Meechai Ruchuphan

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Meechai Ruchuphan ( Thai มี ชัย ฤชุ พันธุ์ , RTGS Michai Ruechuphan , pronunciation: [ miːt͡ɕaj rɯt͡ɕʰúpʰan ]; * February 2, 1938 ) is a Thai conservative politician and legal expert.

life and career

Meechai studied law at Thammasat University and received a master's degree in comparative law from Southern Methodist University in the US state of Texas in 1966 . He then went through the Legislative Internship Program of the State Parliament of Texas. After returning to Thailand, he became a civil servant at the State Council. There he was promoted to head of the draft law department. In 1973 he was appointed advisor to Prime Minister Sanya Dharmasakti on legal issues, and was permanently promoted to Prime Minister's office the following year . In 1977, during the military rule, he became a member of the appointed National Legislative Assembly and in the same year he was Deputy Secretary General of the Prime Minister.

In the government of General Prem Tinsulanonda he was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office in March 1980. He held this position during the entire eight-year reign of Prems and under his successor Chatichai Choonhavan until January 1990. From 1983 to 1989 he was also a member of the Senate . From April 1991 he was Deputy Prime Minister, first under Anand Panyarachun and then under his successor General Suchinda Kraprayoon . At the same time, he was chairman of the committee that drafted the 1991 Thai constitution.

After the resignation of Prime Minister Suchinda on May 24, 1992 in the wake of the mass protests and the failed attempt by the government to suppress them (" Black May "), he took over the duties of the Prime Minister on an interim basis until June 10 of the same year .

He then belonged again to the Senate until 2000 and was even its President. As Senate president, he faced a constitutional tribunal, a law passed by the Suchinda government (and presumably of Meechai even elaborated) on 22 July 1992 decree declared lawfully which those responsible for the fatal shooting on demonstrators with impunity presented. Meechai was initially critical of the 1997 draft constitution, which was drawn up in long deliberations and with the participation of civil society. Some regulations seemed too progressive to him, such as the article that forbade any discrimination based on origin. This seemed to him incompatible with Thai culture, to which it belongs to crawl on the ground in front of the king and in which it is unthinkable that someone, referring to the constitution, stands upright and with hands on his sides facing the king. However, he then advocated acceptance of the draft because, under the influence of the Asian economic crisis, he feared political chaos if it were rejected, as many people had high hopes for the new constitution.

After the coup in September 2006 , Meechai Ruchuphan was chairman of the National Legislative Assembly in 2007, a 242-member transitional parliament set up by the military government. Meechai was also considered close to the military . His selection was seen as a sign of a development towards a conservative, law-and-order constitution . Looking back, he declared that the 1997 constitution was unsuitable for Thailand and compared it to a Rolls-Royce that couldn't plow a field. He also claimed that the monarchy was threatened by three different groups: one would publicly question whether the monarchy was still needed through articles and research; one would anonymously attack members of the royal families from websites registered abroad by criticizing their behavior and posting inappropriate pictures; the third would abuse the monarchy for its own gain and political ends. The strict law against lese majesty must therefore remain in force and be strictly enforced.

After another coup, in September 2014, Meechai was appointed as one of two civilians in the military junta that calls itself the “National Council for the Maintenance of Peace”. After the failure of an initial draft constitution drawn up under the aegis of the military, Meechai was appointed chairman of the committee to draft a new constitution in October 2015.

Meechai was married to Khunying Amphorn Ruchuphan (nee Seneewongse na Ayutthaya) until her death . They have two daughters.

The Southeast Asian scholar David Streckfuss, who specializes in Thailand, names Meechai Ruchuphan as a representative of those “in the shadow of charisma”, a group of (appointed) politicians, business leaders and upper class members who are in the favor of the palace.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c มี ชัย ฤชุ พันธุ์ , ThaiRath.co.th
  2. ^ William A. Callahan: Imagining Democracy. Reading "The Events of May" in Thailand. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore 1998, p. 158.
  3. ↑ Physicians for Human Rights: “Bloody May” - Excessive Use of Lethal Force in Bangkok. The Events of May 17-20, 1992. Boston 1992, p. 40.
  4. ↑ Michael Kelly Connors: Democracy and National Identity in Thailand. 2nd edition, NIAS Press, Copenhagen 2007, p. 168.
  5. ^ Connors: Democracy and National Identity in Thailand. 2007, p. 167.
  6. ↑ Somphan believed that Meechai was the only choice of the CNS because he had been involved in drafting its statements, orders and the interim charter ( Memento of the original from January 4, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.nationmultimedia.com
  7. ^ Connors: Democracy and National Identity in Thailand. 2007, p. 271.
  8. ↑ Blame people, not the 1997 charter. In: The Nation , October 29, 2006.
  9. ↑ Federico Ferrara: Thailand Unhinged. Unraveling the Myth of a Thai-style Democracy. Equinox, Singapore 2010, pp. 51-52.
  10. ↑ David Streckfuss: Truth on Trial in Thailand. Defamation, Treason, and Lèse-Majesté. Routledge, Abingdon (Oxon) / New York 2011, p. 4.
  11. ↑ Somkid, Meechai sit on NCPO. In: Bangkok Post , September 16, 2014.
  12. ^ Meechai appointed head of new CDC. In: Bangkok Post , October 5, 2015.
  13. ↑ Extensor foot: Truth on Trial in Thailand. 2011, pp. 153, 361.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Meechai Ruchuphan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES มี ชัย ฤชุ พันธุ (Thai)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION thai politician
DATE OF BIRTH February 2, 1938