Direk Jayanama

Direk Jayanama (Thai: ดิเรก ชัยนาม)(January 18, 1905 -?)^[1] was the founding member of the Thai Revolution that had instilled Democracy for all Thais, together with Field Marshal P Pibulsonggram and Pridi Panomyong.

Direk serves many important post in the Thai government during its infancy and particularly during the period of WWII when he was taken "as a prisoner" by the Japanese government from the Post of Foreign Minister to become the Ambassador to Japan to ensure that there was no opposition to Japanese occupancy in Thailand during such period.

Other posts held during his years in service for Thailand were Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister (on many occasions), Justice Minister, Finance Minister. During this time, he also served as the Thai Ambassador to the Court of St. James (England), Germany, Finland etc.

However, one of the most profound and long lasting effects that he had left to Thailand was actually Democracy; not only was he the founding member but he also founded the Thamasart University Faculty of Political Science, which has produced many great political minds in Thailand.

Direk was the older brother of Pairote Jayanama, former Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs (who had 4 sons that eventually became Ambassadors), and AM Jayanama, an Air Force General at the time.

Direk Jayanama was married to Khunying ML Pui (member of the aristocratic Nopawongse royal bloodline) with 4 sons. One of them Wattana Jayanama became an important figure during the establishment phase of the Bank of Thailand.

References

1. ^ Sivaraksa, Sulak (2005). Conflict, culture, change: engaged buddhism in a globalizing world. Wisdom Publications. p. 125. ISBN 0861714989. http://books.google.com/books?id=jixUxZkkhbMC&pg=PA125&dq=Direk+Jayanama&hl=en&ei=sW7iTOb9F8SqlAfI6JXNAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Direk%20Jayanama&f=false.