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Anupong Paochinda อนุพงษ์ เผ่าจินดา
Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office 1 October 2007 – Present
Preceded by	Sonthi Boonyaratglin
Born	10 October 1949 (1949-10-10) (age 60) Bangkok
Nationality	Thai
Political party	None
Spouse(s)	Kunlaya Paochinda
Religion	Buddhism

General Anupong Paochinda (Thai: อนุพงษ์ เผ่าจินดา; RTGS: Anuphong Phaochinda) is an incumbent Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army. He has been—since he was a Lieutenat General and held the position as the 1st Army Area Commander—a member of the Council for National Security, the junta staging the 2006 Thai coup d'état unseating the elected government of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Anupong completed a primary education from Bangkok's Phanthasuksa Pitthaya School in 1965 and Thai-British Curriculum Amnuay Silpa School in the following year, a military education from Thailand's Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School in 1967 (Class 10) and from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1972 (Class 21), as well as a degree of political science from Ramkhamhaeng University in 1993, and a master's degree from the National Defence College of Thailand's Class 26 of Thailand's National Institute of Development Administration in 2004, respectively.

Anupong has been appointed to various military offices, including inter alia: commandant of the 21st Army Battalion in charge of Privy Protection, commandant of Queen Sirikit's Lion-hearted Army, commandant of the 1st Army Division in charge of Privy Protection, deputy commander and commander of the 1st Army Area. Anupong was selected by the Council of Ministers of Thailand to hold the position of Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army on 19 September 2007, and promoted to such position by Bhumibol Adulyadej on 1 October of the same year.

Anupong is married with Kunlaya Paochinda (Thai: กุลยา เผ่าจินดา). The couple has two children: Yutthaphong Paochinda (Thai: ยุทธพงษ์ เผ่าจินดา) and Wimalin Paochinda (Thai: วิมลิน เผ่าจินดา).

On 2 October 2008, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej imposed—following a civil insurgency demanding the resignation and impeachment of him—a state of emergency throughout Bangkok Metropolis and appointed Anupong as the Leader of the Chief Officers responsible for remedy of the said emergency state.

[edit] Quotes

• "If the people are one, we are with the people. But, if the people are parts, there is no place for us."^[1]

— Gen Anupong expressed his standpoint after having been charged with duties to remedy the State of Emergency in Bangkok.

• "Our purview is to prevent the occurrence of the state of emergency cause by the clashes. But, the remedy of conflicts should be undertaken by other mechanism, for which I still insist that National Assembly should take more responsibilities for the Country."^[1]

• "If I can talk with him, I would talk with him. As he has already expressed his standpoint according to his reasons and explanations. So, the only answer I have is this is beyond my ability."^[1]

— Gen Anupong replied to the media asking that "The performance carried out by Prime Minister Samak in previous 7-8 months has come forth many problenms. How would you talk with the PM, to urge him to resign or to dissolve the House?".

• "The way out by using armed forces is a closed door and no more. Another way out, to which whether we can reach or not; however, we have to enter this way out in order to cope with this worriment."^[1]

— Gen Anupong replied to the media asking how he will remedy the political crisis in Thailand.

• "The way out through taking control over the Country by the military is a closed door and no more...This way is barred up by many walls, and no one should try to take this way."^[1]

— Gen Anupong replied to the media asking how he will remedy the political crisis in Thailand.

• "I have always said that someone is a wrong side. However, so as to get by this crisis, we need to uphold the rule of law, and according to which, he holds the legitimacy right now...If the military has to take part in this operation, we will be with the people."^[1]

— Gen Anupong replied to the media asking that "If the operation of forces is needed, what will you choose between the public life and the sacrifice of a despicable Prime Minister?

[edit] References

• The Royal Thai Army. (n.d.). Short Biography of General Anupong Paochinda. [Online]. Available: http://www.rta.mi.th/data/command/command2550/anupong_history.html. (Accessed: 4 September 2008).

[edit] See also

• 2008 Thai political crisis
• 2006 Thai coup d'état
• Council for Democratic Reform
• Council for National Security