Chalit Pookpasuk

Infobox Military Person


name= Chalit Pookpasuk
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allegiance=flagicon|Thailand Thailand
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rank= Air Chief Marshal
branch= Royal Thai Air Force
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Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pookpasuk is a Thai air force officer, Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, and has been also the acting chairman of the Council for National Security, the junta that overthrew the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 coup d'état.

Biography

Chalit graduated from the Royal Thai Air Force Academy and held many key positions in the Air Force. Prior to becoming Commander of the Air Force, he was the Air Force's Chief of Staff. Chalit was reportedly reluctant to support the 2006 Thai coup d'état – Royal Thai Army troops had surrounded Air Force Headquarters on the night of the coup to ensure that Chalit and the Air Force did not provide any resistance. [ [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/figures/ Figures Behind the Coup] , The Nation (Thailand)]

Chalit was appointed a deputy chairman in the Council for National Security under coup leader, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin. Chalit was named as acting chairman of the Council for National Security on October 1, 2007, succeeding Sonthi, who retired from military duty to enter politics. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7022113.stm Thai coup general quits position] , BBC] [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31967 Thai coup leader quits military council] , TNA/MCOT.]

In addition to his duties as air force chief and acting CNS head, Chalit also serves as chairman of the board of Thai Airways International. [ [http://www.thaiair.com/About_Thai/Public_Information/Company_Profile/Board_of_Directors.htm About THAI] , Thai Airways International]

References