Apiwan Wiriyachai
Apiwan Wiriyachai | |
|---|---|
อภิวันท์ วิริยะชัย | |
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 22 January 2008 – 10 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Lalita Rerksamran |
| Succeeded by | Wisut Chainarun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 April 1949 army officer |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Thailand |
| Branch/service |  Royal Thai Army |
| Rank | .svg){kind=small} Colonel |
Apiwan Wiriyachai (Thai: อภิวันท์ วิริยะชัย; April 20, 1949 – October 6, 2014) was a Thai politician (Pheu Thai Party) and a member of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship.
Early career
In 1996 Apiwan entered politics as a New Aspiration Party MP for the province of his birth. A close confidant of provincial godfather Sanoh Thienthong, Apiwan followed his mentor into the Thai Rak Thai Party and became the party's MP for Nonthaburi in the 2001 general election, a seat he would hold through all subsequent elections. He served as chief of staff to the defence minister from 2002 to 2004.
Following Sanoh's resignation from Thai Rak Thai, Apiwan gravitated towards Thaksin Shinawatra's inner circle.
Political career
Following Pheu Thai's 2011 electoral victory Apiwan was at one point tipped to become the speaker of the house, but his close association with the UDD eventually forced the party to pick Somsak Kiatsuranont instead.[1][2]
In October 2012 Apiwan proposed that Charupong Ruangsuwan serve as leader of the Pheu Thai Party. His nomination went unchallenged.[3]
In early November 2013 Apiwan was among the seven Red Shirt MPs who voted to pass a controversial amnesty bill that would have pardoned those responsible for the army's massacre of UDD protesters in 2010.[4] The bill met widespread opposition from both the UDD and the opposition, prompting the government to abandon it.[5]
The bill's retraction did not save the government, however. The opposition coalesced into the
Controversies
Apiwan believed that the legitimacy of the monarchy rests on the faith and goodwill of the populace, and was an opponent of Thailand's draconian
Apiwan believed that
Death
Apiwan died due to lung infection on 6 October 2014 in Philippines at the age of 65.[12]
References
- ^ "Yingluck, Yongyuth to pick seats". Pattaya Today. Pattaya. 27 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Unbiased gavel in the House?". Bangkok Post. Bangkok. 4 August 2011.
- ^ "Jarupong elected new Pheu Thai leader". Pattaya Today. Pattaya. 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Red shirts feel betrayed". The Nation (Thailand). Bangkok. 2 November 2013.
- ^ "Blowing the Whistle". The Economist. Singapore. 16 November 2013.
- ^ "Apiwan passes away at 65". Thai Rath. Bangkok. 7 October 2014.
- ^ "Apiwan dies while on the run". The Bangkok Post. Bangkok. 7 October 2014.
- ^ "Apiwan at a Red Shirt Rally (Youtube video)". 22 June 2012.
- ^ "Govt eases tight security in Parliament". The Nation (Thailand). Bangkok. 26 March 2010.
- ^ "Apiwan wants amataya toppled". Bangkok Post. Bangkok. 1 April 2010.
- ^ "Apiwan at a Red Shirt Rally (Youtube video)". 22 June 2012.
- ^ "สมบัติที่เหลืออยู่ ของ "พ.อ.อภิวันท์" ก่อนสิ้นชีพที่ฟิลิปปินส์". 7 October 2014.