Phichit's Crocodile King Sanan Bids A Final Farewell: Obituary

[webfact]

OBITUARY

Phichit's Crocodile King Sanan bids a final farewell

The Nation

Sanan

BANGKOK: -- Sanan Kachornprasart, a veteran politician, six-time MP and chief adviser of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, newsjswas behind several controversies during both his military and political careers. He succumbed to a severe blood infection at Siriraj Hospital yesterday evening. He was 77.

The infection caused respiratory failure and problems with blood circulation. Sanan had been at Siriraj Hospital's Respiratory Care Unit since November 22, where he was taken after suffering from a severe coughing attack and complications from emphysema. The late politician's bathing rites will be held today at 5pm at Chonlaprathan Rangsarit Temple in Nonthaburi and a royal-sponsored chanting ceremony will continue for seven days, Chart Thai Pattana's senior figure Somsak Prisanananthakul said.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva met Sanan's family yesterday to offer his condolences. He said the former kingmaker had close ties with the Democrats as he had served as the party's secretary-general in the 1980s and 1990s. "He was a generous man who was devoted to his work. He could coordinate with all parties. I want younger politicians to follow this good example," Abhisit said.

Chuan Leekpai, who is also chief adviser for the Democrat Party, said he was very sorry to hear of Sanan's unexpected passing, especially since the late politician was a healthy man.

Democrat MP for Songkhla Jua Ratchasi said Sanan's death was a great loss, as he was so widely respected in the political field.

Born on September 7, 1935, Sanan became part of the Army's Young Turks and earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University. Sanan was a cavalry officer, carrying the rank of lieutenant colonel, before he was dismissed from the Army in 1977 for participating in a coup attempt led by General Chalard Hiransiri. He was later taken back and promoted to the rank of major-general. Apart from an illustrious Army career, Sanan also held several positions in the Cabinet. He worked as deputy prime minister during the Chuan Leekpai, Samak Sundaravej, Somchai Wongsawat and Abhisit Vejjajiva administrations, and led the Interior, Industry and Agriculture ministries at some time or the other. He was also deputy transport minister once.

His colleagues affectionately called him Chalawan, after the mythical Crocodile King of his home province Phichit. He was considered an all-time champion of his province, winning a House seat there six times.

Sanan also worked for several different political parties. Apart from being chief adviser for the Chart Thai and Chart Thai Pattana parties, he was also leader of Mahachon Party, secretary-general and later deputy leader of the Democrat Party.

Sanan played kingmaker in 1997, winning support from a group of 12 rebellious Prachakorn Thai MPs, which helped the Democrat Party become coalition leader and made Chuan Leekpai PM for a second time. However, on August 10, 2000, Sanan was banned from politics for five years because he was found to have provided false information about his assets to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. As soon as the ban was over, he returned to work for the Democrat Party before stepping away to form his own Mahachon Party to contest in the 2005 election.

In 2007-2008, Sanan decided to return to Chart Thai Party and joined the People Power government as a deputy prime minister.

After the People's Alliance for Democracy ousted the then-government in 2006, and the Chart Thai, Machima Tipataya and People Power parties were dissolved in late 2008, Sanan helped establish the Chart Thai Pattana Party and put Chumpol Silapa-archa at the helm. The party later joined the Democrat-led coalition under Abhisit.

Chumpol died of heart failure on January 21 this year.

During the 2009-2010 political turmoil, Sanan put forward ideas of reconciliation. He also helped bail out red-shirt supporters who had been detained over terrorism charges.

Sanan announced that he was giving up his MP status on March 12 last year, but he still helped steer his Chart Thai Pattana Party.

The veteran politician, who finally succumbed to complications yesterday, will certainly be remembered in the field of Thai politics.

-- The Nation 2013-02-16

[Locationthailand]

Conflicting reporting?

"... especially since the late politician was a healthy man."

"... suffering from a severe coughing attack and complications from emphysema."

[Stradavarius37]

'Ol Big ears finally shuffled off the mortal coil? Im sure the angels are weeping today. He's probably up in heaven trying to get himself nominated PM of the Heavenly Government,

[siampolee]

Another one gone so now the commission payments will go a little further as there is one less snout in the dinosaurs feeding trough.

Probably the vertigo that resulted from the constant spinning from party to party that helped to finish him off.

In truth many a crocodile tears are being shed at his demise

[mrtoad]

One less dinosaur, still a few left to go though.

[animatic]

Old guard or old gourd, either way he was an old symbol of

the endemic and pervasively corrupt dysfunction that is Thailand politics.

RIP might be nice to say, but there is little doubt his tenures at various posts caused suffering for many he was never even slightly aware of. Army, Young Turk coupist, then exiled from Army, and then brought back in, and made top general, then party-hopping king maker. He embodies all that is wrong with the local political scene and the nation as a whole.

He will be missed by some, but most shouldn't miss him a jot.

Edited February 16, 2013 by animatic

[virtualtraveller]

correction the PAD did not oust the govt in 2006.

[webfact]

Thailand's political scene loses an old hand

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Feb 16 – Veteran politician and Lower House MP Sanan Kachornprasart died at Siriraj Hospital on Friday of acute blood infection. He was 78.

The MP of Chat Thai Pattana, a smaller political party in the government bloc, was admitted to the hospital on Nov 22 last year after suffering from emphysema.

Maj Gen Sanan, survived by his wife Chaweewan and four children, entered Thai politics as an executive member of the Democrat Party in 1983. He held various ministerial posts including deputy communication minister (1986-1988), agriculture and cooperatives minister (1988-1990), deputy prime minister (1990), industry minister (1992-1994), interior minister (1994-1995) and deputy prime minister/interior minister (1997-2000).

Sanan, holding the title of lieutenant in 1977, was dismissed from the army service and imprisoned for collaborating in an abortive coup. He was later bestowed the rank of major general while serving as interior minister.

Maj Gen Sanan and his son, Siriwat Kachornprasart, joined the Chat Thai Party (later dissolved and reincarnated as Chat Thai Pattana Party) in 2007 after which he was appointed a deputy prime minister in the Samak Sundaravej government.

He then called it quits from Thai politics and his position as chief advisor of the Chat Thai Pattana Party on March 12 last year due to deteriorating health.

His status as a party list MP under the Chat Thai Pattana banner will be replaced by Piyapant Champasut, the former deputy permanent secretary for transport, who ranks 6th on the party list. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-02-16

[Thai-Aust]

One down crook politician. Hooray!

Wish all of them would die down soon enough before Thailand going broke.

[tragickingdom]

Is the death of Sanan the beginning of the end of old politics? At the very least a controversial Democrat kingmaker is no longer, it is safe now for female journalists to come out of the closet again.

[khaowong1]

This man is a good example of what's wrong in the politics of Thailand.. dismissed as a Lt. Col., brought back and made a Major Gen. Helped shape politics in the late 90's. Ag. Minister, Interior Minister, twice Dep. Prime Minister.. thrown out for corruption, etc., and etc. And still a hero. Jeez.. in any other country, he would be living on welfare and clipping super market coupons. But no.. not in Thailand... here he's a hero...

[rubl]

Is the death of Sanan the beginning of the end of old politics? At the very least a controversial Democrat kingmaker is no longer, it is safe now for female journalists to come out of the closet again.

It is tragic in this Kingdom. Mind you, just like the real dinosaurs the Thai version seems to die off slowly. We still have k. Sanoh, k. Barharn, Gen. Chavalit amongst others, maybe even as the last few left. Although controversial, within the (case expired) law, friend of Queen Elizabeth Taylor or just General of the Peoples Army, none really known as democratic or even Democrat kingmakers, but never mind. Makes you wonder, do the best go first

PS as for journalists, somehow both male and female journalists felt less harassed by AMLO and other state organisations after the 19th of September 2006. Maybe related to one of the younger dinosaurs no longer directly involved

Edited February 16, 2013 by rubl