Education, Military, and Political Career
Born in Songkhla Province in the south of Thailand, Prem attended Maha-Vajiravut Secondary School in Songkhla, followed by Suankularb Wittayalai School in Bangkok. He entered the Royal Thai Army Academy (now Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy) in 1941. A distinguished Army officer, he entered politics in 1959, as a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee. From 1968 to 1971 he was a Senator, in 1972-73 Member of Parliament, and in 1976 was appointed to the Advisory Council of Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien. Under Prime Minister Kriangsak Chomanan, he was Deputy Interior Minister in 1977-78 and Minister of Defence from 1979 to 1986.
General Prem is famous for initiating the negotiations with the members of the Communist Party of Thailand. Consequently, an amnesty was declared and many communist members - including former student protestors - returned home. This helped end the fighting between the government and communist guerrillas in 1980s.
Read more about this topic: Prem Tinsulanonda
Famous quotes containing the words political career, political and/or career:
“He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“The real grounds of difference upon important political questions no longer correspond with party lines.... Politics is no longer the topic of this country. Its important questions are settled... Great minds hereafter are to be employed on other matters.... Government no longer has its ancient importance.... The people’s progress, progress of every sort, no longer depends on government. But enough of politics. Henceforth I am out more than ever.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“It is a great many years since at the outset of my career I had to think seriously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the conclusion that the chief good for me was freedom to learn, think, and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that conviction... and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, warned that I should probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied with the results of the line of action I have adopted.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)