44 Facts About Chamlong Srimuang

Chamlong Srimuang is a Thai activist and former politician.

Chamlong Srimuang received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the category of Government Service in 1992.

Chamlong Srimuang's father, a Chinese immigrant from Shantou, died when Chamlong Srimuang was a baby.

Chamlong Srimuang's mother was of Chinese ancestry, but was born in Thailand.

Chamlong Srimuang had an older brother who was sent to live in China with his grandmother and died there as a boy.

When Chamlong was twelve, his mother married Chote Srimuang, a postman, and Chamlong took his last name.

Chamlong Srimuang went to Ban Somdej Chao Phraya High School in Thonburi, where he was a top student.

Chamlong Srimuang then entered the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, Thailand and was accepted into Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, where he graduated in Class 7.

Chamlong Srimuang developed a close relationship with his classmates Pallop Pinmanee and Manoonkrit Roopkachorn, both of whom would play important roles in Thai politics for decades.

Newly commissioned Second Lieutenant Chamlong Srimuang was assigned to the Signal Corps in Bangkok as a platoon leader.

Chamlong Srimuang received advanced training in military communications at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and Fort Gordon, Georgia.

Chamlong Srimuang later served in Laos as a communications officer supporting Thai units fighting the communist Pathet Lao and the North Vietnamese Army.

Chamlong Srimuang returned to Thailand to attend the Army Command and General Staff College, and underwent six months of counterinsurgency training.

Chamlong Srimuang served in South Vietnam for one year, before being assigned to the Bangkok-based Thailand Military Research and Development Center.

In 1972, Chamlong Srimuang attended the US Navy's Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he completed a two-year management course.

The coup installed Kriangsak Chomanand, Chamlong Srimuang's commanding officer, as prime minister.

Chamlong Srimuang was strongly opposed to what he viewed as "free abortions", and he resigned as Prem's secretary and successfully lobbied the senate to veto the law.

Chamlong Srimuang next was assigned to teach psychology and politics at the National Defense College.

Chamlong Srimuang had long been a devout Buddhist, and had particular respect for the monks Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and Panyanantha Bhikkhu.

In 1979, Chamlong Srimuang met Phra Phothirak, founder of the Santi Asoke sect.

On 1 October 1985, Chamlong Srimuang was promoted from colonel to major general.

Chamlong Srimuang ran for governor as an independent, supported by an organization calling itself Ruam Phalang, made up mostly of volunteers from Santi Asoke.

Chamlong Srimuang ran based on promises of integrity and anti-corruption.

Chamlong Srimuang's candidacy was belittled by the then Democrat Party leader Pichai Rattakul, as "sidewalk" ware, while the Democrat incumbent was likened as "department store" ware.

Chamlong Srimuang won the election with half a million votes, twice as many as his most popular competitor, incumbent Chana Rungsaeng.

Chamlong Srimuang claimed that the lower cost of new bids saved the city 80 million baht.

Chamlong Srimuang persuaded city street sweepers to sweep streets for the entire day, rather than just during the morning.

Chamlong Srimuang encouraged road-side hawkers, technically illegal, to stop selling their wares once a week, on Wednesdays.

In 1988, Chamlong Srimuang established the Palang Dharma Party to contest nationwide parliamentary elections.

Chamlong Srimuang himself remained in the governorship of Bangkok, while a huge slate of 318 PDP candidates vied for seats across the nation.

Chamlong Srimuang was accused of playing an active role in the student massacres of 1976.

Chamlong Srimuang declared that he would rather dissolve the party than let Udomsilp succeed.

Chamlong Srimuang was governor during the signing of the deal for the project later to be known as the "Thai Stonehenge".

Chamlong Srimuang decided to resign as governor and become a PDP parliamentary candidate.

Chamlong Srimuang remained near Phan Fa Bridge and the nearby Democracy Monument.

Chamlong Srimuang agreed to support an amendment requiring the prime minister to be elected.

Major General Chamlong Srimuang later apologized for his role in the events: "I wanted a peaceful rally," he said afterwards.

Major General Chamlong Srimuang was re-elected in parliamentary elections held on 13 September 1992, along with 46 other PDP MPs.

Chamlong Srimuang then established an organic farm and a leadership school in Kanchanaburi Province.

Finally, in late 1994, Chamlong Srimuang returned to active politics and regained control of the party.

Major General Chamlong Srimuang was strongly criticized for his handling of internal PDP politics in the last days of the Chuan government and retired from politics.

In early 1996, Chamlong Srimuang decided to return to politics to contest the Bangkok governor elections, facing incumbent Krisda Arunwongse na Ayudhya.

Chamlong Srimuang leaped back into the public view when, in 2005, he led a coalition of 67 religious and 172 anti-alcohol groups to protest the initial public offering of Thai Beverage PCL in the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Chamlong Srimuang ordered 45 PAD guards to break into the main government building on Saturday.