Kraisak Choonhavan

File:Kraisak Choonhavan 29 Feb 2008.jpg

Kraisak Choonhavan (Thai: ไกรศักดิ์ ชุณหะวัณ, born 8 October 1947 in Bangkok) is a Thai politician. He was a member of the Senate for Nakhon Ratchasima Province from 2000 till 2006.

Born as son of former prime minister General Chatichai Choonhavan and Than Phu Ying Bunruen Choonhavan, Kraisak received a bachelor's degree in International Relations at the George Washington University, U.S., and master's degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, United Kingdom. He taught political economy at the Kasetsart University (1976–1989) and was known for his development studies; taught politics of South East Asia countries and became an activist on regional human rights and the environment. He was adviser to the Prime Minister (1989–91) and was in charge of peace negotiation with Cambodia. After the coup in 1991, he was appointed chief adviser to the Governor of Bangkok (until 1995)on urban pollution and arts and culture. He was elected senator in 2001 and became the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate prior to the 2006 Thailand coup.

In the senate he was a leading member of a progressive group of 45 senators who opposed human right violations, corruption and other abuses under the Thaksin Shinawatra government. He was often interviewed on these issues by the BBC, ABC, CNN, Reuters, AP and other international media agenies.

After the coup, local media claimed that the military junta approached him to become the foreign minister of the interim civilian government. However, he denied the junta made such an approach.

It was alleged that the military appointed him as part of the team for PR work. Kraisak emphatically denies of having been approached much less taken part in this PR team.

After the general elections in 2007, Kraisak is now a member of the parliament (proportional representation)of the opposition party (the Democrat Party) and has recently been elected as deputy leader responsible for the North East. He also holds the position of the President of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC)[1] which is composed of like-minded members of parliaments from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) who work together towards restoring freedom and instituting democracy in Myanmar.

External links

• Biography at senate.go.th

Dr. Kraisak's official personal Thai language webpage appears at *[2]