Preface

Summary

Since 1932 military intervention in Thai politics has become the most dominant and decisive factor in the changing face of Thai political life. The Thai military has overwhelmingly dominated political institutions and processes since then.

Socio-political milieux conducive to the patterns and processes of military intervention in Thai politics, including its effects on Thai society, have analytically been studied by a number of Thai and foreign scholars. The most direct intervention of the military in Thai politics has been the seizure of power by means of a coup. Once in control, the military junta tends to give first priority to the maintenance of power by advancing and protecting corporate interests. Key positions in the structure of government, that is, cabinet and legislature, are filled by the leading members of the junta to assure the stability of the regime. Rivals and potential rivals are either eliminated or curtailed or both. Potential allies are co-opted and rewarded.

Since there are limited seats in the cabinet and legislature, the most important posts will be assumed by key leaders and the less important ones will be allocated to the active participants and co-opted allies. Thus, the appointment of these military officers to political posts, whether they be in the cabinet or legislature, not only identifies the participants in any military intervention, but also signifies the potential officers who are in a position to perpetuate military rule or at least to dictate the political life of the country in the future.

This compilation of biographical data on the military officers in the National Administrative Reform Assembly (1976-77), the National Legislative Assembly, and/or the Senate (1979 to the present) is therefore meant to provide base-line data for further study of military intervention in Thai politics. It also provides the officers' social background, military rank and position at the time they were appointed to their political positions.