For people with casual acquaintance with Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand’s 29th prime minister, he seems to be a stern person.
But friends close to him said in fact Gen Prayuth is not so. He is a kind and gentle person.
Though at the outset the general’s character seems to be tough, stern and outspoken.
However those close to him have stated that he is in fact a kind person who is gentle, diligent and an avid reader.
He loves keeping up with the latest news, loves movies, reads papers, magazines and even pocket books.
Most importantly he is known to be a quick thinker, is a man of action and caring.
He is concerned for everyone around him.
Gen Prayuth was married to Assistant Prof. Naraporn Chan-ocha.
Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha studied at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS) Class 12, Command and General Staff College (CGSC) Class 63, and National Defense College of Thailand (NDC) 5020. Later, he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course Class 51 and Infantry Officer Advanced Course Class 38.
He achieved a Bachelor of Science in Chula Chomklao Royal Military Academy. After graduating from the academy, Gen. Prayuth served in the 21st Infantry Regiment (Queen’s Guards).
In 2002, he served as a Deputy Commanding General in the 2nd Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army, ascending to the rank of Commanding General one year later. In 2005, he became a Deputy Commanding General for the 1st Army Area of which the 2nd Infantry Division is a part, and again became its Commanding General within a year.
Gen. Prayuth was the Chief of Staff for the Royal Thai Army from 2008 to 2009. In 2009, was appointed honorary adjutant of the king. In 2010, he succeeded Anupong Paochinda as Commander in Chief of the army.
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) then came up with a unanimous decision with a vote of 191-0 to nominate Gen. Prayuth as the nation’s 29th Prime Minister at a session on August 21, 2014.
Tuang Intachai, an NLA member, nominated Gen Prayuth for the prime minister’s post. The nomination was seconded by 188 members, which is far more than the required one-fifth of the 197 NLA members.
NLA members subsequently voted in a roll-call. Of the 194 members present on Thursday’s session, 191 voted to approve the nomination without opposition. The three abstentions were the NLA president and the two vice-presidents.
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