Sangad Chaloryu


Admiral Sangad Chaloryu was a Thai admiral and politician who served as head of the National Administrative Reform Council, a military junta that ruled Thailand from 1976-1980.
Sangad was considered to be a right-wing hawk and close to the CIA. In the 1930s as a young Naval Midshipman he had trained in Nazi Germany in radar operations. As Commander of Naval flotilla in 1954, he helped French Marines and elite forces to escape from Vietnam after Hanoi was overrun by the Vietminh. As defense minister, Sa-ngad led the coup of October 6, 1976. This coup ousted the elected civilian government of Seni Pramoj. Sa-ngad became chairman of NARC, which appointed royal favorite Thanin Kraivichien as prime minister. The Tanin government instituted sweeping purges of leftists and communists. Sa-ngad was a figurehead and Army Secretary Kriangsak Chomanan was NARC's the most influential figure. NARC staged a second coup in October 1977, this time without the king's consent, and replaced Thanin with Kriangsak.

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