Word: thanom
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...your article on Nixon's upcoming visit to Asia [July 25], I am distressed to see that both the article and the accompanying photograph give the erroneous impression that General Praphas Charusathien is Thailand's head of government. The Prime Minister of Thailand is, of course, General Thanom Kittikachorn. General Praphas is Deputy Premier and Minister of the Interior...
Continued Role. From Saigon the travelers went to Bangkok, where they were greeted by Thailand's Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn in a gilded, red-curtained hall of Government House. Later in their stay they had an audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej in his lavishly landscaped palace. The Thais discussed recent strains in their country's relations with the U.S. and said that efforts to combat Communist insurgency in northeast Thailand were, in Thanom's words, having "rather satisfactory" results...
...regime had taken the first, cautious step toward political liberalization last June with the proclamation of a new constitution. The document provided for elections within 240 days, but it also safeguarded the Thanom government by stipulating that no-confidence motions could only come from a majority of members of the upper and lower houses. Such a negative vote would be unlikely, to say the least, since the upper house is entirely appointed by the regime. Said Opposition Leader Seni Pramoj, an articulate and outspoken lawyer who was Premier in 1945-46: "The constitution of 1968 almost achieves immortality...
Coping with Questions. To compete in the lower house elections, Thanom and the regime's strongman, Interior Minister Praphas Charusathien, who is also Deputy Premier and army commander, constructed their own political organization, the United Thai People's Party. Seni's Democrat Party, attractive to urban and educated Thais, formed the main opposition. Also opposing the government were a dozen smaller groups with little nationwide appeal. Despite long years of political apathy and a lack of distinctive platforms, the campaign was fairly spirited. In Bangkok, a Democrat Party stronghold, U.T.P.P. rallies were interrupted by hecklers. Moreover...
...turnout on election day could have been better: of 15 million registered voters, less than half went to the polls. As expected, the government party won a plurality, seating 76 deputies. In addition, Thanom can count on the backing of many of the 71 independents elected, thus assuring him of a working majority in the lower house. Seni's Democrats elected 57 representatives, including a sweep of all 21 seats in Bangkok and its sister city, Thonburi. The remaining 15 seats went to five of the smaller parties. Although some regime critics dismissed the election as little more than...