Kraisak Choonhavan

Who is Kraisak Choonhavan?

Kraisak Choonhavan is a Thai politician. He was a member of the Senate for Nakhon Ratchasima Province from 2000 till 2006.

Born as son of former prime minister General Chatichai Choonhavan and Than Phu Ying Bunruen Choonhavan, Kraisak received a Bachelor Degree in International Relations at the George Washington University, U.S., and Master degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, United Kingdom. He taught political economy at the Kasetsart University and was known for his development studies; taught politics of South East Asia countries and was became an activist on regional human rights and the environment. He was adviser to the Prime Minister and was in charge of peace negotiation with Cambodia. After the coup in 1991, he was appointed chief adviser to the Governor of Bangkok on urban pollution and arts and culture. He was elected senator in 2001 and became the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate prior to the 2006 Thailand coup.

In the senate he was a leading member of a progressive group of 45 senators who opposed human right violations, corruption and other abuses under the Thaksin Shinawatra government. He was often interviewed on these issues by the BBC, ABC, CNN, Reuters, AP and other international media agenies.