Sanya Dharmasakti

Dharmasakti was born on Friday, 5 April 1907 in Thonburi Province, in central Thailand. His father was the high ranking Buddhist scholar, Mahamtree, and abbot, Dhammasarnvetvisetpakdee Srisattayawatta Phiriyapaha or Thongdee Dharmasakti. His mother was Shuen Dharmmasarnvet. Sanya married Pa-nga Dharmasakti, also known as Phenchart, who died in 2001. They had two sons, named Chartsak and Jakatham. ==Education==

Dharmasakti went to Assumption College in 1914 and finished high school, majoring in English in 1925. He went to the law school of the Ministry of Justice for three years, graduating in 1928. He got the highest score and received the Rapheeboonnithi scholarship. This scholarship allowed him to study law in England at the Middle Temple for three years. He was called to the English Bar in 1932. ==Palace Lightning==

Palace Lightning was the name given the plan by which the USAF withdrew its aircraft and personnel from Thailand. After the fall of the US-supported governments in both Phnom Penh and Saigon in the spring of 1975, the political climate between Washington and the government of Judge Sanya soured, and US military forces were ordered to withdraw by the end of the year. Strategic Air Command units left in December 1975; U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, however, remained under US control until formally handed back to the Thai government on 13 June 1976. ==Death==

Sanya Dharmasakti died at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok on 6 January 2002. ==Royal decorations==

Sanya received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand: • 1996 – Knight of The Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems • 1968 – Knight Grand Cross of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao • 1961 – Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant • 1959 – Knight Grand Cordon of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand • 1974 – Freeman Safeguarding Medal, 1st Class • 1969 – Dushdi Mala Pin of Arts and Science (Civilian) • 1950 – Chakrabarti Mala Medal • 1971 – King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class Foreign Honours • : • Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun • : • Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany • : • Grand Cross of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol • : • Grand Collar of the Order of Sikatuna • : • Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru Academic rank • Professor of Thammasat University ==Notes==