CHUAN LEEKPAI
Name: Chuan Leekpai
Born: 28 July 1938 Trang, Thailand
Chuan Leekpai (born July 28, 1938 in Trang)
was the Prime Minister of Thailand from September 23, 1992 to May
24, 1995 and again from November 9, 1997 to February 9, 2001.
A third-generation Thai Chinese, Chuan was born in Trang province in a
grass-roofed house. The walls were woven from strips of betel-nut wood. The
floor was the earth. His father's name was Niyom Leekpai. His mother's name was
Tuan Leekpai. Tuan Leekpai is half-Chinese like other Trang locals. Niyom
Leekpai was a teacher, so his salary was trifling. Tuan Leekpai sold Thai
dessert and worked in Para rubber garden. Chuan Leekpai has 9 siblings, and he
is the third child in the family. Because of his big family, Chuan's life was
not comfortable.
Chuan lived in and studied at the temple called 'Wat Amarintraram', Bangkok for
6 years. Then he went to study Law at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand.
After he graduated, he worked as a lawyer and then became a politician.
He has one son, Surabot Leekpai, with Pakdiporn Sujaritkul (his common-law wife).
He has a younger brother, Raluek Leekpai.
As the leader of the Democrat Party, Chuan was elected in 1992 after the
abortive coup by General Suchinda Kraprayoon, thus becoming Thailand's first
prime minister to come to power without either aristocratic or military backing.
He was defeated in the 1995 election, but assumed power in late 1997 following
the fall of the Chavalit Yongchaiyut administration, which was held responsible
for the currency crisis that beset Thailand from July 1997. Though criticised as
a "slow" actor, Chuan attempted to manage competing factional demands while
abiding by the rule of law.
Name: Chuan Leekpai
Born: 28 July 1938 Trang, Thailand
Chuan Leekpai (born July 28, 1938 in Trang)
was the Prime Minister of Thailand from September 23, 1992 to May
24, 1995 and again from November 9, 1997 to February 9, 2001.
A third-generation Thai Chinese, Chuan was born in Trang province in a
grass-roofed house. The walls were woven from strips of betel-nut wood. The
floor was the earth. His father's name was Niyom Leekpai. His mother's name was
Tuan Leekpai. Tuan Leekpai is half-Chinese like other Trang locals. Niyom
Leekpai was a teacher, so his salary was trifling. Tuan Leekpai sold Thai
dessert and worked in Para rubber garden. Chuan Leekpai has 9 siblings, and he
is the third child in the family. Because of his big family, Chuan's life was
not comfortable.
Chuan lived in and studied at the temple called 'Wat Amarintraram', Bangkok for
6 years. Then he went to study Law at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand.
After he graduated, he worked as a lawyer and then became a politician.
He has one son, Surabot Leekpai, with Pakdiporn Sujaritkul (his common-law wife).
He has a younger brother, Raluek Leekpai.
As the leader of the Democrat Party, Chuan was elected in 1992 after the
abortive coup by General Suchinda Kraprayoon, thus becoming Thailand's first
prime minister to come to power without either aristocratic or military backing.
He was defeated in the 1995 election, but assumed power in late 1997 following
the fall of the Chavalit Yongchaiyut administration, which was held responsible
for the currency crisis that beset Thailand from July 1997. Though criticised as
a "slow" actor, Chuan attempted to manage competing factional demands while
abiding by the rule of law.