Sanya Dharmasakti

Sanya Dharmasakti
By Chitipat Attametee M.5/18 No.28

Content

Preface
Introduction Story
Reference

Preface
Sanya Dharmasakti was one of the most influential figures in the politics of
Thailand. He served as the president of the Supreme Court and was dean of
the faculty of law and chancellor of Thammasat University during the
democracy movement.

Introduction Story
Sanya Dharmasakti was a Thai jurist, university professor and politician. He
served as the 12th Prime Minister of Thailand from 1973 to 1975.
Sanya Dharmasakti was one of the most influential figures in the politics of
Thailand. He served as the president of the Supreme Court (1968–1973) and
was dean of the faculty of law and chancellor of Thammasat University
during the democracy movement of October 1973. When the "three tyrants"
fled, leaving the country leaderless, Sanya was appointed prime minister by
royal command (establishing a precedent exercised only three times since
for appointment of prime ministers.) Sanya served a second consecutive term
by a House resolution for a combined total of 1 year, 124 days, during which
he ordered the withdrawal of US forces in what was called Operation Palace
Lightning. Sanya appointed a drafting committee for the 1974 constitution,
served as vice-president of the constitutional congress, and was requested
by the monarch to serve as the president of the privy council.

Dharmasakti was born on Friday, 5 April 1907 in Thonburi Province, in central
Thailand. His father was the high ranking Buddhist scholar, Mahamtree, and
abbot, Dhammasarnvetvisetpakdee Srisattayawatta Phiriyapaha or
Thongdee Dharmasakti. His mother was Shuen Dharmmasarnvet. Sanya
married Pa-nga Dharmasakti, also known as Phenchart, who died in 2001.
They had two sons, named Chartsak and Jakatham.

Dharmasakti went to Assumption College in 1914 and finished high school,
majoring in English in 1925. He went to the law school of the Ministry of Justice
for three years, graduating in 1928. He got the highest score and received
the Rapheeboonnithi scholarship. This scholarship allowed him to study law in
England at the Middle Temple for three years. He was called to the English
Bar in 1932.

Palace Lightning was the name given to the plan by which the USAF
withdrew its aircraft and personnel from Thailand. After the fall of the
US-supported governments in both Phnom Penh and Saigon in the spring of
1975, the political climate between Washington and the government of
Judge Sanya soured, and US military forces were ordered to withdraw by the

end of the year. Strategic Air Command units left in December 1975; U-Tapao
Royal Thai Navy Airfield, however, remained under US control until formally
handed back to the Thai government on 13 June 1976.

Reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanya_Dharmasakti