Chuan Leekpai

Economic reform

Chuan's second government enacted several economic reforms for which it was severely criticised. Chuan's "bitter medicine" policies brought little economic relief in the years following the 1997 economic crisis, particularly at the grassroots level. Opinions emerged that the Democrats were only helping big financial institutions and making the country more dependent of foreign investors. Nevertheless, many of the reforms recommended by the IMF were in line with the policies of market economies such as Australia and New Zealand. The subsequent government's economic growth was based even more strongly on selling national assets and private organisations abroad such as the Shin Corporation, while most of its economic gains were built on the frugality of the Democrat policy platform.^{[citation needed]} Thai Rak Thai painted the Democrats as having "open contempt" for the plight of the common Thai which set off a revenge vote against the party during the 2001 election, which gave a landslide victory to Thaksin Shinawatra.^[14]

Education reform

During Chuan's second administration the National Education Act 1999 was enacted.^[15]

Human rights

Chuan's second government came under fire for the violent arrest of 223 villagers protesting the Pak Mun Dam. Historian Nidhi Iawsriwong noted that "the present situation is as worse as that of the May event (the bloody crackdown of anti-government protesters in 1992). We have a tyrannical government that is arrogant and not accountable to the public. This is dangerous because the government still sees itself as legitimate and claims that it is democratic. In fact, it is as brutal as the military government".^[16]

Controversy arose in early 1999 when it became known that Chuan nominated Thanom Kittikachorn to the post of honorary royal guard, provoking widespread criticism. The situation was resolved when Thanom resigned.^[17][18] Thanom was one of the "three tyrants" who ruled Thailand from 1963 to 1973 and ordered the massacre of pro-democracy students on 14 October 1973, after which he was ordered to step down and be exiled by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

In April 2000, the editor in chief of the Chiang Mai daily newspaper Pak Nua was shot and seriously wounded in an attempted murder, but recovered. The editor believed that his repeated critical reporting on the government led to the assault.^[19]

Corruption

Although generally regarded as relatively clean and honest when compared to other Thai administrations, Chuan's government found itself plagued with corruption scandals and rumours. Key cases of corruption included:

• Rakkiat Sukhthana, Health Minister, was charged with taking a five million baht (US$125,000) bribe from a drug firm and forcing state hospitals to buy medicine at exorbitant prices. After being found guilty, he jumped bail and went into hiding.
• Suthep Thaugsuban, Minister of Transport and Communications, whose brokering of illegal land deals caused the fall of the Chuan 1 government, was linked to abuse of funds in setting up a co-operative Surat Thani Province.^[20]
• The "edible fence" seed scandal, in which massive overpricing of seeds distributed to rural areas happened. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture was forced to resign.^[21]
• The Salween logging scandal, where up to 20,000 trees were felled illegally in the Salween forest in Mae Hong Son. Some of them turned up in the compound of the Democrat party's office in Phichit Province.^[21]
• Sanan Kajornprasart, Interior Minister, as well as eight other cabinet ministers were found to have understated their declared assets. Sanan was later barred by the Constitutional Court from politics for five years.^[22]
• Chuan himself was found by the National Counter-Corruption Commission to have undeclared shareholdings in a rural cooperative.^{[22][citation needed]}

Chuan stepped down as the Leader of Democrat Party in 2003.^[23]

National honours

• Thailand:
  • Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
  • Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
  • Knight Grand Commander (Second Class, higher grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
  • Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati
  • Recipient of the King Rama IX Coronation Medal
  • 25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal
  • Serving Free Peoples Medal
  • First Class (Gold Medal) of the Red Cross Medal of Appreciation

Foreign decorations

• Philippines:
  • Grand Collar (Raja) of the Order of Sikatuna (1993)
• Peru:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun (1999)
• Portugal:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (1999)^[29]
• Nicaragua:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Rubén Dario (2000)^[30]
• Romania:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania (2000)^[31]
• Denmark
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (2001)^[32]