1. Suthep Thaugsuban resigned his seat in Parliament in November 2013 to become the self-appointed Secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, which was conducting mass protests trying to unseat the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Suthep Thaugsuban was released after four days, retired from politics, and entered Buddhist monastichood from July 2014 to July 2015.
Suthep Thaugsuban was released from prison on bail, later in February 2021, which stands in contrast to his court sentence still standing at a prison term of seven years.
Suthep Thaugsuban was born in Tha Sathon, Phunphin District, Surat Thani Province in Southern Thailand.
Suthep Thaugsuban's father was the sub-district headman of Tambon Tha Sathon.
Suthep Thaugsuban studied Political Science at Chiang Mai University, before he went to the United States to do a master's degree at Middle Tennessee State University, which he completed in 1975.
Suthep Thaugsuban is the father-in-law of Akanat Promphan, Minister of Industry.
In 1979, Suthep Thaugsuban was elected Member of Parliament, representing Surat Thani province and the Democrat Party.
In 2009, Suthep Thaugsuban was accused of violating the Constitution of Thailand by holding equity in a media firm that had received concessions from the government.
Under the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, which Suthep Thaugsuban had supported, Members of Parliament are banned from holding stakes in companies which have received government concessions.
Suthep Thaugsuban held a press conference a day later, announcing his decision to resign from Parliament.
Suthep Thaugsuban insisted his resignation was not a proof that he had done anything wrong but that he was worried about status as deputy prime minister.
Suthep Thaugsuban was the most prominent leader of the anti-government protests that started in late October 2013, triggered by a government's proposal for an amnesty bill.
On 11 December 2013, Suthep Thaugsuban resigned his seat in parliament and quit the Democrat Party, to focus on leading the street protests.
On 29 November 2013, Suthep Thaugsuban named himself secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, an umbrella organisation of the protest movement.
Suthep Thaugsuban strives for a replacement of the government, suspension of parliament, the appointment of a new head of government by the king, and the formation of an unelected "People's Council" to fundamentally reform the country's political system.
Suthep Thaugsuban took the monastic name of Prapakaro and took up abode at the Suan Mokkh meditation centre in Chaiya District.