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Apirat Kongsompong

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General
Apirat Kongsompong
MPCh MWM ThChW
อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์
Member of the Senate of Thailand
Ex officio
11 May 2019 – 30 September 2020
Succeeded byNarongphan Jitkaewthae
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office
1 October 2018 – 30 September 2020
Preceded byChalermchai Sitthisart
Succeeded byNarongphan Jitkaewthae
Personal details
Born (1960-03-23) 23 March 1960 (age 64)
Bangkok, Thailand
SpouseKritika Sirijanya
Children2
Parent
Alma mater
NicknameDaeng
Military service
Allegiance Thailand
Branch/service
Years of service1985–2020
RankGeneral
Commands
Battles/warsCommunist insurgency in Thailand
South Thailand insurgency[1]
Awards

Apirat Kongsompong (Thai: อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์; RTGS: Aphirat Khongsomphong; born 23 March 1960) is a Thai military officer who was the commander in chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2020.[2] He serves as the Vice-Chamberlain of the Royal Household Bureau and the deputy director of the Crown Property Bureau from 2020 to 2024.[3][4]

He held many important positions throughout his career including chairman of the board of directors of Government Lottery Office,[5] Independent Director at Bangchak Petroleum Public Co.,[6][7][8] Member of the National Legislative Assembly,[9] Secretary of the National Council for Peace and Order, and member of the Senate.

Early life and education

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Apirat was born in Bangkok on 23 March 1960. He is the eldest son of General Sunthorn Kongsompong (the former Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Chairman of the National Peacekeeping Council), and Colonel Khunying Orachorn Kongsompong. He has a younger brother, Major General Nattaporn Kongsompong (retired). Apirat completed his primary and part of secondary education at St. Gabriel's College. He later attended the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (Class 20) and went on to attend Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (Class 31) where he graduated in 1985.

After that he studied a Master of Business Administration, Southeastern University Washington DC.,USA.

Military career

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General Apirat (left) with General James McConville Chief of staff, U.S. Army at Arlington National Cemetery
General Apirat Kongsompong at Arlington County, Virginia in 2020

General Apirat received a commission as an army officer upon graduation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1985. He served as a pilot at the Army Aviation Center at the beginning of his military career. He completed UH-1H Maintenance/Test Pilot Training at Fort Eustis, Virginia, USA. He also completed the AH-1H (Cobra) Pilot Training Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama, USA. Apirat is also a graduate of Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. In October 1990, Apirat was appointed Assistant Logistics Officer at the Royal Thai Army Defense Attache Office in Washington D.C.

General Apirat commanded 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard in Bangkok. He went on to command 11th Infantry Regiment King's Guard.[10][11] He served as the Commanding General of 11th Infantry Division in Chachoengsao Province. He went on to serve as the Commanding General of 15th Military Circle in Petchaburi Province. Apirat commanded 1st Division, King's Guard[12][13] in Bangkok. In 2016, General Apirat was appointed the Commanding General of the 1st Army Area.[14][15][16][17] He was promoted to Assistant Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army in 2017. General Apirat was appointed the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army in 2018 which he would command the Royal Thai Army until his retirement in September 2020.

Apirat's deployment experience includes anti-communist operations in 1986. He served as the Commander of Task Force 14 which conducted counter-insurgency operations in Yala Province in 2004.

Apirat is associated with the military clique Wong Thewan, in turn associated with the 1st Division, the King's Guard.[2] While Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy, Prawit Wongsuwon are members of the rival 2nd Division clique, Burapha Phayak ('tigers of the east'), Apirat is known to have close ties with them.[2]

Army chief

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Barely a month into his tenure as army chief, Apirat created a media firestorm with his comments on the necessity for military intervention in Thai politics should turmoil surface.[18][19][20]

In October 2019, Gen. Apirat host the special sermon about propaganda in Thailand. As the National security officer, Gen. Apirat heavily concerned about digital propaganda via social media because of the hasty widespread the idea of communist or extreme left which is hard to identify.[21] Unfortunately, this mentioned idea is led to overthrow the monarchy which trend to influenced by protests in Hong Kong and define this operation as a “Hybrid Warfare” to destroy the foundation of the state.[22][23][24][25]

In October 2019, Apriat warned in a speech to military officers, policemen, and uniformed students that, "Propaganda in Thailand is severe and worrying. There is a group of communists who still have ideas to overthrow the monarchy, to turn Thailand to communism..."[26][27] His performance prompted the Bangkok Post to remark, "It was 'a lecture' that should never have been given by any army chief, for its combination of accusations against 'the left' and young people, and sensational and biased political messages."[28][29] The speech prompted one analyst to urge that rival factions end the "enemy mindset".[30] His comments sparked criticism online for being a partisan bureaucrat.[31]

Gen. Apirat provided the urgent policy to detect and solve the difficulty on the welfare for the officer of Royal Thai Army.[32] Gen. Apirat founded the direct call centre for officers who has obstacles to provide confidential information to Commander in chief directly. Moreover, due to Nakhon Ratchasima shootings in 2020 caused by the welfare housing system, Gen. Apirat established the investigation committee to examine the source of obstacle and find the solution and to include provide remedy for the victim.[33] The hot line provided valuable evidence that lead to the undercover problem in Royal Thai Army, to be processed further by the specialist organization such as the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.[34]

After Nakhon Ratchasima shootings in 2020, in which the perpetrator cited corruption in the army as motives, he as the army chief created an anonymous complaint hotline program on 17 February 2020.[35] However, some media reported no concrete achievements.[36] Later in April, an army sergeant filed a complaint about another corruption in the army via the program, but he was retaliated.[37][38][39]

In July 2020, Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, a former police chief and leader of an opposition party Seree Ruam Thai, condemned Apirat's intervention in politics.[40]

Other appointments

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Political appointments

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After the coup d'état in 2014, General Apirat was appointed as Member of the National Legislative Assembly where he served in of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Local Government Commission. When General Apirat took the office of the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army in 2018, he was appointed the Secretary of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Following the general election in 2019, Gen Apirat was appointed to the Senate where he remained in office until his retirement from the military in 2020.

Civilian appointments

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Apart from military and political positions, General Apirat held several important positions in the government and private sectors. In 2000, he was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of Expressway Authority of Thailand. In 2002, he was appointed to National Science and Technology Development Agency Governing Board.

In 2014, General Apirat was appointed to the board of directors of Bangchak Corporation as an independent director with authorized signature. In the following year, he was appointed as chairman of the board, board of directors of the Government Lottery Office. In the same year, he served as an advisor to the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion. General Apirat also served as a director on the board of directors of TMBThanachart Bank Public Company Limited.

Royal careers

[edit]

General Apirat was retired from his military position on 30 September 2020. In the same year, His Majesty the King appointed General Apirat as the vice-chamberlain of the Bureau of the Royal Household and the deputy director of the Crown Property Bureau.[41][42] Since 2024, he resign from any position in royal careers due to health problem.[43][44]

Personal life

[edit]

General Apirat is married to Associate Professor Dr. Kritika Kongsompong, a lecturer at SASIN (Chulalongkorn University) and the former host of the Weakest Link show on Channel 3 Thailand. They have a son, Major Pirapong Kongsompong, and a daughter, Major Amarat Kongsompong (MD).

Awards and decorations

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National honours

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Foreign decorations

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ผบ.ทบ.เยือนอินโดฯ ชู "อาเจะห์โมเดล" ดับไฟใต้ "สร้างความเข้าใจ ไม่แยกดินแดน"". สำนักข่าวอิศรา. January 15, 2020. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Nanuam, Wassana (3 September 2018). "Army reshuffle sees loyalists appointed". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  3. ^ โปรดเกล้าฯ 'อภิรัชต์' พ้นจากการปฏิบัติหน้าที่นายทหารพิเศษ เหตุลาออกจากราชการ
  4. ^ โปรดเกล้าฯ ให้ “บิ๊กแดง - พล.อ.อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์” พ้นจากนายทหารพิเศษ
  5. ^ "PM appoints Apirat Kongsompong as the new GLO chief". Pattaya Mail. May 4, 2015. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "ประวัติกรรมการบริษัท บางจากปิโตรเลียม จำกัด (มหาชน)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  7. ^ "Apirat Kongsompong - Biography". www.marketscreener.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  8. ^ "Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2017-10-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)[full citation needed]
  10. ^ "Two soldiers". January 31, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "Show of strength to protect monarchy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-25.[full citation needed]
  12. ^ Tribune, Thai. "Military top brass transfers imply the future of Thai politics". www.thaitribune.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  13. ^ "โปรดเกล้าฯโยกย้าย203นายทหารแล้ว". www.bangkokbiznews.com/. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  14. ^ "Thai military maneuvers to stay on top". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  15. ^ "1st Army Area Royal Thai Army Visit". Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  16. ^ Royal Thai Army visits I Corps Archived 2017-10-25 at the Wayback Machine[full citation needed]
  17. ^ "Royal Thai Army visits I Corps, learns all about Strykers". www.army.mil. Archived from the original on 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  18. ^ Achakulwisut, Apinya (23 October 2018). "Army at the centre of our vicious circle" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  19. ^ "The CURSE of an Army always ready to pounce" (Opinion). The Nation. 23 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  20. ^ Ehrlich, Richard S (22 October 2018). "Thai military leader's plan for regime election loss: Unleash coup to quell 'riots'". Washington Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Army chief: Monarchy, military, people inseparable". Bangkok Post.
  22. ^ "Army chief Gen Apirat warns Thailand is facing "hybrid warfare"". Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  23. ^ ""บิ๊กป้อม" แจง ผบ.ทบ.บรรยายพิเศษความมั่นคง เพราะต้องการเล่าสิ่งที่กองทัพบกทำมา". 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  24. ^ "ซูฮกบิ๊กแดง'หมอเหรียญทอง'ลั่นกองทัพไทยต้องไม่เป็นกลางและไม่นิ่งเฉยต่อพวกบ้าคลั่งปชต". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  25. ^ ""ธนกร"มั่นใจ"บิ๊กแดง"พูดเพราะห่วงบ้านเมือง". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  26. ^ Tanakasempipat, Patpicha (11 October 2019). "Thai army chief decries opposition, hints at threat to monarchy". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  27. ^ Nanuam, Wassana (11 October 2019). "Army chief: Monarchy, military, people inseparable". Bangkok Post. Reuters. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Apirat speech sends chill" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. 12 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  29. ^ Wangkiat, Paritta (14 October 2019). "Apirat out of touch with modern reality" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  30. ^ Khidhir, Sheith (19 October 2019). "Is Thailand risking another massacre?". The ASEAN Post. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Authoritarians anonymous: Thailand's generals fret about Hong Kong's protests" (Online). The Economist. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  32. ^ "ทบ.ตั้งคณะกรรมการตรวจสอบกิจการสวัสดิการ คลี่คลายข้อสงสัย-ยกมาตรฐานให้ดีขึ้น". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  33. ^ "เปิด "สายตรง ผบ.ทบ." 02-018-7330". 19 February 2020. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  34. ^ "ทีมโฆษกกองทัพบกเปิดลำดับเหตุการณ์ 'หมู่อาร์ม' ร้องสายตรงบิ๊กแดง สอบ 3 นายพลเอี่ยวอมเบี้ยเลี้ยง". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  35. ^ "ผวาทั้งบาง!'บิ๊กแดง'ประกาศเอาจริง ลุย'ปฏิรูปกองทัพ'เต็มสูบ เดี๋ยวมีเลย์ออฟ". 12 February 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  36. ^ "เปิดไทม์ไลน์ "หมู่อาร์ม" บทพิสูจน์ปฏิรูปกองทัพ หลังออกมาแฉอมเบี้ยเลี้ยง กลับถูกสอบผิดหนีทหาร บิ๊กแดงยันทำตามขั้นตอน". 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  37. ^ จาก'จ่าคลั่ง'สู่'หมู่อาร์ม' กับคำสัญญา'ปฏิรูปกองทัพ' Archived 2020-07-03 at the Wayback Machine ไทยโพสต์.
  38. ^ "เปิดคำให้การหมู่อาร์มแฉอมเบี้ยเลี้ยงในกองทัพกลับโดน-คดีหนีทหาร". 6 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  39. ^ ""หมู่อาร์ม" ลั่นพร้อมขึ้นศาล ถาม "บิ๊กแดง" คืนความยุติธรรมให้ได้หรือไม่". 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  40. ^ ""เสรีพิศุทธ์" เตือน ผบ.ทบ. "อย่ายุ่งม็อบ นศ." ไล่ รีบๆเกษียณอายุราชการไปเสีย". Post Today (in Thai). 25 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  41. ^ "ในหลวง โปรดเกล้าฯ โอน "บิ๊กแดง-ณรัชต์" เป็นรองเลขาธิการพระราชวัง". 15 September 2020.
  42. ^ "โปรดเกล้าฯ "บิ๊กแดง-ณรัชต์" เป็นข้าราชการในพระองค์ ตำแหน่งรองเลขาธิการพระราชวัง". 15 September 2020.
  43. ^ โปรดเกล้าฯ ให้ พล.อ.อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์ พ้นจากการปฏิบัติหน้าที่นายทหารพิเศษ... อ่านข่าวต้นฉบับได้ที่ : https://www.matichon.co.th/politics/news_4783436
  44. ^ ประวัติและเส้นทางชีวิต "บิ๊กแดง-พลเอก อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์"
  45. ^ "เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ และเหรียญจักรพรรดิมาลา" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  46. ^ "ราชกิจจานุเบกษา เล่ม ๑๓๔ ตอน ๔๗ ข หน้า ๑ ๒๘ กันยายน ๒๕๖๐" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  47. ^ "เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ และเหรียญจักรพรรดิมาลา" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  48. ^ "พลเอก อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์ ผู้บัญชาการทหารบก เข้าเฝ้าทูลละอองพระบาทสุลต่านอิบราฮิม อิสมาอิล สุลต่านแห่งรัฐยะโฮร์". Archived from the original on 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2020-05-27.[full citation needed]
  49. ^ "ผู้บัญชาการทหารบกได้รับเครื่องอิสริยาภรณ์ เดอะ ลีเจียน ออฟ เมอริท ชั้น คอมมานเดอร์ (The Legion of Merits (Degree of Commander)) จากรัฐบาลสหรัฐอเมริกา". Archived from the original on 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2020-05-27.[full citation needed]
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army
2018–2020 		Succeeded by
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