9 October 1995

A pillar of democracy MR Kukrit Pramoj, respected scholar, statesman, dancer

Former prime minister and renowned intellectual MR Kukrit Pramoj died, at the age of 84.

Thirayuth Boonmee, a Thammasat University professor, cited his role in the development of Thai politics art and culture. The son of a prince, Kukrit was a ‘pillar of democracy’, said the former student leader. As prime minister from 1975-1976 he faced the collapse of South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to communist movements. Yet he rejected the ‘domino theory’ and asked US troops to leave the bases from which they had mounted much of the war in Indochina. This was popular with left-leaning Thai intellectuals, but his policies provoked a conservative backlash and he was voted out after only 14 months.

Kukrit was a strong advocate of preserving Thai traditions and was especially involved in the arts. In the centre of Bangkok, surrounded by rising concrete office and apartment blocks, he lived in a classical teakwood house, filled with Thai treasures.

9 October 1995

A pillar of democracy MR Kukrit Pramoj, respected scholar, statesman, dancer

Former prime minister and renowned intellectual MR Kukrit Pramoj died, at the age of 84.

Thirayuth Boonmee, a Thammasat University professor, cited his role in the development of Thai politics art and culture. The son of a prince, Kukrit was a ‘pillar of democracy’, said the former student leader. As prime minister from 1975-1976 he faced the collapse of South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to communist movements. Yet he rejected the ‘domino theory’ and asked US troops to leave the bases from which they had mounted much of the war in Indochina. This was popular with left-leaning Thai intellectuals, but his policies provoked a conservative backlash and he was voted out after only 14 months.

Kukrit was a strong advocate of preserving Thai traditions and was especially involved in the arts. In the centre of Bangkok, surrounded by rising concrete office and apartment blocks, he lived in a classical teakwood house, filled with Thai treasures.