Gen Arthit Kamlang-ek, a former army chief and supreme commander, died on Monday at 6.20am at King Mongkut Hospital. He was 89.
A funeral for him will be held at Wat Benjamabopit. A royally-sponsored bathing rite will be held at the temple tomorrow afternoon.
Gen Arthit Kamlang-ek was appointed supreme commander in 1983. (Bangkok Post file photo)
A son of Sub-Lt Phin and Mrs Sakhon Kamlang-ek, Gen Arthit was born on Aug 31, 1925. He finished primary education at Promwitthayamul School, secondary education at Benjamabopit School and the pre-university education at Amnuaysilp School.
He was a student in the 5th batch of the pre-army school between 1944-1948. His classmates at the time included Gen Thienchai Sirisamphan, Gen Banchob Bunnag and ACM Praphan Thupatemiya.
He was appointed army chief on Oct 1, 1982, succeeding Gen Prayuth Charymanee who retired. On Oct 1, 1983 he was appointed to take a concurrent post of supreme commander after the retirement of Gen Saiyud Kerdpol.
While Gen Arthit was concurrently holding the posts of army chief and supreme commander, Gen Prem Tinsulanonda was prime minister. In November 1984, Sommai Hoontrakul, the then finance minister, devalued the Thai baht 14.8% to 27 baht from 23 baht per US dollar, prompting Gen Arthit to harshly criticise the government, causing his relations with Gen Prem to turn sour.
As a result, Gen Arthit was unexpectedly stripped of the army commander post on May 27, 1986. He was replaced as army chief by Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.
Gen Arthit entered politics after his retiring as supreme commander. He set up the Puang Chon Chao Thai Party and ran successfully for the House of Representatives.
He was appointed deputy defence minister in a new government of Gen Chatichai Choonhavan. But Gen Chatichai was arrested and his government overthrown in a coup led by Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon on Feb 23, 1991 while leading his new cabinet to Chiang Mai for a swear-in ceremony before His Majesty the King.
After the May 1992 bloodshed incident, Gen Arthit's Puang Chon Chao Thai Party was renamed Chart Pattana with Gen Chatichai as new leader.