Kriangsak Chamanan (17 December 1917-23 December 2003) was Prime Minister of Thailand from 11 November 1977 to 3 March 1980, succeeding Sangad Chaloryu and preceding Prem Tinsulanonda.
Biography[]
Kriangsak Chamanan was born in Mueang Samut Sakhon, Thailand in 1917, and he graduated from the military academy in 1938 before serving in the Royal Thai Army during the Franco-Thai War, the Burma campaign of World War II, and at the Battle of Pork Chop Hill during the Korean War. Kriangsak was awarded the Legion of Merit for his battalion command in Korea, after which he graduated from Fort Leavenworth's general staff college. Kriangsak was installed in power by a 1977 military coup against the previous military puppet, Sangad Chaloryu, and he oversaw the steering of Thailand towards democracy at a time when communist insurgents were rampant internally. Kriangsak oversaw the founding of an Eastern Seaboard economic corridor, the building of a deep-sea port in Laem Chabang, trade agreements with Japan, the founding of the Chatuchak Market, the creation of a new public primary care initiative, the founding of the Ministry of Science and Technology, increased tourism investments, the passing of consumer protection acts, and the founding of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Kriangsak resigned in 1980, the only coup leader to step down voluntarily, and he later founded the National Democratic Party to oppose Prem Tinsulanonda's regime. He later served on the InterAction Council to help solve various global issues, and he died in 2003.