Recipients of the Victory Medal (Thailand) - Sonthi Boonyaratglin (Paperback)

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: General (Ret.) Sonthi Boonyaratglin (Thai:, RTGS: Sonthi Bunyaratkalin) (b. 2 October 1946) is former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and former head of the Council for National Security, the military junta that ruled the kingdom. He is the first Muslim in charge of the mostly Buddhist army.. On 19 September 2006, he became the de facto head of government of Thailand after overthrowing the elected government in a coup d'tat. After retiring from the Army in 2007, he became Deputy Prime Minister, in charge of national security. Sonthi is a multimillionaire and has two wives, Sukanya and Piyada, despite legal prohibitions against bigamy. Sonthi Boonyaratglin graduated from the 6th Class of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. He graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1969 as part of Class 17 and was commissioned into the Royal Army Infantry Corps. He went on to lead several top units, including the elite Special Warfare Command based in Lopburi province. In August 2004, Sonthi was appointed Deputy Army Commander. Against public expectations, Sonthi was promoted to Army Commander in October 2005. Sonthi's fast rise was backed by retired armed forces Supreme Commander General Surayud Chulanont (with whom he had served while leading the Special Warfare Command) and Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda. Both serve as advisers to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. As Army Commander, General Sonthi repeatedly assured the public that the army would not interfere in the political crisis, although he has said that "His Majesty must have been saddened" by the nation's political problems. He has also protested Thaksin's unsuccessful attempt to promote a large number of his own former classmates from Class 10 of the... More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=7063615