)" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Apirat Kongsompong - Biography". www.marketscreener.com.
  7. ^ Board of Directors
  8. ^ http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2560/D/023/16.PDF[full citation needed]
  9. ^ "Two soldiers". January 31, 2010.
  10. ^ "Show of strength to protect monarchy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-25.[full citation needed]
  11. ^ Tribune, Thai. "Military top brass transfers imply the future of Thai politics". www.thaitribune.org.
  12. ^ "โปรดเกล้าฯโยกย้าย203นายทหารแล้ว". www.bangkokbiznews.com/.
  13. ^ "Thai military maneuvers to stay on top". Nikkei Asia.
  14. ^ "1st Army Area Royal Thai Army Visit". Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  15. ^ Royal Thai Army visits I Corps Archived 2017-10-25 at the Wayback Machine[full citation needed]
  16. ^ "Royal Thai Army visits I Corps, learns all about Strykers". www.army.mil.
  17. ^ Achakulwisut, Apinya (23 October 2018). "Army at the centre of our vicious circle" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  18. ^ "The CURSE of an Army always ready to pounce" (Opinion). The Nation. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  19. ^ Ehrlich, Richard S (22 October 2018). "Thai military leader's plan for regime election loss: Unleash coup to quell 'riots'". Washington Times. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Army chief: Monarchy, military, people inseparable". Bangkok Post.
  21. ^ "Army chief Gen Apirat warns Thailand is facing "hybrid warfare"".
  22. ^ ""บิ๊กป้อม" แจง ผบ.ทบ.บรรยายพิเศษความมั่นคง เพราะต้องการเล่าสิ่งที่กองทัพบกทำมา". 11 October 2019.
  23. ^ "ซูฮกบิ๊กแดง'หมอเหรียญทอง'ลั่นกองทัพไทยต้องไม่เป็นกลางและไม่นิ่งเฉยต่อพวกบ้าคลั่งปชต". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด.
  24. ^ ""ธนกร"มั่นใจ"บิ๊กแดง"พูดเพราะห่วงบ้านเมือง". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด.
  25. ^ Tanakasempipat, Patpicha (11 October 2019). "Thai army chief decries opposition, hints at threat to monarchy". Reuters. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  26. ^ Nanuam, Wassana (11 October 2019). "Army chief: Monarchy, military, people inseparable". Bangkok Post. Reuters. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Apirat speech sends chill" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  28. ^ Wangkiat, Paritta (14 October 2019). "Apirat out of touch with modern reality" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  29. ^ Khidhir, Sheith (19 October 2019). "Is Thailand risking another massacre?". The ASEAN Post. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  30. ^ "Authoritarians anonymous: Thailand's generals fret about Hong Kong's protests" (Online). The Economist. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  31. ^ "ทบ.ตั้งคณะกรรมการตรวจสอบกิจการสวัสดิการ คลี่คลายข้อสงสัย-ยกมาตรฐานให้ดีขึ้น". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด.
  32. ^ "เปิด "สายตรง ผบ.ทบ." 02-018-7330". 19 February 2020.
  33. ^ "ทีมโฆษกกองทัพบกเปิดลำดับเหตุการณ์ 'หมู่อาร์ม' ร้องสายตรงบิ๊กแดง สอบ 3 นายพลเอี่ยวอมเบี้ยเลี้ยง". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด.
  34. ^ "ผวาทั้งบาง!'บิ๊กแดง'ประกาศเอาจริง ลุย'ปฏิรูปกองทัพ'เต็มสูบ เดี๋ยวมีเลย์ออฟ".
  35. ^ https://www.matichonweekly.com/column/article_313064
  36. ^ จาก'จ่าคลั่ง'สู่'หมู่อาร์ม' กับคำสัญญา'ปฏิรูปกองทัพ' ไทยโพสต์.
  37. ^ "เปิดคำให้การหมู่อาร์มแฉอมเบี้ยเลี้ยงในกองทัพกลับโดน-คดีหนีทหาร". 6 June 2020.
  38. ^ ""หมู่อาร์ม" ลั่นพร้อมขึ้นศาล ถาม "บิ๊กแดง" คืนความยุติธรรมให้ได้หรือไม่". 2 June 2020.
  39. ^ ""เสรีพิศุทธ์" เตือน ผบ.ทบ. "อย่ายุ่งม็อบ นศ." ไล่ รีบๆเกษียณอายุราชการไปเสีย". Post Today (in Thai). 25 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  40. ^ "ในหลวง โปรดเกล้าฯโอน "บิ๊กแดง-ณรัชต์" เป็นรองเลขาธิการพระราชวัง".
  41. ^ "โปรดเกล้าฯ "บิ๊กแดง-ณรัชต์" เป็นข้าราชการในพระองค์ ตำแหน่งรองเลขาธิการพระราชวัง". 15 September 2020.
  42. ^ "ราชกิจจานุเบกษา เล่ม ๑๓๔ ตอน ๔๗ ข หน้า ๑ ๒๘ กันยายน ๒๕๖๐" (PDF).
  43. ^ "ราชกิจจานุเบกษา ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์จุลจอมเกล้า ในวโรกาสพระราชพิธีฉัตรมงคล พ.ศ. 2546, เล่ม 120, ตอนที่ 9 ข, 4 พฤษภาคม 2546, หน้า 3" (PDF).
  44. ^ https://rta.mi.th/rta_website_v2/index.php/component/k2/item/240-2020-02-02-15-52-01[full citation needed]
  45. ^ https://rta.mi.th/rta_website_v2/index.php/all-news/item/397[full citation needed]
Military offices
Preceded by
Chalermchai Sitthisart 		Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army
2018–2020 		Succeeded by
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