Kriangsak Chamanan

Who was Kriangsak Chamanan?

General Kriangsak Chamanan served as prime minister of Thailand from 1977 to 1980.

A professional soldier, Kriangsak fought against the French in the Franco-Thai War, and against the communists in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1977, as Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, he staged a successful coup d'état against Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien.

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.

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