1. Surachai Danwattananusorn, born Surachai Saedan, was a Thai political activist and former political prisoner.
17 Facts About Surachai Danwattananusorn
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Surachai Danwattananusorn disappeared in 2018 along with two of his aides who were later found to have been murdered.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn is believed to have been killed as well.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn was known for his anti-monarchist views, which resulted in a past arrest under Thailand's lese majeste laws.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn had been in exile in neighbouring Laos since the Thai military coup of 2014.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn became well known after the Thammasat University massacre, as he was a prominent member of the Communist Party of Thailand.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn was sentenced to death for murder and his participation in a train robbery but received a royal pardon in 1988.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn ran for the senate seat of Nakhon Si Thammarat, but was never elected to any office.
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In 2006, Surachai Danwattananusorn participated in protests to oust the Council for National Security junta.
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On 6 August 2007, while on stage at a United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship rally, Surachai Danwattananusorn allegedly insulted then-Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn was found guilty by a criminal court and was fined 50,000 baht, but the fine was later reduced by half after Surachai confessed to the crime.
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However, Surachai Danwattananusorn received a royal pardon on 3 October 2013.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn was born Surachai Saedan on 24 December 1942 in Thaphaya Tumbol, Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn was the son of Yokyuan and Somchao Saedan.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
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Surachai Danwattananusorn has married three times, and has three sons and a daughter.
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In February 2024, a Nakhon Si Thammarat court declared Surachai Danwattananusorn missing following a 23 December 2023 petition by his wife.