Krit Sivara

Krit Sivara (ca.1959)

General Krit Sivara (also Srivara or Sriwara; Thai ก ฤ ษ ณ์ สี วะ รา ; born March 29, 1914 , † April 28, 1976 in Bangkok ) was a Thai politician and army officer. He was the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Thai Army during the violence against demonstrators on October 14, 1973 .

life and career

Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn named Krit Deputy Minister of Education in 1969 . On November 23, 1970 he moved to the Ministry of Defense . After Thanom had overthrown his own government by means of a coup on November 17, 1971 and installed a military junta, Krit became Minister of Industry.

At the events of October 1973, Krit played a crucial role as deputy army commander. Mass demonstrations were organized against the so-called "three tyrants", Colonel Narong Kittikachorn , Army Commander Field Marshal Praphas Charusathien and Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn. On the evening of October 14, police began shooting at the demonstrators, killing at least 70 people. Narong personally participated in the killings when he shot at the groups from a helicopter. After these events, Thanom and Praphas resigned from their political positions, but initially retained their military ranks. They called for more troops to tear down the remaining protesters but were stopped by Krit. Then Thanom and Praphas also resigned from their military posts and had to leave Thailand. The army under Krit separated from the three tyrants. The new Prime Minister was appointed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej Sanya Dharmasakti .

Krit died of poisoning in a hospital in Bangkok on April 28, 1976. The garrison in Sakon Nakhon Province is named after him.