Sanya Dharmasakti Explained

Sanya Dharmasakti
Native Name Lang:th
Honorific-Suffix:MPCh MWM PCh NR GCS
Office1:President of the Privy Council
Monarch1:Bhumibol Adulyadej
Term Start1:5 December 1975
Term End1:4 September 1998
Predecessor1:Dej Snidvongs
Successor1:Prem Tinsulanonda
Office2:12th Prime Minister of Thailand
Monarch2:Bhumibol Adulyadej
Term Start2:14 October 1973
Term End2:26 February 1975
Predecessor2:Thanom Kittikachorn
Successor2:Seni Pramoj
Office3:Rector of Thammasat University
Term Start3:1 April 1971
Term End3:16 October 1973
Predecessor3:Prince Wan Waithayakon
Successor3:Adul Wichiencharoen (acting)
Office4:President of the Supreme Court
Monarch4:Bhumibol Adulyadej
Term Start4:1 October 1963
Term End4:1 October 1967
Predecessor4:Prawat Pattabongse
Successor4:Prakob Hutasingh
Birth Name:Sanya
Birth Date:5 April 1907
Birth Place:Thonburi, Krung Thep, Siam (now Bangkok Yai, Bangkok, Thailand)
Death Place:Ramathibodi Hospital, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
Profession:Lawyer
Signature:Sanya Thammasak signature.svg

Sanya Dharmasakti (Thai: สัญญา ธรรมศักดิ์,, in Thai pronounced as /sǎn.jāː tʰām.mā.sàk/; 5 April 1907 – 6 January 2002) was a Thai jurist, university professor and politician. He served as the 12th Prime Minister of Thailand from 1973 to 1975.

Sanya Dharmasakti was one of the most influential figures in the politics of Thailand. He served as the president of the Supreme Court (1968–1973) and was dean of the faculty of law and chancellor of Thammasat University during the democracy movement of October 1973. When the "three tyrants" fled, leaving the country leaderless, Sanya was appointed prime minister by royal command (establishing a precedent exercised only three times since for appointment of prime ministers.) Sanya served a second consecutive term by a House resolution for a combined total of 1 year, 124 days, during which he ordered the withdrawal of US forces in what was called Operation Palace Lightning. Sanya appointed a drafting committee for the 1974 constitution, served as vice-president of the constitutional congress, and was requested by the monarch to serve as the president of the privy council.

Family background

Dharmasakti was born on Friday, 5 April 1907 in Thonburi Province, in central Thailand. His father was the high ranking Buddhist scholar, Mahamtree, and abbot, Dhammasarnvetvisetpakdee Srisattayawatta Phiriyapaha or Thongdee Dharmasakti. His mother was Shuen Dharmmasarnvet. Sanya married Pa-nga Dharmasakti, also known as Phenchart, who died in 2001. They had two sons, named Chartsak and Jakatham.

Education

Dharmasakti went to Assumption College in 1914 and finished high school, majoring in English in 1925. He went to the law school of the Ministry of Justice for three years, graduating in 1928. He got the highest score and received the Rapheeboonnithi scholarship. This scholarship allowed him to study law in England at the Middle Temple for three years. He was called to the English Bar in 1932.

Palace Lightning

Palace Lightning was the name given the plan by which the USAF withdrew its aircraft and personnel from Thailand. After the fall of the US-supported governments in both Phnom Penh and Saigon in the spring of 1975, the political climate between Washington and the government of Judge Sanya soured, and US military forces were ordered to withdraw by the end of the year.[1] Strategic Air Command units left in December 1975;[2] U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, however, remained under US control until formally handed back to the Thai government on 13 June 1976.[3]

Death

Sanya Dharmasakti died at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok on 6 January 2002.

Royal decorations

Sanya received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

Foreign Honours

Academic rank

Notes and References

  1. News: U.S. to begin pullout of troops from Thailand . Miami News . 5 May 1975 . 2A .
  2. News: Many Thais saddened by U.S. military withdrawals . Nashua Telegraph . UPI . 3 December 1975 . 42.
  3. News: U.S. out of Thailand . Beaver County Times . Beaver, Pennsylvania . UPI . Dawson . Alan . 21 June 1976 . A3 .
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194011/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2511/D/062/2022.PDF
  5. Web site: Archived copy . 21 July 2018 . 21 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180721163008/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/46894286.pdf . dead .