Praphas Charusathien

Field Marshal

Praphas Charusathien
ประภาส จารุเสถียร

PChW MPCh MWM SR SMN OMRI
Field Marshal; Praphas Charusathien; ประภาส จารุเสถียร; PChW MPCh MWM SR SMN OMRI
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
	In office; 1 January 1958 – 20 October 1958 Serving with Prince Wan Waithayakon and Sukich Nimmanheminda
Prime Minister	Thanom Kittikachorn
Preceded by	Prayoon Yuthasastrkosol; Fuen Ronnaphagrad Ritthakhanee
Succeeded by	Thanom Kittikachorn; Prince Wan Waithayakon
	In office; 9 December 1963 – 14 October 1973 Serving with Prince Wan Waithayakon and Pote Sarasin
Prime Minister	Thanom Kittikachorn
Preceded by	Thanom Kittikachorn; Prince Wan Waithayakon
Succeeded by	Sukich Nimmanheminda
Minister of Interior
	In office; 1 January 1958 – 20 October 1958
Prime Minister	Thanom Kittikachorn; Sarit Thanarat
Succeeded by	Kamol Wanprapa
	In office; 23 September 1957 – 26 December 1957
Prime Minister	Pote Sarasin
Preceded by	Phao Sriyanond
Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army
	In office; 1 October 1964 – 30 September 1973
Preceded by	Thanom Kittikachorn
Succeeded by	Kris Sivara
Director-General of the Royal Thai Police
	In office; 1 October 1972 – 16 October 1973
Preceded by	Prasert Rujirawongse
Succeeded by	Prajuab Suntarangkool
Personal details
Born	25 November 1912; Udon Thani, Siam
Died	18 August 1997 (aged 84); Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse(s)	Sawai Charusathien
Children	6
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Royal Thai Army
Years of service	1933–1973
Rank	Field Marshal ; Admiral of the Fleet ; Marshal of the Air Force ; Police General
Commands	Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army; Deputy Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters; Director-General of the Royal Thai Police

Praphas Charusathien^{[note 1]} (Thai: ประภาส จารุเสถียร, RTGS: Praphat Charusathian, Thai pronunciation: [pràʔpʰâːt t͡ɕaːrúʔsàʔtʰǐan]; 25 November 1912 – 18 August 1997) was a Thai military officer and politician. He was a field marshal (chom phon) of the Royal Thai Army and minister of interior in the governments of military rulers Sarit Thanarat and Thanom Kittikachorn.

Personal life and education[]

Praphas graduated from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and became an infantry officer. He was sponsored by Field Marshal and Prime Minister-to-be Sarit Thanarat. He was quickly promoted to higher ranks. In 1957, Sarit appointed him minister of interior, a position in which he continued to serve after Sarit's death in 1963. The new Prime Minister was Thanom Kittikachorn, whose son married Praphas' daughter. From 1963 to 1973, he was additionally deputy prime minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. During this time, Praphas was the strong man in the background who pulled the strings in the Thanom government. He was known for obscure financial transactions and political intrigues,^[1] while sitting on the boards of 44 companies.^[2]

In 1973, he was replaced as army commander by General Krit Srivara, which signaled his loss of influence. In October 1973 protests against the rigid military rule grew into a massive popular uprising that was answered by a bloody crackdown on the protesting students and democracy activists. The many dead civilians prompted King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene. Praphas, Thanom and his son Colonel Narong Kittikachorn went into exile.^[1]

Praphas returned to Thailand in January 1977, after the military had ended the democratic interlude in October 1976. However, he was not able to exercise political influence again.^[1]

Family[]

Praphas married to Thanpuying Sawai Jarusathien, daughter of Lt. Von and Huai Panprasit. They have a total of 6 children. Praphas's children were married to important people with military and political power, including Supaporn Charusathien married with Narong Kittikachorn son of Thanom Kittikachorn, Orapan Charusathien married with Yuthasak Sasiprapha and Supanapa Charusathien married with Somtat Attanand.

Died[]

Praphas Charusathien died on 18 August 1997 in Bangkok.

Honours[]

Foreign honours[]

Malaysia : Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (1964)^[3]
Germany : Grand Cross with Sash and Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Netherlands: Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
United States: Commander of the Legion of Merit

Notes[]

^ Alternative spellings of his first name: Prapas, Praphat, Prapass; last name: Charusathian, Charusathiara

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Leifer, Michael (1996), "Praphas Charusathien", Dictionary of the modern politics of South-East Asia, Routledge, p. 134
^ Baker, Chris; Phongpaichit, Pasuk (2009). A History of Thailand (2nd, paper ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 170. ISBN 9780521759151.
^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1964" (PDF).

[1] Alternative spellings of his first name: Prapas, Praphat, Prapass; last name: Charusathian, Charusathiara

[Leifer-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Leifer, Michael (1996), "Praphas Charusathien", Dictionary of the modern politics of South-East Asia, Routledge, p. 134

[Baker-2009-3] Baker, Chris; Phongpaichit, Pasuk (2009). A History of Thailand (2nd, paper ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 170. ISBN 9780521759151.

[4] "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1964" (PDF).

[note 1]

[1]

[2]

[3]

show v t Chiefs of the Royal Thai Army
Kingdom of Siam	Prince Damrong Rajanubhab Surasakmontri Prince Banubandhu Vongsevoradej Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong Prince Banubandhu Vongsevoradej Prince of Nakhon Chaisi Prince of Nakorn Sawan Boworadet Prince of Singha
Kingdom of Thailand	Phahonphonphayuhasena Phibunsongkhram Phahonphonphayuhasena Phibunsongkhram Choonhavan Thanarat Kittikachorn Charusathien Sivara Tinsulanonda Kamlang-ek Yongchaiyudh Kraprayoon Noonpakdee Chulanont Shinawatra Wongsuwan Boonyaratglin Paochinda Chan-o-cha Sitabutr Nakwanich Sitthisart Kongsompong

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Field Marshal Praphas Charusathien ประภาส จารุเสถียร PChW MPCh MWM SR SMN OMRI


Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 1 January 1958 – 20 October 1958 Serving with Prince Wan Waithayakon and Sukich Nimmanheminda
Prime Minister	Thanom Kittikachorn
Preceded by	Prayoon Yuthasastrkosol Fuen Ronnaphagrad Ritthakhanee
Succeeded by	Thanom Kittikachorn Prince Wan Waithayakon
In office 9 December 1963 – 14 October 1973 Serving with Prince Wan Waithayakon and Pote Sarasin
Prime Minister	Thanom Kittikachorn
Preceded by	Thanom Kittikachorn Prince Wan Waithayakon
Succeeded by	Sukich Nimmanheminda
Minister of Interior
In office 1 January 1958 – 20 October 1958
Prime Minister	Thanom Kittikachorn Sarit Thanarat
Succeeded by	Kamol Wanprapa
In office 23 September 1957 – 26 December 1957
Prime Minister	Pote Sarasin
Preceded by	Phao Sriyanond
Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office 1 October 1964 – 30 September 1973
Preceded by	Thanom Kittikachorn
Succeeded by	Kris Sivara
Director-General of the Royal Thai Police
In office 1 October 1972 – 16 October 1973
Preceded by	Prasert Rujirawongse
Succeeded by	Prajuab Suntarangkool

Personal details
Born	25 November 1912 Udon Thani, Siam
Died	18 August 1997(1997-08-18) (aged 84) Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse(s)	Sawai Charusathien
Children	6
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Royal Thai Army
Years of service	1933–1973
Rank	Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet Marshal of the Air Force Police General
Commands	Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army Deputy Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters Director-General of the Royal Thai Police

show v t Presidents of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand
Phraya Jindarak (1948–1965) Praphas Charusathien (1965–1973) Dawee Chullasapya (1974–1996) Suraphon Bunkichsophon* (1996–1997) Chetta Thanajaro (1997–2001) Yuthasak Sasiprapha (2001–2017) Prawit Wongsuwan (2017–)
(*) Acting President