View source for Sunthorn Kongsompong

{{short description|20th-century Thai general}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = GEN Sunthorn Kongsompong (1990).jpg
| image_size          = 150
| caption             = 
| honorific_prefix    = [[General]]
| name                = Sunthorn Kongsompong
| honorific_suffix    = [[Order of the White Elephant|MPCh]] [[Order of the Crown of Thailand|MWM]] [[Order of Chula Chom Klao|ThChW]]
| native_name         = {{nobold|สุนทร คงสมพงษ์}}
| native_name_lang    = th
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1931|08|1|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Bangkok]], Krung Thep, Siam
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=yes|1999|08|2|1931|08|1}}
| death_place         = Bangkok, Thailand
| children            = [[Apirat Kongsompong]]
| nickname            = 
| serviceyears        = 
| rank                = {{ubl|[[File:RTA OF-9 (General).svg|15px]] [[General officer|General]]|
[[File:RTN OF-9 (Admiral).svg|15px]] [[General  officer|Admiral]]| 
[[File:RTAF OF-9 (Air Chief Marshal).svg|15px]] [[General officer|Air Chief Marshal]]}}
| allegiance          = {{flag|Thailand}}
| branch              = {{Army|Thailand}}
| commands            = {{ubl|[[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Army|Commander-in-Chief]]|[[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters|Supreme Commander]]}}
| unit                = 
| battles             = 
| awards              = 
| laterwork           = 
| signature           = 
| office              = [[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister ''de facto'' of Thailand]]{{Efn|as Head of the [[National Peacekeeping Council]]}}
| monarch             = [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
| predecessor         = [[Chatichai Choonhavan]]<br>{{small|(as Prime Minister)}}
| successor           = [[Anand Panyarachun]]<br>{{small|(as Prime Minister)}}
| office2             = Chairman of the [[National Peacekeeping Council]]
| termstart           = 23 February 1991
| termend             = 1 March 1991
| termstart2          = 24 February 1991
| termend2            = 7 April 1992
| predecessor2        = ''Office established''
| successor2          = ''Office abolished''
| office3             = [[Chief of Defence Forces (Thailand)|Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces]]
| termstart3          = 1 April 1990
| termend3            = 30 September 1991
| predecessor3        = [[Chavalit Yongchaiyudh]]
| successor3          = [[Suchinda Kraprayoon]]
| office4             = [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Army|Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army]]
| termstart4          = 31 March 1990
| termend4            = 7 April 1992
| predecessor4        = Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
| successor4          = [[Isarapong Noonpakdee]]
}}

'''Sunthorn Kongsompong''' ({{langx|th|สุนทร คงสมพงษ์}}, {{RTGS|''Sunthon Khongsomphong''}}, {{IPA|th|sǔn.tʰɔːn kʰoŋ.sǒm.pʰoŋ|IPA}}; 1 August 1931 – 2 August 1999) was the ''de facto'' head of government of [[Thailand]] from 1991 to 1992, after a [[1991 Thai coup d'état|military coup d'etat]] led by Sunthorn and General [[Suchinda Kraprayoon]] deposed the government of Prime Minister [[Chatichai Choonhavan]] on 23 February 1991. The generals accused Chatichai of [[political corruption|corruption]], and established the [[National Peacekeeping Council]] (NPKC) as an interim administration, with Sunthorn as chairman. [[Anand Panyarachun]] was appointed prime minister in March 1991, but the administration of the country was also executed by the NPKC.

Sunthorn left the political office following the May 1992 constitution promulgation, which prohibited members of the military from executing the premier's office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wiki.kpi.ac.th/index.php?title=%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3_%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%A9%E0%B9%8C|title=สุนทร คงสมพงษ์ - ฐานข้อมูลการเมืองการปกครองสถาบันพระปกเกล้า|website=wiki.kpi.ac.th|accessdate=12 February 2020|language=th|archive-date=22 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422053509/http://wiki.kpi.ac.th/index.php?title=%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3_%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%A9%E0%B9%8C|url-status=dead}}</ref>

His son was [[Apirat Kongsompong]], who from 2018 to 2020 was [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Army|Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army]].

==Honours==

=== Royal Decorations ===
* 1987 - [[File:Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted [[Order of the White Elephant]] 
* 1988 - [[File:Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble [[Order of the Crown of Thailand]] 
* 1992 - [[File:Order of Chula Chom Klao - 2nd Class upper (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Knight Grand Commander of the Most Illustrious [[Order of Chula Chom Klao]] 
* 1990 - [[File:Order of Rama 4th Class ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Companion of the [[Order of Rama]] 
* 1955 - [[File:Victory Medal - Korean War (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Victory Medal - [[Korean War]] 
* 1973 - [[File:Victory Medal - Vietnam War with flames (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Victory Medal - [[Vietnam War]] with flames 
* 1988 - [[File:Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Freemen Safeguarding Medal, First Class
* 1989 - [[File:Border Service Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Border Service Medal
* 1964 - [[File:Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] Chakra Mala Medal 
* 1989 - [[File:The Boy Scout Citation Medal - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] Boy Scout Citation Medal of Vajira, First Class 
* 1991 - [[File:King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80px|border]] [[Bhumibol Adulyadej|King Rama IX]] Royal Cypher Medal, First Class 
* 1950 - [[File:King Rama IX Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] King Rama IX Coronation Medal

===Foreign Honours===
* {{Flag|South Vietnam}} :
** [[File:Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg|border|80x80px]] [[Gallantry Cross (South Vietnam)|Gallantry Cross]] With Palm (1970)
** [[File:Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|80x80px]] [[Armed Forces Honor Medal]], First class (1970)
** [[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|80x80px]] [[Civil Actions Medal|Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation]] (1970)
** [[File:Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon, with 60- clasp.svg|80px|border]] [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] (1970)
* {{Flag|USA}} :
** [[File:Bronze Star Medal ribbon with "V" device, 3rd award.svg|80px|border]] [[Bronze Star Medal]] With [["V" device]] (1970)
** [[File:Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|80px|border]] [[Commendation Medal|Army Commendation Medal]] With [["V" device]] and [[Oak leaf cluster|Oak]] (1970)
* {{Flag|Malaysia}} :
** [[File:Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia - PSM.svg|80x80px]] Commander of the [[Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia]] '''(P.S.M.)''' (1987)
** [[File:The Gallant Order of Military Service - Courageous Commander (Malaysia).svg|80x80px]] Courageous Commander of The Most Gallant Order of Military Service '''(P.G.A.T.)''' (1991)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vYJUAAAAIBAJ&dq=panglima+gagah+angkatan+tentera&pg=PA3&article_id=6845,1865574|title=Large haul from ops to clear border of mines|work=[[New Straits Times]]|date=6 July 1991|pages=3|language=en}}</ref>
* {{Flag|South Korea}} :
** [[File:Tong-il Security Medal Ribbon.svg|80px|border]] [[Order of National Security Merit]], Tongil Medal (1990)
** [[File:Republic of Korea War Service Medal ribbon.svg|80x80px]] [[Korean War Service Medal|Korea War Service Medal]]
* {{Flag|Singapore}} :
** [[File:Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.png|80x80px]] [[Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)|Distinguished Service Order (Military)]] (1991)
* {{Flag|Japan}} :
** [[File:JPN Zuiho-sho (WW2) 1Class BAR.svg|80x80px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Sacred Treasure]] (1992)
*{{Flag|UN}} :
**[[File:United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg |80px|border]] [[United Nations Korea Medal]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041012071735/http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/blackmay/blackmay01.shtml 2Bangkok.com article about the coup d'etat]
*[http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/nations/0,8782,106045,00.html Asiaweek article about estate scandal]
*http://www.becnews.com/backissue/f_famous/suntorn-k.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080427225038/http://www.becnews.com/backissue/f_famous/suntorn-k.html |date=2008-04-27 }} (in Thai)
*[https://archive.today/20070814033307/http://www.politicalfriendster.com/showPerson.php?id=3803&name=General-Sunthorn-Kongsompong]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Chavalit Yongchaiyudh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces]]|years=1 April 1990 - 30 September 1991}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Suchinda Kraprayoon]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Chatichai Choonhavan]]|as=[[List of Prime Ministers of Thailand|Prime Minister of Thailand]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the [[National Peace Keeping Council]]|years=24 February 1991 - 7 April 1993|with=[[Anand Panyarachun]] as nominal Prime Minister from 2 March 1991}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Suchinda Kraprayoon]]|as=[[List of Prime Ministers of Thailand|Prime Minister of Thailand]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{History of Thailand since 1973|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kongsompong, Sunthorn}}
[[Category:Chiefs of Defence Forces (Thailand)|Sunthorn Kongsompong]]
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Acting prime ministers of Thailand|Sunthorn Kongsompong]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Thailand|Sunthorn Kongsompong]]
[[Category:Honorary commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School|Sunthorn Kongsompong]]
[[Category:Helicopter pilots]]
[[Category:People from Bangkok|Sunthorn Kongsompong]]
[[Category:Thai leaders who took power by coup|Sunthorn Kongsompong]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)]]