Thanom Is New Thai Premier

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30310, 10 December 1963, Page 17

Thanom Is New Thai Premier

(XZJ’-A.-Reuter—Copyright) BANGKOK, December 9. The King of Thailand today appointed General Thanom Kittikachorn Prime Minister after the death of FieldMarshal Sarit Thanarat yesterday at the age of 55.

General Thanom. the 52-year-old Vice-Premier and Defence Minister in the Sari" Government, is expected to form his Cabinet within the next seven days. He was acting-Prime Minister during Marshal Sant’s illne* He is expected to follow the same pro-Western foreign policy of the previous government and retain most, if not ad. of Marshal Sants Cabinet. Diatrlbation of Tasks However, political observers in Bangkok expect a minor reshuffle in the Government and the armed forces in tie near future to fill the vacuum left by Marshal Sarit's death. Marshal Sant held tight control of the Government and military machinery by a -suming many responsibilities. He was director of police armed forces, supreme commander and commander-in-chief of the Army. His death is expected to result in a wider distribution of power which would bring r.ew faces into the forefront fc Thailand politics. He went into hospital 11 days ago with lung inflammation. kidney and heart Armed forces were put on alert and the Go.’ernment ordered seven days of national mourning The Army radio ordered troops to stay in their quarters and be prepared for any eventuality. Benevolent Dictator Marshal Sant was re- i ga-ded by many of his people a> a “benevolent dictator." I He was a strong anti-■ C.-nmunist He led a bloodless coup In I»S7 but was too ill to take over as Prime Minister. General Thanom. a mild-mar.r.e-ed person who has, earned a reputation fori honesty, was another of the’ He was Prime Minister for !• months in 1958 During: this period Marshal Sarit was l”ving medical treatment abroad. General Thanom’s Govern-1

.ment was confronted with a succession of minor crises s*emming from financial problems and scathing criticism from opposition politicians and newspapers. His term was cut short when Marshal Sarit returned in October, 1958, overthrew the system in another bloodless coup and established a military dictatorship. A new interim constitution was decreed in January, 1959. and Marshal Sarit took over as Prime Minister.