Pongpol Adireksarn

Pongpol Adireksarn (born March 23, 1942, _th. ปองพล อดิเรกสาร) is a Thai politician of the Thai Rak Thai party. Using the pen name Paul Adirex he is also an author of several novels.

Adireksarn received a BA from Lehigh University in 1964, and an MA from the American University in 1966. Upon returning to Thailand, he took a position at the Department of Economic Relations Ministry of Economic Affairs, followed by a position in the Thai Department of Central Intelligence.

Between 1973 and 1991, Adireksarn worked in the private sector with such positions as Managing Director of Royal Mosaic Exports Co., Ltd., President of Thailand Leatherwork Co., Ltd., and President of Express Transport Organization.

Pongpol's father, Praman, was one of the co-founders of the Thai Nation Party, as well as a brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan. Pongpol's brother Yongyol was also a politician. [ [http://www.asiantribune.com/oldsite/show_news.php?id=2306 Address the Burmese issue jointly and collectively for a speedy resolution – Yongyos Adireksarn.] ] Praman was also the son of a Chinese immigrant father and a Thai mother, and in 1989 he made a much-publicised trip to his ancestral homeland in Chaoyang. By all accounts Praman found out that he had a half-brother, (Chinese name: 马升典), who died in 1950. The descendants of his half-brother were aware of Praman's existence, who was identified as "马升平" in Chinese to these descendants. [cite book|title=泰国华侨华人研究|author= [泰国] 洪林, 黎道纲主编|publisher=香港社会科学出版社有限公司|month=April | year=2006|pages=18-19, 187|isbn=962-620-127-4]

Political appointments

*1983 - 1986 Member of Parliament, Saraburi
*1992 - 1992 Member of Parliament, Saraburi, and Minister of Foreign Affairs
*1995 - 1996 Member of Parliament, Saraburi and Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister
*1996 - 2000 Member of Parliament, Saraburi and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
*2002 - 2003 Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Education

Royal decorations

*Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
*Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
*Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
*Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

Writing career

After losing the 1992 election and being out of politics temporarily, he started writing novels. He chose to use a pen name as he considered his Thai name to be to difficult for a foreign readership. [ [http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/YourSpace/0,8782,173056,00.html Asiaweek interview] ]
*"Mekong", 1995, ISBN 9748668223
*"Until the Karma Ends", 1996, ISBN 9748638218
*"The Pirates of Tarutao", 1999, ISBN 9748904696
*"The King Kong Effect", 1999, ISBN 9748962030
*"Rattanakosin", 2004, ISBN 974926066X
*"Chameleon Man", 2006, ISBN 9789749414170

References

External links

*http://www.ariesbook.com Self-publishing label of Paul Adirex