View source for Arthit Kamlang-ek

{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Arthit Kamlang-ek
| native_name         = {{nobold|อาทิตย์ กำลังเอก}}
| native_name_lang    = th
| honorific-suffix    = 
| image               = Arthit Kamlang-ek.jpeg
| caption             = 

| office              = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand]]
| term_start          = 17 December 1994
| term_end            = 12 July 1995
| primeminister       = [[Chuan Leekpai]]
| term_start1         = 26 August 1990
| term_end1           = 23 February 1991
| primeminister1       = [[Chatichai Choonhavan]]

| office2             = [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters|Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces]]
| term_start2         = 1 October 1983
| term_end2           = 31 August 1986
| predecessor2        = [[Saiyud Kerdphol]]
| successor2          = [[Supa Gajaseni]]

| office3             = [[List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army|Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army]]
| term_start3         = 1 October 1982
| term_end3           = 27 May 1986
| predecessor3        = [[Prayut Jarumanee]]
| successor3          = [[Chavalit Yongchaiyudh]]

| birth_date          = {{birth date|1925|08|31|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Bangkok]], Krung Thep, Siam (now Bangkok, Thailand)
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=yes|2015|01|19|1925|08|31}}
| death_place         = [[Ratchathewi district|Ratchathewi]], [[Bangkok]], Thailand
| party               = [[National Development Party (Thailand)|National Development Party]]
| otherparty          = [[National Development Party (Thailand)|Thai People's Party]] (1988-1992)<br />[[Justice Unity Party]] (1992)
| spouse              = Prapasri Kamlang-ek (div.) <br /> Pornsun Kamlang-ek
| children            = Titiwat Kamlang-ek
| signature           = 
| alma_mater          = [[Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy|Royal Military Academy]]
| allegiance          = {{flag|Thailand}}
| branch              = {{Army|Thailand}}
| serviceyears        = 
| rank                = [[File:RTA OF-9 (General).svg|15px]] [[General officer|General]]
| commands            = [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Army|Commander-in-Chief]]<br />[[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters|Supreme Commander]]
}}
'''Arthit Kamlang-ek''' (31 August 1925 – 19 January 2015; {{langx|th|อาทิตย์ กำลังเอก}}, {{IPA|th|ʔaːtʰít kamlaŋʔèːk}}) was a Thai [[general officer|general]]. He was the [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Army|Commander-in-Chief]] of the [[Royal Thai Army]] from 1982 to 1986 and in parallel the [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters|Supreme Commander]] of the [[Royal Thai Armed Forces]] from 1983 to 1986. He was particularly influential during the 1980s during the government of [[Prem Tinsulanonda]].

==Education and early career==
Arthit graduated from the [[Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy]].  He later attended the [[Royal Thai Army|Royal Thai Army's]] Staff College.

==Family==
General Arthit has two sons, one daughter and one stepson. His youngest son, Titiwat Kamlang-ek, has two children: Peerawut Kamlang-ek and Athittaya Kamlang-ek.

==1981 Young Turk coup==
General Arthit was a leader of the counter-coup against the Young Turk coup of 1981.  Afterwards, he was promoted to Commander of the First Army Region, traditionally regarded as the most strategic post for coups and counter-coups.

==Clash with Prem==
General Arthit's subsequent rapid rise to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the [[Royal Thai Army]] in October 1982 was unprecedented.<ref name="country-data.com">[http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-13787.html Nations Encyclopedia, "Thailand: Political Developments: 1980-1987"]</ref>  Also serving as the Supreme Commander starting September 1983, General Arthit at times challenged the propriety of key government policies. In November 1984, for example, he made a televised condemnation of the government's [[currency devaluation]] policy. Also in 1984, apparently with General Arthit's blessing, some active-duty and retired army officers pressed for constitutional amendments aimed at enhancing their political influence. A showdown between Arthit's camp and Prem's ruling coalition was narrowly averted when General Arthit urged the officers to abandon the amendments.

General Arthit also played a role in the 1985 election which brought [[Chamlong Srimuang]] to the governorship of Bangkok.  Arthit urged his subordinates and their families to vote against any party that had an anti-military orientation, particularly the [[Democrat Party (Thailand)|Democrats]].

==Downfall==
In 1986, General Arthit lobbied vigorously to extend his term as Army Commander another year to September 1987, which would allow him to retain influence after the expiration of Prem's term as prime minister.<ref name="country-data.com" />  But on March 24, 1986, the government announced that Arthit would be retired as scheduled on September 1, 1986.  Then on 27 May, Prem stunned the nation by dismissing Arthit from his position as Army chief and replacing him with General [[Chaovalit Yongchaiyut]], a Prem loyalist.  Prior to that, no Army Chief had ever been fired. This unprecedented action came amid the flurry of rumours that the general was involved in behind-the-scenes manoeuvres to undermine Prem's chances for another premiership after the July 1986 parliamentary elections. General Arthit, whose largely ceremonial post as Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces until September 1986 was not affected by the dismissal order, denied any role in such maneuvers.

==Post-military career==
In early 1991, Arthit was appointed by Prime Minister [[Chatichai Choonhavan]] as Deputy Defense Minister.<ref>Suchit Bunbongkarn, [http://epress.anu.edu.au/mdap/mobile_devices/ch03s03.html Coups and Democratisation: The Military and Democracy in Thailand]</ref>  Early rumors of his appointment seriously angered many military leaders, especially Army chief [[Suchinda Kraprayoon]] and his former classmates from the 5th Class of the [[Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy]].  A military [[coup]] led by Suchinda and the [[National Peace Keeping Council]] soon overthrew Chatichai's government.<ref>Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe, [http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/cty-AJCHX5A.htm The Politics of Authoritarianism: The State and Political Soldiers in Burma, Indonesia and Thailand, Chapter 5: Thailand: Military Intervention and the Politics of Authoritarian Domination]</ref>

==Honours==

* 1982 - [[File:Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted [[Order of the White Elephant]]
* 1981 - [[File:Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble [[Order of the Crown of Thailand]]
* 1983 - [[File:Order of Chula Chom Klao - 2nd Class upper (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knight Grand Commander of the Most Illustrious [[Order of Chula Chom Klao]]
* 1990 - [[File:Order of Rama 2nd Class ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knight Commander of the Honourable [[Order of Rama]]
* 1995 - [[File:Order of Ramkeerati ribbon.png|80x80px]] [[Order of Ramkeerati|Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati]]
* 1969 - [[File:Victory Medal - World War II (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Victory Medal - [[Pacific War]]
* 1952 - [[File:Victory Medal - Korean War (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Victory Medal - [[Korean War]]
* 1973 - [[File:Victory Medal - Vietnam War with flames (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Victory Medal - [[Vietnam War]], with flames 
* 1982 - [[File:Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Freemen Safeguarding Medal (First Class)
* 1982 - [[File:Border Service Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Border Service Medal
* 1959 - [[File:Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Chakra Mala Medal 
* 1981 - [[File:King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] King [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]]'s Royal Cypher Medal, 3rd

===Foreign honours===
* {{Flag|UN}} :
** [[File:United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|80x80px]] [[United Nations Service Medal Korea]] (1952)
* {{Flag|South Vietnam}} :
** [[File:Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|80x80px]] [[Armed Forces Honor Medal]], First Class (1968)
** [[File:Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon, with 60- clasp.svg|80x80px]] [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] (1968)
* {{Flag|South Korea}} :
** [[File:Tong-il Security Medal Ribbon.svg|80x80px]] [[Order of National Security Merit]], Tongil Medal (1983)
* {{Flag|USA}} :
**[[File:US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|80x80px]] Commander of the [[Legion of Merit]] (1984)<ref>[https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/NOCASE-AGO_1984-05-000-WEB-0.pdf HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WASHINGTON, DC], 27 January 1984</ref>
**[[File:Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|80x80px]] [[Commendation Medal|Army Commendation Medal]] (1969)
* {{Flag|Malaysia}} :
** [[File:MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm)- PMN.svg|80x80px]] Honorary Commander of the [[Order of the Defender of the Realm#Commander|Order of the Defender of the Realm]] (P.M.N.) (1984)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.istiadat.gov.my/index.php/component/semakanlantikanskp/|title=Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat}}</ref>

* {{Flag|Germany}} :
** [[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 8 Grosskreuz bes Ausf.svg|80x80px]] Grand Cross 1st Class of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] (1984)
*{{Flag|Austria}} :
**[[File:AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 3rd Class BAR.svg|80x80px]] Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver of the [[Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria]] with Star (1984)<ref>https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXIV/AB/10542/imfname_251156.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Indonesia}} :
**[[File:Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (Indonesia).png|80x80px]] Grand Meritorious Military Order Star, First Class (1984)
**[[File:Bintang Kartika Eka Paksi Utama rib.svg|80x80px]] Army Meritorious Service Star, First Class (1984)
*{{Flag|Kingdom of Nepal}} :
**[[File:Order of Tri Shakti Patta - ribbon bar.svg|80x80px]] [[Order of Tri Shakti Patta]], First Class (1984)
*{{Flag|Taiwan}} :
**[[File:Order of the Cloud and Banner 2nd.gif|80x80px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Cloud and Banner]] (1984)
*{{Flag|France}} :
** [[File:Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Commander of the [[Legion of Honour]] (1984)
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{Royal Thai Army Chiefs}}
{{History of Thailand since 1973}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamlang-ek, Arthit}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Defence Forces (Thailand)|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy alumni|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:National Development Party (Thailand) politicians|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Justice Unity Party politicians|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Members of the Senate of Thailand|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Deputy prime ministers of Thailand|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Royal Thai Army generals|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Thai admirals|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Royal Thai Air Force air marshals|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School|Arthit Kamlang-ek]]