Thailand
Barbara Walton/European Pressphoto Agency
Thailand, known until 1932 as the Kingdom of Siam, is one of the world’s most enduring monarchies and is the only Southeast Asian nation never to have experienced European colonization. From its political reform in 1932, however, Thailand’s 76 provinces have struggled through decades of instability, with the military attempting 19 coups d’état in 80 years, 12 of them successful.
In May 2014, Thailand’s army once again took control of a deeply divided country, following the removal of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine cabinet ministers by the nation’s Constitutional Court. General Prayuth Chan-ocha was named prime minister by the National Legislative Assembly, sealing the military’s acquisition of near-absolute power by August 2014.
Despite internal turmoil, Thailand participates fully in regional and international affairs, has contributed troops to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is a bilateral trading partner with the United States, one of its largest investors along with Japan and China. Thailand’s government is a founding member of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a political and economic coalition aimed at accelerating economic growth and social progress among its 10 member countries.
Scroll below to learn more about Thailand using our article archive and chronology of breaking news.
CHRONOLOGY OF COVERAGE
FEB. 22, 2015
Search for remote, 'Old Thailand' atmosphere is luring entrepreneurs and travelers to islands of Koh Mak and Koh Kut. MOREFEB. 11, 2015
Bangkok Journal; most Thais, including business executives, students and even political elites, believe in supernatural; Kapol Thongplub, host of popular nightly radio show The Shock, considers himself a ghost expert. MOREFEB. 10, 2015
Thailand's military junta, which overthrew democratically elected government in May 2014, is marginalizing their political opposition through paperwork and lawsuits rather than violence; have forced hundreds of people to sign documents allowing junta to seize their assets if they become politically active; junta's tactic stands on shaky legal ground, with deep reliance on military courts that offer civilians no possibility of appeal. MOREJAN. 27, 2015
Daniel R Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, urges Thai military junta to end martial law; statement by Russel, who is America's most senior diplomat to visit Thailand since military seized power, is seen as most pointed criticism yet of junta's overthrow of elected government. MOREJAN. 24, 2015
News Analysis; Thailand's military junta's legislative assembly votes overwhelmingly to impeach former Prime Min Yingluck Shinawatra, barring her from public office for five years; junta indicates Shinawatra will be indicted on charge of criminal negligence; actions threaten to prolong conflict in country and dispel junta's claim to being honest broker. MORE
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