Praphas Charusathien

Praphas Charusathien (ประภาส จารุเสถียร,, ; 25 November 1912 – 18 August 1997) was a Thai military officer and politician. He was a field marshal (chom phon) of the Royal Thai Army and minister of interior in the governments of military rulers Sarit Thanarat and Thanom Kittikachorn.

Personal life and education
Praphas graduated from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and became an infantry officer. He was sponsored by Field Marshal and Prime Minister-to-be Sarit Thanarat. He was quickly promoted to higher ranks. In 1957, Sarit appointed him minister of interior, a position in which he continued to serve after Sarit's death in 1963. The new Prime Minister was Thanom Kittikachorn, whose son married Praphas' daughter. From 1963 to 1973, he was additionally deputy prime minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. During this time, Praphas was the strong man in the background who pulled the strings in the Thanom government. He was known for obscure financial transactions and political intrigues, while sitting on the boards of 44 companies.

In 1973, he was replaced as army commander by Gen.Krit Srivara, which signaled his loss of influence. In October 1973 protests against the rigid military rule grew into a massive popular uprising that was answered by a bloody crackdown on the protesting students and democracy activists. The many dead civilians prompted King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene. Praphas, Thanom and his son-in-law Col.Narong Kittikachorn went into exile.

Praphas returned to Thailand in January 1977, after the military had ended the democratic interlude in October 1976. However, he was not able to exercise political influence again.

Family
Praphas married to Thanpuying Sawai Jarusathien, daughter of Lt. Von and Huai Panprasit. They have a total of 6 children. Praphas's children were married to important people with military and political power, including Supaporn Charusathien married with Narong Kittikachorn son of Thanom Kittikachorn, Orapan Charusathien married with Yuthasak Sasiprapha and Supanapa Charusathien married with Somtat Attanand.

Died
Praphas Charusathien died on 18 August 1997 in Bangkok.

Honours
received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:


 * 1964 - Order of Chula Chom Klao - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
 * 1973 - Order of Rama 1st Class ribbon.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Honourable Order of Rama
 * 1959 - Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
 * 1957 - Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
 * 1988 - Order of Ramkeerati (Thailand) ribbon.svg Member of the Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati
 * 1934 - Ribbon bar of Dushdi Mala - Military, Acts of Bravery (Thailand).svg Dushdi Mala Medal Pin of Bravery (Military)
 * 1941 - Victory Medal - Indochina (Thailand) ribbon.svg Victory Medal - Franco-Thai War
 * 1962 - Victory Medal - World War II (Thailand) ribbon.svg Victory Medal - World War II
 * 1969 - Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class
 * 1934 - Safeguarding the Constitution Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Safeguarding the Constitution Medal
 * 1958 - Border Service Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Border Service Medal
 * 1945 - Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakra Mala Medal
 * 1950 - King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal - 3rd Class
 * 1959 - King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal - 2nd Class
 * 1929 - King Rama VII Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VII Coronation Medal
 * 1950 - King Rama IX Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama IX Coronation Medal
 * 1932 - 150 Years Commemoration of Bangkok Medal ribbon.svg Commemorative Medal on the Occasion of the 150th Years of Rattanakosin Celebration

Foreign honours

 * 🇰🇷 South Korea :
 * 1955 - Eulji Cordon Medal.png Order of Military Merit, Eulji Medal with gold star
 * 1966 - ROK Order of Service Merit (1st Class) Blue Stripes.png Order of Service Merit, 1st Class


 * Union of Burma :
 * 1956 - Order of the Union of Burma (Military Division).jpg Grand Commander of the Order of the Union of Burma - Military
 * Francoist Spain :
 * 1957 - ESP Gran Cruz Merito Militar (Distintivo Blanco) pasador.svg Grand Cross of the Cross of Military Merit
 * 🇮🇹 Italy :
 * 1961 - Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan :
 * 1962 - Special_Breast_Order_of_Yun_Hui.png Order of the Yunhui, Special Class
 * 🇺🇸 USA :
 * 1962 - US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png Commander of the Legion of Merit
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands :
 * 1962 - Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Knight Grand Cross.svg Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
 * 🇩🇪 Germany :
 * 1963 - GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 6 GrVK Stern Band 218px.svg Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany with Sash and Star


 * Kingdom of Greece :
 * 1963 - GRE Order of George I - Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of George I
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia :
 * 1964 - MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm) - SMN.svg Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm


 * 🇧🇪 Belgium :
 * 1964 - BEL - Order of Leopold - Grand Cordon bar.svg Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold
 * 🇦🇹 Austria :
 * 1964 - AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 2nd Class BAR.svg Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria with Sash


 * 🇯🇵 Japan :
 * 1966 - JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun


 * 🇳🇴 Norway :
 * 1967 - St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav


 * 🇸🇪 Sweden :
 * 1967 - Royal Order of the Sword - Commander Grand Cross BAR.svg Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword


 * Kingdom of Laos :
 * 1967 - LAO Order of the a Million Elephants and the White Parasol - Grand Cross BAR.svg Grand Cross of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines :
 * 1968 - PHL Order of Sikatuna - Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of Sikatuna
 * Ethiopian Empire :
 * 1968 - ETH Order of Menelik II - Grand Cross BAR.png Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Menelik II