Thanom Kittikachorn, prime minister under Thai military regime, dies at 92

BANGKOK (Thailand) June 17 - Thanom Kittikachorn, a former prime minister whose military regime was ousted by a popular uprising in 1973, has died. He was 92.

Thanom died late Wednesday at Bangkok Hospital, where he had been since Jan. 19 after suffering a stroke. He never fully recovered from brain surgery afterward, a hospital statement said.

A weeklong Buddhist funeral ceremony began Thursday.

Thanom came to be known as one of the country's so-called ``Three Tyrants'' when he ran the country in the 1960s and early 1970s with his son, Col. Narong Kittikachorn, and Narong's father-in-law, Field Marshal Praphas Charusathien.

Thanom, who also held the rank of field marshal, was generally seen as the more conciliatory partner, and Praphas the hard-liner. A dapper, silver-haired man with a cheery grin, Thanom often served as a peacemaker between opposing political factions.

The three were driven into exile following a bloody student-led uprising in October 1973, in which 77 people died. They were accused of nepotism, massive corruption and ordering the massacre of protesters in the streets of Bangkok during the uprising.

Thanom was allowed to return to Thailand in late 1976 to serve as a Buddhist monk, sparking new demonstrations by pro-democracy protesters. Many believe his return was meant to set the stage for a counterrevolution.

On Oct. 6, 1976, a massacre of student protesters by police and the army took place at Bangkok's Thammasat University, and a coup installed a new, military-guided right-wing government.

Neither Thanom nor his two former ruling partners resumed any public political role. Over the past decade, he made an effort to rehabilitate his public image - arguing that he was not responsible for the 1973 violence - and sought to recover some property seized when he was overthrown. Praphas died in 1997.

Thanom was born Aug. 11, 1911 in the northern province of Tak, the son of a junior government official. He attended Army Cadet Academy and his move up the ranks was accelerated after he took part in a 1947 coup.

During the 1950s, Thanom entered politics and served in several posts.

He was appointed as figurehead prime minister for nine months in 1958 before military strongman Sarit Thanarat assumed dictatorial powers until his death in 1963.

Thanom's regime - like Sarit's - was notable for massive corruption and close ties to the United States because of their shared drive against communism.

During the Vietnam War, his government allowed tens of thousands of U.S. servicemen to be stationed here, and hosted U.S. air bases - withdrawn after his downfall - from which most bombing of North Vietnam and Laos was carried out.

Thanom's government allowed a veneer of democracy, but even mild dissent proved unacceptable to it. In 1971 the government swept away peaceful but pesky opponents in parliament.

However, the highhanded tactic sharpened opposition to his rule, leading to the 1973 student revolution.

Thanom and his wife Chongkol, whom he married in 1931, had two children. - AP