1991 Constitutions
In 23 February 1991, Army Commander Suchinda Kraprayoon led the military in seizing power from the Chatichai government, abrogating the 1978 Constitution, and replacing it with a temporary charter. Calling themselves the National Peace Keeping Council (NPKC), the coupmakers appointed a new unicameral National Assembly of 292 military officers and supporters, headed by Ukrit Mongkolnavin. Ukrit and appointed Premier Anand Panyarachun were tasked with drafting a permanent constitution.
The drafting of a new constitution became a virtual battleground between the military and its opponents. The military favored a position of continued strength, a larger and more powerful NPKC-appointed Senate with power over an elected House, a larger Privy Council, and the ability for non-elected officials to become cabinet members. This last clause allowed an acting military leader to become Premier. The public mobilized to protest the draft, with 50,000 people demonstrating at Sanam Luang on 19 November 1991, the largest protest in Thailand since 1976. The King intervened in his 4 December birthday speech, urging the public to accept the draft and noting that "procedures or principles that we have imported for use are sometimes not suitable to the conditions of Thailand or the character of Thai people." The constitution allowed Suchinda Kraprayoon to be appointed as Prime Minister, which led to a violent public uprising in May 1992 that brought down the government.
Read more about this topic: Constitution Of Thailand