Banharn Silpa-archa

Prime Minister of Thailand from 1995 to 1996

Banharn Silpa-archa

บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา

Banharn before 1977

21st Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
13 July 1995 – 25 November 1996
Monarch| Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by| Chuan Leekpai
Succeeded by| Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Leader of the Opposition
In office
27 May 1994 – 19 May 1995
Prime Minister| Chuan Leekpai
Preceded by| Pramarn Adireksarn
Succeeded by| Chuan Leekpai
Minister of Transport
In office
7 April 1992 – 9 June 1992
Prime Minister| Suchinda Kraprayoon
Preceded by| Nukul Prachuabmoh
Succeeded by| Nukul Prachuabmoh
In office
5 August 1986 – 3 August 1988
Prime Minister| Prem Tinsulanonda
Preceded by| Samak Sundaravej
Succeeded by| Montri Pongpanich
Minister of Finance
In office
14 December 1990 – 23 February 1991
Prime Minister| Chatichai Choonhavan
Preceded by| Veeraopng Ramangkoon
Succeeded by| Sutee Singsane
Minister of Interior
In office
9 January 1990 – 9 December 1990
Prime Minister| Chatichai Choonhavan
Preceded by| Pramarn Adireksarn
Succeeded by| Pramarn Adireksarn
Minister of Industry
In office
3 March 1988 – 9 January 1990
Prime Minister| Chatichai Choonhavan
Preceded by| Pramual Sabhavasu
Succeeded by| Pramarn Adireksarn
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
In office
3 March 1980 – 4 March 1981
Prime Minister| Prem Tinsulanonda
Preceded by| Kriangsak Chamanan
Succeeded by| Arnat Arpapirom
Personal details
Born|

Tekchiang Saebe

19 August 1932
Doem Bang Nang Buat, Suphan Buri, Thailand
Died| 23 April 2016(2016-04-23) (aged 83)
Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok, Thailand
Political party| Thai Nation (Chart Thai) (1974–2008)
Chart Thai Pattana (2009–2016)
Spouse| Jamsai Silpa-archa
Children|

* Varawut Silpa-archa
* Kanchana Silpa-archa
* Parichat Silpa-archa

Relatives|

* Chumpol Silpa-archa (brother)

Profession|

* Businessman
* politician

Signature|
Military service
Allegiance| Thailand
Branch/service| Volunteer Defense Corps
Years of service| 1990-2016[1]
Rank| VDC Gen. (Honour Rank)

Banharn Silpa-archa[2][3] (Thai: บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา, RTGS: Banhan Sinlapa-acha, Thai pronunciation: [ban.hǎːn sǐn.lá.pà.ʔaː.t͡ɕʰaː]; Chinese: 馬德祥, mǎdéxiáng; 19 August 1932 – 23 April 2016) was a Thai politician who served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1995 to 1996. Banharn made a fortune in the construction business before he became a Member of Parliament representing his home province of Suphan Buri. He held different cabinet posts in several governments. In 1994, he became the leader of the Thai Nation Party. In 2008, the party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court and Banharn was banned from politics for five years.

## Early life, education, and business career

[edit]

Banharn was born on 19 August 1932 in Suphan Buri to a Teochew Chinese merchant family.[4] His birth name was Tekchiang Saebe (Chinese: 馬德祥; pinyin: Mǎ Déxiáng;[5] Thai: เต็กเชียง แซ่เบ๊). He married Khunying Jamsai Silpa-archa and they have three children.[4]

Banharn dropped out of secondary school during World War II. He went to work with his older brother, then founded his own building company. Years later, when he was a politician, he completed his education at the open admissions Ramkhamhaeng University, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1986, and finally a Master of Laws.[6]

Banharn's construction company was very successful in the 1960s, when large sums were invested in major infrastructure projects, including military facilities. His business made Banharn a billionaire.[6]

## Political career

[edit]

Abhisit Vejjajiva and Banharn Silpa-archa (right)

Banharn Silpa-archa was persuaded to enter politics by Booneua Prasertsuwan, a veteran member of the House of Representatives.[7] In 1976, Banharn Silpa-archa made his political debut when he was elected a Member of Parliament, representing Suphan Buri Province. He joined the Thai Nation Party, a conservative party dominated by the "Rajakru clan" around Pramarn Adireksarn and Chatichai Choonhavan. His party participated in a coalition government under Prime Minister Seni Pramoj and Banharn was appointed deputy minister of industry. He was elected to the Senate in 1977, but returned to represent his constituency in the House of Representatives the next year. Banharn was re-elected Member of Parliament for Suphan Buri in all following elections, receiving steadily more than 100,000 votes (60 to 90 percent of the votes cast), which made him one of the highest vote-getters in the country.[6]

He sponsored the construction of schools, bridges, and other infrastructure in his home province, which in turn were named after him. This has led to the common saying that he "owns the province".[6] When his party was a junior partner in the government of Prem Tinsulanonda from 1980 to 1983, Banharn was Minister of Agriculture. In 1981, he became secretary-general of the Thai Nation Party. Banharn, being one of the main financiers of the party, accumulated considerable influence inside the party, although he was not a member of the originally dominant Rajakru clan. The local press has once dubbed him "Mr. (Mobile) ATM" (automated teller machine), due to the suspicion that he had bought the loyalty of political associates in exchange for money.[6]

In 1986 Prime Minister Prem again called him up to the government, this time naming him Minister of Transport. After his party had won the elections in 1988 and Thai Nation leader Chatichai Choonhavan had become Prime Minister, Banharn was appointed Minister of Industry. In January 1990, he switched offices with Pramarn Adireksarn and became interior minister. In December of the same year, Chatichai made him Minister of Finance. The Chatichai government was deposed by a military coup d'état in 1991. Banharn returned to the cabinet as early as April 1992, when he once again became Minister of Transport in the short-lived government of General Suchinda Kraprayoon. His party went into opposition after early elections in September 1992. Banharn took over the leadership of the Thai Nation Party from Pramarn Adireksarn in 1994 and also became official leader of the opposition.[4]

## Premiership (1995–1996)

[edit]

Under the leadership of Banharn, the Thai Nation Party won the parliamentary election in 1995, and he became the 21st Prime Minister of Thailand, leading a seven-party coalition. Banharn was involved in numerous corruption scandals, one of which diminished confidence in his administration and caused him to resign.[8] His short-lived yet inept administration is believed to have paved the way for the economic crisis of 1997.[9]

## Later life and death

[edit]

On 21 January 2008, Banharn announced that his Thai Nation Party would join a coalition with the People's Power Party, successor to the Thai Rak Thai Party of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Due to his earlier vow before the Emerald Buddha never to rejoin Thaksin because of the corruption scandals, this move reinforced Banharn's image as a "slippery eel".[10]

Upon the dissolution of his Thai Nation Party by the Constitutional Court on 2 December 2008, Banharn Silpa-archa was banned from politics for five years. Non-executive members of the Thai Nation Party immediately founded the Chartthaipattana Party (Thai National Development), chaired by Banharn's younger brother, Chumpol Silpa-archa. Chumphol was Minister of Tourism and Sports in the cabinet of Abhisit Vejjajiva. His son Varawut was deputy transport minister, and his daughter Kanchana was deputy education minister.[11]

Banharn died of asthma on the morning of 23 April 2016 at Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital at the age of 83.[12][13]

On 23 April 2019, a bronze statue of Banharn Silpa-archa was opening in the vicinity of the province's city shrine by the donations of Suphanburi people and the Silpa-archa family contributed to the remaining part to commemorate the things that Banharn has done for Suphanburi Province for over 40 years.[14][15]

## Royal decorations

[edit]

Banharn has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

* Knight Commander (Second Class, lower grade) of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
* Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn
* Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
* Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
* Red Cross Medal of Appreciation (First Class)
* Border Service Medal

### Foreign Honours

[edit]

* Japan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun
* United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)[16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "เรอง - พระราชทานยศกองอาสารกษาดนแดน" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2018.
2. ^ Biography at www.cabinet.thaigov.go.th Archived 18 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ "The Nation online search". Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
4. ^ a b c "Former PM Banharn dies at 83". Bangkok Post. 23 April 2016.
5. ^ "泰前總理馬德祥過世 享壽83" [Former Thai Prime Minister Ma Dexiang passes away, aged 83]. Yahoo! Hong Kong (in Chinese). 23 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
6. ^ a b c d e Surin Maisrikrod (1992), Thailand's Two General Elections in 1992: Democracy Sustained, Institute of South East Asian Studies, p. 13, ISBN 9789813016521
7. ^ "Ex-House speaker Boon-eua dies at 97". Bangkok Post. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
8. ^ Poole, Peter A. (2009), Politics and Society in Southeast Asia, McFarland, p. 23, ISBN 9780786458028
9. ^ Sharma, Shalendra D. (2003), The Asian financial crisis: Crisis, reform and recovery, Manchester University Press, p. 100, ISBN 9780719066030
10. ^ "Pro-Thaksin party finalises coalition", The Peninsula, 18 January 2008, archived from the original on 7 July 2012, retrieved 29 January 2012
11. ^ Tumcharoen, Surasak (4 January 2009), "Keeping it in the family", Bangkok Post, retrieved 9 July 2011
12. ^ "บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา" ถึงแก่อนิจกรรมในวัย 83 ปี ปิดตำนาน"มังกรสุพรรณ" (in Thai), ASTV Manager, archived from the original on 23 April 2016, retrieved 23 April 2016
13. ^ "Former PM Banharn passes away at 83", The Nation, 23 April 2016, archived from the original on 24 April 2016, retrieved 23 April 2016
14. ^ "เตรียมเปิดอนุสาวรีย์ "บรรหาร" ที่จ.สุพรรณ วันที่ 23 เม.ย.นี้".
15. ^ "ชาวสุพรรณฯจัดยิ่งใหญ่ เปิดอนุสาวรีย์ "บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา"".
16. ^ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชานุญาตให้ประดับเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ต่างประเทศ เล่ม 113 ตอนที่ 19 ข ราชกิจจานุเบกษา 4 พฤศจิกายน 2539

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Banharn Silpa-Archa at Wikimedia Commons

* Opening Statement[usurped] – to the Fifth ASEAN Summit
* 'In search of good publicity' – Bangkok Post article

Political offices

Preceded by

Chuan Leekpai

|  Prime Minister of Thailand
1995–1996  | Succeeded by

Chavalit Yongchaiyudh

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by

Goh Chok Tong

|  Chairperson of ASEAN
1995  | Succeeded by

Trần Đức Lương

* v
* t
* e

Banharn Silpa-archa

Politics|

* Thai Nation Party
* Chartthaipattana Party

Namesake institutions|

* Banharn-Jamsai Tower

Family|

* Jamsai Silpa-archa (wife)
* Varawut Silpa-archa (son)
* Kanchana Silpa-archa (daughter)
* Chumpol Silpa-archa (brother)

* v
* t
* e

Prime ministers of Thailand (list)

Prajadhipok|

* Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada
* Phraya Phahon Phonphayuhasena

Ananda Mahidol|

* Phraya Phahon Phonphayuhasena
* Plaek Phibunsongkhram
* Khuang Aphaiwong
* Thawi Bunyaket
* Seni Pramoj
* Khuang Aphaiwong
* Pridi Banomyong

Bhumibol Adulyadej|

* Pridi Banomyong
* Thawan Thamrongnawasawat
* Khuang Aphaiwong
* Plaek Phibunsongkhram
* Pote Sarasin
* Thanom Kittikachorn
* Sarit Thanarat
* Thanom Kittikachorn
* Sanya Dharmasakti
* Seni Pramoj
* Kukrit Pramoj
* Seni Pramoj
* Thanin Kraivichien
* Kriangsak Chamanan
* Prem Tinsulanonda
* Chatichai Choonhavan
* Anand Panyarachun
* Suchinda Kraprayoon
* Meechai Ruchuphan†
* Anand Panyarachun
* Chuan Leekpai
* Banharn Silpa-archa
* Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
* Chuan Leekpai
* Thaksin Shinawatra
* Chitchai Wannasathit†
* Thaksin Shinawatra
* Surayud Chulanont
* Samak Sundaravej
* Somchai Wongsawat
* Chavarat Charnvirakul†
* Abhisit Vejjajiva
* Yingluck Shinawatra
* Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan†
* Prayut Chan-o-cha

Vajiralongkorn|

* Prayut Chan-o-cha
* Prawit Wongsuwon†
* Prayut Chan-o-cha
* Srettha Thavisin
* Phumtham Wechayachai†
* Paetongtarn Shinawatra

* "italics" indicate military officeholders
* "†" indicate acting or caretaker officeholders.

* v
* t
* e

History of Thailand (1973–2001)

| Politics| Military and institutions| Key events

|
|

Monarchy of Thailand

* Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)

Prime Ministers of Thailand

* Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn
* Sanya Dharmasakti
* Seni Pramoj
* Kukrit Pramoj
* Thanin Kraivichien
* General Kriangsak Chamanan
* General Prem Tinsulanonda
* General Chatichai Choonhavan
* Anand Panyarachun
* General Suchinda Kraprayoon
* Chuan Leekpai
* Banharn Silpa-archa
* General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh

Military dictators

* Admiral Sangad Chaloryu
* General Kriangsak Chamanan
* General Sunthorn Kongsompong
* General Suchinda Kraprayoon

Institutions

* Constitutions of Thailand
* Monarchy of Thailand

Key events

* 1973 Thai popular uprising
* 6 October 1976 massacre
* 1976 Thai coup d'état
* March 1977 Thai coup d'état attempt
* October 1977 Thai coup d'état
* Vietnamese border raids in Thailand
* 1981 Thai military rebellion
* 1985 Thai coup attempt
* 1991 Thai coup d'état
* National Peace Keeping Council
* Black May (1992)
* 1997 Asian financial crisis

← History of Thailand (1932–1973) • History of Thailand since 2001 →

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
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National|

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