Early Political Career
From 1986 to 1990, Chavalit was Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. He was one of the architects of the amnesty program that ended the insurgency of the Communist Party of Thailand. Under his leadership, the army started projects for rural development. These included the Isan Khiew programme in the underdeveloped North Eastern region and the New Hope programme in the conflict-ridden Southern provinces. For these projects he provided big businesses with lucrative contracts, including the leading agrobusiness corporation Charoen Pokphand (CP). Chavalit began his political career in 1988 as Defence Minister, with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister, in the administration of Chatichai Choonhavan. He held that position until 1991. In 1990, he founded his own party, the New Aspiration Party. The party was backed by the CP group and its chairman Dhanin Chearavanont. He then served as Minister of Interior in the cabinet of Chuan Leekpai from 1992 to 1994, and was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in the government of Banharn Silpa-archa from 1995 to 1996.
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