Anand Panyarachun
Anand Panyarachun (born
August 9,
1932) was
Thailand's
Prime Minister twice, between
1991-
1992 and once again in 1992. He was instrumental in initiating economic and democratic reforms, one of which was the drafting of Thailand's current constitution. Anand received a
Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in
1997.
Anand read law at
Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating with honours in
1955.
After spending 23 years in the Thai foreign service, Anand retired and joined the private sector. He became the Vice-Chairman of the Saha-Union Group in 1979 and the Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1991. He became a Director of Siam Commercial Bank in 1984 and remains a Director to the present day (2006)[
1].
Anand was appointed Prime Minister in 1991 after a military coup led by General
Suchinda Kraprayoon and the so-called
National Peacekeeping Council toppled the democratically-elected government of
Chatichai Choonhavan. Key accomplishments of Anand's government include
*The establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
*A highly effective anti-AIDS/HIV policy
*Electricity market reform, including the introduction of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the initiation of a 10 year liberalization and privatization plan for
EGAT. Many have noted that Saha-Union Group, which Anand chaired, won a major bid to build a large coal fired power plant while Anand was in power
[[2]].
*Award of a multi-billion baht concession to Telecom Asia (today known as
True) to build and operate two million telephone lines in Bangkok
[[3]]. It was noted by many that General Suchinda, the coup-leader who installed Anand as Prime Minister, was appointed Chairman of Telecomm Asia after he was toppled from power
[[4]].
*Suspension of the
Hopewell rail-train airport link project
[[5]].
Anand was succeeded by General Suchinda, who was appointed by Parliament after general elections.
Anand was appointed Prime Minister a second time in
10 June 1992 after Suchinda's government collapsed in less than two months after a violent military crackdown on massive popular protests. Anand was succeeded by democratically-elected
Chuan Leekpai later in 1992.
Anand rejoined the Saha-Union Group as Chairman after the general elections of 1992. He resigned from Saha-Union Group in 2002.
Constitution Drafting Assembly
In 1997, Anand was elected as a member of the Constitution Drafting Assembly and was appointed Chairman of the Drafting Committee. He oversaw the drafting of what became known as the "Peoples' Constitution" of 1997. This much lauded constitution is still in use in the present day (2006). The People's Constitution instituted several important reforms[
6][
7][
8], including:
*Decentralization of government, including the establishment of elected Tambol Administrative Organizations (TAOs) and Provincial Administrative Organizations (PAOs). School administration was also decentralized, although opposition from teachers has delayed implementation of this reform (see
Thaksin Shinawatra#Education policies)
*Establishment of several independent government agencies, including the Election Commission, the Office of the Auditor-General, and the National Human Rights Commission
*Stipulating that candidates for parliament must have a Bachelor's degree
*Mechanisms to increase political stability by favoring large parties over small ones, and hence singular governments over coalition governments
National Reconciliation Commission
From March 2005, Anand served as chairman of the National Reconciliation Commission, tasked with overseeing that peace is brought back to the
troubled south. A fierce critic of the
Thaksin-government, Anand frequently criticized the handling of the southern unrest, and in particular the State of Emergency Decree. He has been quoted to have said, "The authorities have worked inefficiently. They have arrested innocent people instead of the real culprits, leading to mistrust among locals. So, giving them broader power may lead to increased violence and eventually a real crisis." Unfortunately, the situation to deteriorated from 2005 to 2006, with escalating violence, especially among teachers and civilians. Despite much criticism of the Thaksin-government's policies, Anand refused to submit the NRC's final report, choosing instead to wait for the results of the 2006 legislative election[
9].
Anand finally submitted the NRC's recommendations on 5 June 2006[
10]. Among them were
*Introducing
Islamic law*Making ethnic
Pattani-Malay (Yawi) as a working language in the region
*Establishing an unarmed peacekeeping force
*Establishing a Peaceful Strategic Administrative Centre for Southern Border Provinces
The Thaksin government vowed to implement the recommendations. However, the recommendations were vigorously opposed by
Prem Tinsulanonda, the President of King
Bhumibol Adulyadej's Privy Council, who stated "We cannot accept that [proposal] as we are Thai. The country is Thai and the language is Thai... We have to be proud to be Thai and have the Thai language as the sole national language"[
11].
Other Positions
Anand is a member of the
Trilateral Commission, the
Carlyle Group, and the International Advisory Board of American International Group (
AIG).
*
List of Prime Ministers of Thailand
*
Anand Panyarachun's website*
Biography of Anand Panyarachun (United Nations)
*
Profile of Khun Anand Panyarachun (Asean News Network)
