Udomdej Sitabutr
{{Short description|Thai military officer and politician}}
{{BLP one source|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Udomdej Sitabutr
|honorific-suffix = MPCh MWM RM
|native_name = {{nobold|อุดมเดช สีตบุตร}}
|native_name_lang = th
|image = Udomdej Sitabutr.jpg
|caption = Udomdej at Asia Security Summit in 2017
| office = Deputy Minister of Defence
| primeminister = Prayut Chan-o-cha
| term_start = 30 August 2014
| term_end = 23 November 2017
| minister = Prawit Wongsuwan
| predecessor = Yuthasak Sasiprapha
| successor = Chaichan Changmongkol
| office1 = Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
| predecessor1 = Prayut Chan-o-cha
| successor1 = Thirachai Nakwanich
| term_start1 = 1 October 2014
| term_end1 = 30 September 2015
|commands = Commander in Chief (Army)
| serviceyears = 1978–2015
| party =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|08|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Bangkok, Thailand
| death_date =
| death_place =
| net_worth =
| profession =
| alma_mater = {{ubl|Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy|National Defence College}}
| spouse = Vidapa Sitabutr
| children = 2
| nickname = Dong
|allegiance = {{flag|Thailand}}
|branch = {{Army|Thailand}}
|battles = Communist insurgency in Thailand
Vietnamese border raids in Thailand
|mawards = {{plainlist|
- Rama Medal
- Freemen Safeguarding Medal (Second Class, First Category)
- Border Service Medal
- Chakra Mala Medal
- Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)}}
|signature =
}}Udomdej Sitabutr ({{langx|th|อุดมเดช สีตบุตร}}, born 15 August 1955) is a Thai military officer. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 2014 to 2015.{{cite news |last1=Nanuam |first1=Wassana |title=Gen Thirachai named as new army chief |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/673180/gen-thirachai-named-as-new-army-chief |access-date=6 October 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=25 August 2015}}
Education
Udomdej studied at Saint Gabriel's College, an all-boys school. He then decided to go into a military career and proceeded to study at Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (Class 14) and Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (Class 25). Once finished in cadet school, he studied at Command and General Staff College (Class 65) and National Defence College (Class 57).[http://lakmuangonline.com/?p=12716 พล.อ.อุดมเดช สีตบุตร หัวหน้าผู้แทนพิเศษของรัฐบาล เป็นประธานการประชุมผู้แทนพิเศษฯ ครั้งที่ ๔/๒๕๖๐ เพื่อติดตามและเร่งรัดการแก้ไขปัญหา จชต. Homeหลักเมืองสัมพันธ์พล.อ.อุดมเดช สีตบุตร หัวหน้าผู้แทนพิเศษของรัฐบาล เป็นประธานการประชุมผู้แทนพิเศษฯ ครั้งที่ ๔/๒๕๖๐ เพื่อติดตามและเร่งรัดการแก้ไขปัญหา จชต.]
Career
Udomdej started duty in the 21st Infantry Regiment, King's Guard, considered part of the Queen's Guards. After that, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 1st Army Area and the Commander of 1st Army Area respectively. In 2013, he was appointed as Deputy Army Commander.[http://www.surasee.com/index.php?lay=show&ac=article&Id=538960967&Ntype=15 พล.ต.อุดมเดช สีตบุตร]
Sitabutr succeeded Prayuth Chan-ocha, who in May 2014, had seized power in a coup d'état.[https://www.rtaf.mi.th/th/DailyNews/8%20%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%8E%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A1%202559.pdf พลเอก อุดมเดช สีตบุตร รัฐมนตรีช่วยว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหม]
He concurrently served as Secretary-General of the junta, the National Council for Peace and Order. During his tenure he was implicated in the Rajabhakti Park scandal, having overseen its construction as Chairman of the Rajabhakti Foundation.{{Cite web|url=http://news.thaipbs.or.th/content/5952|title="พล.อ.อุดมเดช" รับมีเรียกหัวคิวอุทยานราชภักดิ์|date=2015-11-10|website=Thai PBS|language=th-TH|access-date=2018-11-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.voicetv.co.th/read/532450|title=Voice TV 21|last=Ltd.Thailand|first=VOICE TV|website=VoiceTV|date=17 October 2017 |access-date=2018-11-02}}
Udomdej retired in 2015 and was succeeded by Theerachai Nakvanich, with whom he had had a long-running feud.{{cite news |last1=Nanuam |first1=Wassana |title=Long-running rift between Theerachai, Udomdej flares |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/719136/long-running-rift-between-theerachai-udomdej-flares |access-date=6 October 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=6 October 2015}}
During his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, he received another position that was appointed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to become Deputy Minister of Defence under Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.[https://www.sbpac.go.th/?p=4657 พลเอก อุดมเดช สีตบุตร รัฐมนตรีช่วยว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหม ลงพื้นที่ จ.ปัตตานี เพื่อติดตามความก้าวหน้าในการแก้ไขปัญหาด้านการดำเนินคดี การช่วยเหลือเยียวยา และมาตรการการป้องกันกรณีเหตุวางระเบิดที่ห้างบิ๊กซี ปัตตานี] He was fined from the cabinet on 23 November 2017.[https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/6438 ศึกหนักของ "พล.อ.อุดมเดช" เมื่ออุทยานราชภักดิ์ลามเป็นกระแสกดดันให้ลาออก][https://mgronline.com/politics/detail/9600000115404 “อุดมเดช” ไม่รู้จ่อถูกปรับพ้น ครม.พร้อมติดตามบางกลุ่มเคลื่อนไหวบิดเบือน]
Early life
He is the youngest of six children. One of his older siblings, Paisarn Sitabutr, is himself a retired Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force and a member of the National Legislative Assembly.
Honours
Udomdej received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:
- 2014 - File:Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
- 2011 - File:Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
- 1990 - File:Order of Rama 6th Class ribbon.svg Member of the Rama Mala Medal of the Honourable Order of Rama
- 1986 - File:Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 2nd Class 1st Cat (Thailand) ribbon.svg Freemen Safeguarding Medal (Second Class, First Category)
- 1991 - File:Border Service Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Border Service Medal
- 1998 - File:Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakra Mala Medal
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sitabutr, Udomdej}}