View source for Chaiyasit Shinawatra

{{Short description|Thai general (born 1945)}}
{{Infobox military person
|name             = Chaiyasit Shinawatra
|honorific_suffix = [[Order of the White Elephant|MPCh]] [[Order of the Crown of Thailand|MWM]] 
|image            = 
|caption          = 
|native_name      = ชัยสิทธิ์ ชินวัตร
|native_name_lang = th
|nickname         = Tui
|birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1945|06|25|df=y}}
|birth_place      = [[Bangkok]], Thailand
|death_date       = 
|death_place      = 
|allegiance       = {{flag|Thailand}}
|branch           = {{Army|Thailand}}
|serviceyears     = 1969–2005
|rank             = [[File:RTA OF-9 (General).svg|10px]] [[General officer|General]]<br /> [[file:RTN OF-9 (Admiral).svg|10px]] Admiral <br /> [[file:RTAF OF-9 (Air Chief Marshal).svg|10px]] Air Chief Marshal<ref>{{Cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214935/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2547/B/026/34.PDF | url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2547/B/026/34.PDF | archive-date=2018-10-11 | title=ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระะราชทานยศทหารชั้นนายพล | language=th | trans-title=Announcement from the Prime Minister's Office on the granting of military ranks to generals}}</ref>
|servicenumber    = 
|unit             = 
|commands         = {{ubl|[[Chief of Defence Forces (Thailand)|Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces]]|[[List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army|Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army]]}}
|known_for        = 
|battles          = {{ubl|[[Communist insurgency in Thailand]]}}
|awards           = {{ubl|Freemen Safeguarding Medal (Second Class, Second Category)|Border Service Medal|Chakra Mala Medal|[[Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)]]}}
|memorials        = 
|alma_mater       = [[Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy]]
|spouse           = Wina Suksapha
|children         = 2
|relations        = {{ubl|[[Thaksin Shinawatra]] (first cousin)|[[Yingluck Shinawatra]] (first cousin)}}
|laterwork        = 
|signature        = 
|website          = 
|module           = 
}}

'''Chaiyasit Shinawatra''' ({{langx|th|ชัยสิทธิ์ ชินวัตร}}; {{RTGS|''Chaiyasit Chinnawat''}}; born 25 June 1945) is a former commander-in-chief of the [[Royal Thai Army]].<ref>Nation staff. August 25, 2006. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/25/politics/politics_30011949.php "Former Army chief sues Sondhi"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312031801/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/25/politics/politics_30011949.php |date=2007-03-12 }}, ''The Nation'' (retrieved September 20, 2006).</ref>

He was transferred from the army to become a special advisor to the Supreme Command Headquarters under the administration of Prime Minister [[Chuan Leekpai]].<ref>The Nation (Thailand), [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=64464 Thaksin cousin tipped for No 2 spot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312031542/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=64464 |date=2007-03-12 }} - 2002-08-21</ref> In August 2001, Chaiyasit was promoted to deputy commander of the Armed Forces Development Command.<ref>The Nation (Thailand), [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=5&id=46451&usrsess=1 Reshuffle seen as less political] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312032225/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=5&id=46451&usrsess=1 |date=2007-03-12 }} - 2001-08-09</ref>  In August 2002, he was promoted to the post of deputy commander-in-chief.

As a cousin of [[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]] [[Thaksin Shinawatra]], his unexpected appointment was criticised as an act of [[nepotism]]. Both Chaiyasit and the Defence Minister, General [[Chavalit Yongchaiyudh]], denied accusations of nepotism: "If I'm appointed to a significant post in the Army because of my connection with the prime minister, I won't have any friends left in the armed forces," said Chaiyasit. He said that Thaksin would not interfere with any high-level military reshuffles: "It's a shame that the prime minister's name was tainted by such a groundless rumour."<ref>The Nation (Thailand), [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=5&id=63790 Chaiyasit transfer "not PM's idea"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312031605/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=5&id=63790 |date=2007-03-12 }} - 2002-08-08</ref>

He replaced General [[Surayud Chulanont]], who was promoted to become supreme commander of the [[Military of Thailand|Royal Thai Armed Forces]], as commander-in-chief in August 2003.<ref>The Nation (Thailand), [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=11&id=84747In Chaiyasit, PM’s power base more solid than ever] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312031926/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=11&id=84747In |date=2007-03-12 }} - 2003-08-31</ref>

He was replaced as army chief in 2004, succeeded by [[Prawit Wongsuwan]],<ref>Nation staff. August 25, 2004. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=1&id=104793&usrsess= "MILITARY RE-SHUFFLE: Chaisit out, Prawit ascends"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312032153/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=1&id=104793&usrsess= |date=2007-03-12 }}, ''The Nation'' {retrieved September 20, 2006).</ref><ref>Nation staff. August 25, 2004. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=3&id=104788&usrsess= "Prawit, a battle-hardened leader"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312031306/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=3&id=104788&usrsess= |date=2007-03-12 }}, ''The Nation'' (retrieved September 20, 2006).</ref> and was transferred to Supreme Command. Chaisit was then replaced as supreme commander in 2005, succeeded by General Ruangroj Mararanont.<ref>Nation staff. September 8, 2005. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/09/08/headlines/data/headlines_18555861.html "Long-delayed military reshuffle approved"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312032141/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/09/08/headlines/data/headlines_18555861.html |date=2007-03-12 }}, ''The Nation'' (retrieved September 20, 2006).</ref>

== Honours ==
'''Royal Decorations'''

* [[File:Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the White Elephant]]
* [[File:Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Crown of Thailand]]
* [[File:Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 2nd Class 2nd Cat (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Freemen Safeguarding Medal - Second Class, Second Category
* [[File:Border Service Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Border Service Medal
* [[File:Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Chakra Mala Medal

=== Foreign Honours ===

* {{Flag|Singapore}} :
** [[File:Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] [[Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)]]
** [[File:Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] [[Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)]]
* {{Flag|Netherlands}} :
** [[File:Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Grand Officer.svg|80x80px]] Grand Officer of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Royal Thai Army Chiefs}}
{{Thaksin Shinawatra}}
{{Yingluck Shinawatra}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shinawatra, Chaiyasit}}
[[Category:Shinawatra family|Chaiyasit Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Defence Forces (Thailand)|Chaiyasit Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army|Chaiyasit Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Thai people of Chinese descent|Chaiyasit Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Hakka generals]]
[[Category:20th-century generals]]
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Thai admirals|Chaiyasit Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Royal Thai Air Force air marshals|Chaiyasit Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School|Chaiyasit Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy alumni|Chaiyasit Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)]]