National Peacekeeping Council— Thailand
The National Peacekeeping Council (NPC) was the military junta headed by General Suchinda Kraprayoon, who briefly administered Thailand following the 23 February 1991 coup that ousted Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhaven. Although the military claims to have staged the coup for the public good in order to stem the rampant corruption of the Chatichai government, the military leadership was concerned about its declining political role in governing. The NPC disbanded parliament and imposed restrictions on the media, but it allowed political parties to continue operating and pledged to restore democracy. The NPC appointed the respected bureaucrat and former businessman Anand Panyarachun interim premier until a new constitution was promulgated.
The NPC's new constitution gave the military substantial political power, including control over the senate and a provision for the appointment of an unelected premier. Despite a pledge to restore politics to civilians, the military established a political party, the Samakkee Tham (United in Virtue). After their candidate was accused by the United States of drug trafficking, coup leader Suchinda successfully contested the March 1992 election. Suchinda became prime minister on 7 April 1992, infuriating students and the middle class, which had been hit hard by the economic repercussions of the coup. After the military brutally crushed demonstrations, Suchinda was forced to resign on 24 May 1992.
Thailand—Political Parties; Thailand—Political System.
Further Reading
Fry, Gerald. (1992) "'Saturday Surprise,' the February 23, 1991 Coup in Thailand: The Role of the Military in Politics." Washington, DC: Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.
——. (1992) "The February 1991 Coup in Thailand: Thailand's Painful Path to Democracy." Washington, DC: Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.
Murray, David. (1996) Angels and Devils: Thai Politics from 1991 to September 1992: A Struggle for Democracy? Bangkok, Thailand: White Orchard Press.
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