Sukampol Suwannathat Explained

Sukampol Suwannathat
Native Name:สุกำพล สุวรรณทัต
Native Name Lang:th
Office1:Minister of Defence
Predecessor1:Yuthasak Sasiprapha
Successor1:Yingluck Shinawatra
Primeminister1:Yingluck Shinawatra
Term Start1:11 January 2012
Term End1:30 June 2013
Party:Pheu Thai Party
Office2:Minister of Transport
Predecessor2:Sophon Sarum
Successor2:Charupong Ruangsuwan
Primeminister2:Yingluck Shinawatra
Term Start2:9 August 2011
Term End2:11 January 2012
Birth Date:17 August 1951
Birth Place:Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse:Pilaiwan Suwannathat
Allegiance: Thailand
Rank: Air Chief Marshal
Serviceyears:1975–2012

Air Chief Marshal Sukampol Suwannathat (Thai: สุกำพล สุวรรณทัต, ; born 17 August 1951) is a Thai air force officer and politician. He has served in the cabinet of Yingluck Shinawatra, as Minister of Transport from August 2011 to January 2012, and subsequently as Minister of Defence until June 2013.

Personal life

Sukampol was born on 17 August 1951 as the son of Squadron Leader Suwat Suwantatat and Ratree Suwannatat.

Education

Sukampol graduated from Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Secondary School (Class 4), Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (Class 10), Royal Thai Air Force Academy (Class 17), Air Command and Staff Command (Class 29), National Defense College (Class 46).

Air force careers

Sukampol is the person of Thaksin Shinawatra while serving as Prime Minister posing to be the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force because of being a fellow student of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School together but after the coup of 19 September 2006, the command line was changed in the new line causing the military officers from class 10 fall out of position, many of whom had to retire from the post of a military commander in the area. Sukampol was changed to be a Special Air Force expert in 2007 and was changed to General Inspector in 2008.[1]

Political careers

Sukumapol Suwannatat took the position of Minister of Transport in the government of Yingluck Shinawatra since 9 August 2011 until 18 January 2012, he was appointed as Minister of Defense and process the removal of the rank of former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva when he was a teacher at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy so he led the case to the submission of the examination to consider qualifications of Abhisit. Until June 2013, he was removed from the position of minister.[2]

In 2016, National Legislative Assembly approved to remove Sukampol Suwannathat from his post after the National Anti-Corruption Commission found guilty of interfering with the appointment of the permanent-secretary of defense and banned from politics for 5 years.[3]

References

  1. Web site: ย้อนรอยร้าว 2 บิ๊กทหาร สู่ การเชือด 'สุกำพล' พ้นการเมือง. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807140048/news.mthai.com/politics-news/519612.html. 2020-08-07.
  2. Web site: 'พล.อ.อ.สุกำพล สุวรรณทัต'กับเรื่องเพื่อนชื่อ 'ทักษิณ' ว่ากันว่าเขาคนนี้นิสัยเหมือน 'บิ๊กตู่' - มติชนสุดสัปดาห์.
  3. Web site: สนช.มีมติถอดถอน พล.อ.อ.สุกำพล ตัดสิทธิ์การเมือง 5 ปี ปมตั้งปลัดกระทรวงกลาโหม | ประชาไท Prachatai.com.