Apirat Kongsompong

General
Apirat Kongsompong
MPCh MWM ThChW
อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์
Member of the Senate of Thailand
Ex officio
11 May 2019 – 30 September 2020
Succeeded byNarongphan Jitkaewthae
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office
1 October 2018 – 30 September 2020
Preceded byChalermchai Sitthisart
Succeeded byNarongphan Jitkaewthae
Personal details
Born (1960-03-23) 23 March 1960
Bangkok, Thailand
SpouseKritika Kongsompong
ChildrenMajor Pirapong Kongsompong
Major Amarat Kongsompong (MD)
Nadthadon Kongsompong
ParentSunthorn Kongsompong Orachorn Kongsompong
Alma mater
NicknameDaeng
Military service
Allegiance Thailand
Branch/service
Years of service1985–2020
RankGeneral
Commands
Battles/warsCommunist insurgency in Thailand
South Thailand insurgency[1]

Apirat Kongsompong (Thai: อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์; RTGS: Apirat Khongsomphong; born 23 March 1960) is a retired Thai military officer who was the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army from October 2018 to September 2020.[2] He also served as the Vice-Chamberlain of the Royal Household Bureau and the deputy director of the Crown Property Bureau from 2020 to 2024.[3][4]

Kongsompong held multiple positions in various bodies and industries throughout his career, including Chairman of the board of directors of Government Lottery Office,[5] Independent Director at Bangchak Petroleum Public Co.,[6][7][8] Member of the National Legislative Assembly,[9] Secretary of the National Council for Peace and Order, and Member of the Senate.

Early life and education

Kongsompong was born in Bangkok on 23 March 1960. He is the eldest son of General Sunthorn Kongsompong, and Colonel Khunying Orachorn Kongsompong. His younger brother, Nattaporn Kongsompong, is also a retired Royal Army officer. Kongsompong completed his primary and part of secondary education at St. Gabriel's College. He later attended the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and went on to attend Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1985.

He went on to receive an MBA from the Southeastern University of Washington DC.

Controversies

The Langkawi Deal

In 2023, Kongsompong was reported to have attended a private meeting with controversial political and business figures on Malaysia's Langkawi island, just before the general elections in Thailand. The meeting was part of the talks to establish a government after the election, according to Thai media.[10] It was also said that Kongsompong's involvement in these discussions drew criticism from the general public, who discussed the concerns about the involvement of unelected officials such as Kongsompong in the process of forming governments, and raised questions about the political system's lack of accountability and transparency.[11]

Military career

Kongsompong received a commission as an army officer upon graduation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1985. He served as a pilot at the Army Aviation Center at the beginning of his military career. He completed UH-1H Maintenance/Test Pilot Training at Fort Eustis, Virginia, USA. He also completed the AH-1H Pilot Training Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama, USA. Kongsompong is also a graduate of Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. In October 1990, he was appointed Assistant Logistics Officer at the Royal Thai Army Defense Attaché Office in Washington D.C. Command and General Staff Course.

Kongsompong commanded the 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard in Bangkok. He went on to command 11th Infantry Regiment King's Guard.[12][13] He served as the Commanding General of 11th Infantry Division in Chachoengsao Province. He went on to serve as the Commanding General of 15th Military Circle in Petchaburi Province. Kongsompong commanded the 1st Division of the King's Guard[14][15] in Bangkok. In 2016, Kongsompong was appointed the Commanding General of the 1st Army Area.[16][17][18][19] He was promoted to Assistant Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army in 2017. Kongsompong was appointed the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army in 2018, a position he held until his retirement in September 2020.

His deployment experience includes anti-communist operations in 1986. He served as the Commander of Task Force 14 which conducted counter-insurgency operations in Yala Province in 2004.

Kongsompong is associated with the military clique Wong Thewan, in turn associated with the 1st Division, the King's Guard.[2]

Army chief

Barely a month into his tenure as army chief, Kongsompong received mixed media coverage to his comments on the necessity for military intervention in Thai politics.[20][21][22]

In October 2019, Kongsompong hosted a special sermon on propaganda in Thailand. As the National security officer, he raised concerns about the usage of social media for digital propaganda.[23][24][25][26]

In October 2019, Kongsompong warned in a speech to military officers, policemen, and uniformed students that, "Propaganda in Thailand is severe and worrying. There is a group of communists who still have ideas to overthrow the monarchy, to turn Thailand to communism..."[27][28] His words prompted the Bangkok Post to remark, "It was 'a lecture' that should never have been given by any army chief, for its combination of accusations against 'the left' and young people, and sensational and biased political messages."[29][30] The speech prompted one analyst to urge that rival factions end the "enemy mindset".[31] His comments sparked criticism online for being a partisan bureaucrat.[32]

After the Nakhon Ratchasima shootings in 2020, in which the perpetrator cited corruption in the army as motives, Kongsompong established an anonymous complaint hotline program.[33] However, national media reported the hotline to have no concrete achievements.[34]

In July 2020, Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, a former police chief and leader of an opposition party Seree Ruam Thai, condemned Kongsompong's intervention in politics.[35]

Other appointments

Kongsompong retired from the military on 30 September 2020. In the same year,he was appointed as the vice-chamberlain of the Bureau of the Royal Household and the deputy director of the Crown Property Bureau.[36][37] In 2024, he retired from his appointments in the royal household due to health issues.[38][39]

References

  1. ^ "ผบ.ทบ.เยือนอินโดฯ ชู "อาเจะห์โมเดล" ดับไฟใต้ "สร้างความเข้าใจ ไม่แยกดินแดน"". สำนักข่าวอิศรา. January 15, 2020. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Nanuam, Wassana (3 September 2018). "Army reshuffle sees loyalists appointed". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  3. ^ โปรดเกล้าฯ 'อภิรัชต์' พ้นจากการปฏิบัติหน้าที่นายทหารพิเศษ เหตุลาออกจากราชการ
  4. ^ โปรดเกล้าฯ ให้ “บิ๊กแดง - พล.อ.อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์” พ้นจากนายทหารพิเศษ
  5. ^ "PM appoints Apirat Kongsompong as the new GLO chief". Pattaya Mail. May 4, 2015. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "ประวัติกรรมการบริษัท บางจากปิโตรเลียม จำกัด (มหาชน)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  7. ^ "Apirat Kongsompong - Biography". www.marketscreener.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  8. ^ "Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2017-10-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Crispin, Shawn W. (August 22, 2023). "Thaksin sellout resets Thailand's topsy-turvy politics". Asia Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Nanuam, Wassana (July 18, 2023). "'No political agenda' in generals' Langkawi trip". The Bangkok Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Two soldiers". January 31, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "Show of strength to protect monarchy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  14. ^ Tribune, Thai. "Military top brass transfers imply the future of Thai politics". www.thaitribune.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  15. ^ "โปรดเกล้าฯโยกย้าย203นายทหารแล้ว". www.bangkokbiznews.com/. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  16. ^ "Thai military maneuvers to stay on top". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  17. ^ "1st Army Area Royal Thai Army Visit". Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  18. ^ Royal Thai Army visits I Corps Archived 2017-10-25 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Royal Thai Army visits I Corps, learns all about Strykers". www.army.mil. 14 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  20. ^ Achakulwisut, Apinya (23 October 2018). "Army at the centre of our vicious circle". Opinion. Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  21. ^ "The CURSE of an Army always ready to pounce". Opinion. The Nation. 23 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  22. ^ Ehrlich, Richard S (22 October 2018). "Thai military leader's plan for regime election loss: Unleash coup to quell 'riots'". Washington Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  23. ^ "Army chief Gen Apirat warns Thailand is facing "hybrid warfare"". Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  24. ^ ""บิ๊กป้อม" แจง ผบ.ทบ.บรรยายพิเศษความมั่นคง เพราะต้องการเล่าสิ่งที่กองทัพบกทำมา". 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  25. ^ "ซูฮกบิ๊กแดง'หมอเหรียญทอง'ลั่นกองทัพไทยต้องไม่เป็นกลางและไม่นิ่งเฉยต่อพวกบ้าคลั่งปชต". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  26. ^ ""ธนกร"มั่นใจ"บิ๊กแดง"พูดเพราะห่วงบ้านเมือง". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  27. ^ Tanakasempipat, Patpicha (11 October 2019). "Thai army chief decries opposition, hints at threat to monarchy". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  28. ^ Nanuam, Wassana (11 October 2019). "Army chief: Monarchy, military, people inseparable". Bangkok Post. Reuters. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  29. ^ "Apirat speech sends chill". Opinion. Bangkok Post. 12 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  30. ^ Wangkiat, Paritta (14 October 2019). "Apirat out of touch with modern reality". Opinion. Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  31. ^ Khidhir, Sheith (19 October 2019). "Is Thailand risking another massacre?". The ASEAN Post. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  32. ^ "Authoritarians anonymous: Thailand's generals fret about Hong Kong's protests" (Online). The Economist. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  33. ^ "ผวาทั้งบาง!'บิ๊กแดง'ประกาศเอาจริง ลุย'ปฏิรูปกองทัพ'เต็มสูบ เดี๋ยวมีเลย์ออฟ". 12 February 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  34. ^ "เปิดไทม์ไลน์ "หมู่อาร์ม" บทพิสูจน์ปฏิรูปกองทัพ หลังออกมาแฉอมเบี้ยเลี้ยง กลับถูกสอบผิดหนีทหาร บิ๊กแดงยันทำตามขั้นตอน". 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  35. ^ ""เสรีพิศุทธ์" เตือน ผบ.ทบ. "อย่ายุ่งม็อบ นศ." ไล่ รีบๆเกษียณอายุราชการไปเสีย". Post Today (in Thai). 25 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  36. ^ "ในหลวง โปรดเกล้าฯ โอน "บิ๊กแดง-ณรัชต์" เป็นรองเลขาธิการพระราชวัง". 15 September 2020.
  37. ^ "โปรดเกล้าฯ "บิ๊กแดง-ณรัชต์" เป็นข้าราชการในพระองค์ ตำแหน่งรองเลขาธิการพระราชวัง". 15 September 2020.
  38. ^ โปรดเกล้าฯ ให้ พล.อ.อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์ พ้นจากการปฏิบัติหน้าที่นายทหารพิเศษ... อ่านข่าวต้นฉบับได้ที่ : https://www.matichon.co.th/politics/news_4783436
  39. ^ ประวัติและเส้นทางชีวิต "บิ๊กแดง-พลเอก อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์"
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.