Siddhi Savetsila

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
President of the United Nations Security Council
In office
1 May 1985 – 31 May 1985
Preceded byJavier Arias Stella
Succeeded by
  • Errol Mahabir
  • D. H. N. Alleyne
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
11 February 1980 – 26 August 1990
Prime Minister
Preceded byUpadit Pachariyangkun
Succeeded bySubin Pinkayan
Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister
In office
24 May 1979 – 11 February 1980
Prime MinisterKriangsak Chamanan
Preceded byBoonrueang Buajaroon
Somporn Boonyakup
Thawin Rainanon
Succeeded byPeeda Kanasut
Yos Devahastin na Ayudhya
Boonying Nanthapiwat
Pramual Kullamas
Porn Thanapoom
Secretary-General of the National Security Council
In office
1974–1980
Prime Minister
Preceded byLek Neawmalee
Succeeded byPrasong Soonsiri
Personal details
Born(1919-01-07)7 January 1919
Air Chief Marshal[1]
  • VDC Lt.Col.[2]
    • Battles/warsPacific War

    Siddhi Savetsila (

    Mom Luang Birabhongse Kasemsri.[3]

    Life and career

    Dries van Agt with Siddhi Savetsila in 1980

    Siddhi Savetsila was born in

    Bunnag family. He is a direct descendant of Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse.[5]

    Siddhi studied

    Second World War, he joined the Free Thai Movement (Seri Thai) which resisted against the de facto occupation of Thailand by Japanese forces. He collected data for the US foreign-intelligence agency OSS (predecessor of the CIA) and was temporarily detained by the Japanese.[6] Two of Siddhis sisters married US intelligence operatives, one was the wife of former OSS agent Willis Bird and one of CIA officer William Lair.[7] After the end of the war, he returned to the MIT and received his S.M.
    degree in 1947.

    He then served in the

    Kriangsak Chomanan at the time of the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia
    1978/79.

    In 1980, Kriangsak appointed him minister of foreign affairs. He kept this position when Prem Tinsulanonda took over the premiership a few months later. As Thailand' representative in the United Nations (UN) and ASEAN, Siddhi advocated a tough line towards Vietnam which was occupying Cambodia after 1979. In 1983, Siddhi was elected member of parliament and in 1985 he took over the leadership of the Social Action Party (SAP) following the retirement of Kukrit Pramoj. The party did well in the 1986 election and Siddhi additionally became deputy prime minister for a short time.

    In August 1990, the new Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan dismissed Siddhi as he sought a more pragmatic relationship with the communist-ruled countries of Southeast Asia. Siddhi's SAP was in great difficulties during the late 1980s and, in September 1990, Siddhi gave up his leadership. One month later, he completely retired from the parliament and the party, stating that he was tired of politics.[8] In 1991 King Bhumibol appointed him to his privy council.[9]

    Siddhi holds honorary doctorate degrees from the University of the Philippines, the National University of Singapore and five universities in Thailand. He was decorated with the Order of Chula Chom Klao (first class), the Order of the White Elephant (special class) and the Order of the Crown of Thailand (special class), as well as foreign decorations from 14 countries.[9]

    On 8 May 2000, he was among the five Free Thai veterans who were awarded the

    CIA director George Tenet
    .

    He died on 5 December 2015 at the age of 96.[10]

    Honour

    Foreign honour

    Military rank

    • Air Chief Marshal[1]

    Volunteer Defense Corps of Thailand rank

    References

    1. ^ a b [1] [bare URL PDF]
    2. ^ a b [2] [bare URL PDF]
    3. ^ "Presidents (1980-1989) : Security Council (SC) : United Nations (UN)". Archived from the original on 29 November 2005.
    4. ^ Derick Garnier, Henry Alabaster, 1836- 1884, AnglicanThai.org, archived from the original on 2011-09-04
    5. ^ สายเจ้าคุณพระราชพันธุ์นวลชั้นที่ ๔ สายเจ้าพระยาสุรพันธพิสุทธิ์ (เทศ บุนนาค) ได้แก่, The Bunnag Lineage Club
    6. ^ Robert O. Tilman (1987), Southeast Asia and the Enemy Beyond, Westview Press, p. 54
    7. ISBN 0-8248-1818-0
    8. ISBN 0-415-13821-3
    9. ^ a b H.E. Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila, Privy Councillor. Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary.
    10. ^ "Privy councillor Siddhi dies at 96". Bangkok Post. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
    11. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
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