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

  1. JUN. 19, 2015
    Thailand confirms its first known case of Middle East respiratory syndrome, known as MERS; 75-year-old man under quarantine and is in stable condition.  MORE
  2. MAY. 20, 2015
    Thailand's former Prime Min Yingluck Shinawatra pleads not guilty to charges of criminal negligence over scheme to prop up rice prices. MORE
  3. MAY. 16, 2015
    International Organization for Migration says boat carrying hundreds of migrants fleeing Myanmar has returned to sea after Thai authorities say people on boat told them they wanted to try to reach Malaysia; boat is part of flotilla that is carrying some of the estimated 6,000 to 20,000 people fleeing persecution in Myanmar and poverty in Bangladesh.  MORE
  4. MAY. 13, 2015
    Editorial observes that some 8,000 refugees have been abandoned at sea by smugglers as Thailand cracks down on human trafficking; notes while regional governments are finally taking steps to curb trafficking, they are showing little mercy for victims; argues root problem is Myanmar's mistreatment of its Muslim Rohingya population, of which some 140,000 have been driven from their homes by violence.  MORE
  5. MAY. 9, 2015
    Thai Prime Min Prayuth Chan-ocha requests three-way meeting with Myanmar and Malaysia about human trafficking in region in wake of discovery of mass grave in southern Thailand containing 33 bodies. MORE

ARTICLES

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Thailand: First MERS Case Confirmed

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thailand on Thursday confirmed its first known case of the deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome: a 75-year-old man who recently traveled from Oman.
June 19, 2015, Friday
MORE ON THAILAND AND:  THAILAND , MERS (MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME) , OMAN

The Contrecoup in Thailand

By DAVID STRECKFUSS
With every attempt to justify its tenure, the junta undercuts its legitimacy.
June 17, 2015, Wednesday

Women’s World Cup 2015: Norway Reaches Knockout Stage

Norway defeated Ivory Coast, while Germany routed Thailand and China tied New Zealand.
June 16, 2015, Tuesday

Sunday at the Women’s World Cup

By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Germany beat Ivory Coast in a 10-0 rout, the second-most lopsided win in the history of the Women’s World Cup, and Norway dominated Thailand, 4-0.
June 8, 2015, Monday
MORE ON THAILAND AND:  SOCCER , GERMANY , IVORY COAST , NORWAY ,THAILAND , WOMEN'S WORLD CUP (SOCCER)

Welcome to the Age of Digital Imperialism

By BILL WASIK
Silicon Valley is spreading a peculiarly American vision of the future. How will the rest of the world respond?
June 7, 2015, Sunday

Rohingya Refugees: Stateless in Southeast Asia

By JAMES ESTRIN
A Bangladeshi photographer has dedicated himself to covering the plight of Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar only to find themselves stateless.
June 4, 2015, Thursday

June 1, 2015 — Pictures of the Day

By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Photos from the United States, Thailand, Burundi and Indonesia.
June 1, 2015, Monday
MORE ON THAILAND AND:  BURUNDI , INDONESIA , THAILAND , UNITED STATES ,PHOTOGRAPHY

Jungle Camp in Malaysia Yields Graves and Signs of Migrant Abuse

By CHRIS BUCKLEY and THOMAS FULLER
Investigators on Tuesday revealed some of their grim discoveries at an encampment in the north, which they suspect was used by human traffickers.
May 27, 2015, Wednesday

Migrant Crisis in Southeast Asia Shows Signs of Ebbing

By MICHAEL FORSYTHE
While no one is willing to say there are no more migrant boats at sea, an absence of landings and a paucity of sightings suggest that the worst may be over.
May 27, 2015, Wednesday

Malaysian Police Suspect That Mass Graves Are Those of Migrants

By AUSTIN RAMZY
More than 139 graves, some containing multiple bodies, have been found in 28 camps near the Thai border in the state of Perlis, a police official said.
May 26, 2015, Tuesday
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THAILAND AT A GLANCE 

Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand 
Capital: Bangkok (Current local time)
Government Type:Constitutional monarchy
Head of State: King Bhumibol Adulyadej 
Population: 67.2 million
Currency: Thai Baht
Website: thaigov.go.th

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MULTIMEDIA

Decomposed Remains Found in Malaysiavideo
Decomposed Remains Found in Malaysia
Forensic experts collected bags of human remains on Monday that were found at the site of mass graves in northern Malaysia.
Joint Statement on the Asian Migrant Crisisinteractive
Joint Statement on the Asian Migrant Crisis
A statement issued by the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand on the thousands of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh who have been stranded at sea.
Former Thai Premier Speaks Before Trialvideo
Former Thai Premier Speaks Before Trial
Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand spoke on Tuesday outside the courthouse in Bangkok before the start of her trial on charges of criminal negligence.
ScienceTake | If I Had a Hammervideo
ScienceTake | If I Had a Hammer
Researchers are studying how monkeys use stones as a way of understanding the evolution of the use of tools.
In Thailand, Tracking the Dog Tradevideo
In Thailand, Tracking the Dog Trade
Thai police are ramping up efforts to slow the trafficking of dogs who are being captured and killed for their meat and skin.
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