Education, Military, and Political Career
Born in Songkhla Province in the south of Thailand, Prem attended Maha-Vajiravut Secondary School in Songkhla, followed by Suankularb Wittayalai School in Bangkok. He entered the Royal Thai Army Academy (now Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy) in 1941. A distinguished Army officer, he entered politics in 1959, as a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee. From 1968 to 1971 he was a Senator, in 1972-73 Member of Parliament, and in 1976 was appointed to the Advisory Council of Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien. Under Prime Minister Kriangsak Chomanan, he was Deputy Interior Minister in 1977-78 and Minister of Defence from 1979 to 1986.
General Prem is famous for initiating the negotiations with the members of the Communist Party of Thailand. Consequently, an amnesty was declared and many communist members - including former student protestors - returned home. This helped end the fighting between the government and communist guerrillas in 1980s.
Read more about this topic: Prem Tinsulanonda
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