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. MORE
FEB. 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. MORE
FEB. 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. MORE
JAN. 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. MORE
JAN. 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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Airlines in Thailand Face Bans Over Safety Concerns

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

New flights could be blocked and carriers could be subject to more inspections after the International Civil Aviation Organization found problems.

March 28, 2015, Saturday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: AVIATION ACCIDENTS, SAFETY AND DISASTERS ,THAILAND , INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION , THAI AIRWAYS ,AIRLINES AND AIRPLANES

Thai Democracy

The country hits a roadblock.

March 2, 2015, Monday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: THAILAND , DEMOCRACY (THEORY AND PHILOSOPHY)

More Chinese Wander Abroad for New Year Holiday

By DAN LEVIN

More than five million Chinese were estimated to have traveled abroad over the Lunar New Year holiday that ended on Wednesday, a 10 percent increase over the year before and the first time Chinese tourists bound for foreign lands outnumbered those...

February 26, 2015, Thursday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: BEIJING (CHINA) , CHINA , JAPAN , NEW ZEALAND ,THAILAND , BATHROOMS AND TOILETS , LUNAR NEW YEAR , TRAVEL AND VACATIONS

The Visitor

As told to THOMAS FULLER

In the dead of night, a professor confronts forces he can’t explain.

February 22, 2015, Sunday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: PAKINAI CHOMSINSUBMUN , GHOSTS , FUNERALS AND MEMORIALS , BUDDHISM , THAILAND

House Hunting In ...Thailand

By ALISON GREGOR

A military coup in Thailand last spring and the imposition of martial law, which continues, slowed property sales, but they have rebounded since the beginning of this year.

February 19, 2015, Thursday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: REAL ESTATE AND HOUSING (RESIDENTIAL) , PHUKET (THAILAND)

Australian Scott Hend Grabs a Slim Lead

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hend surged into the lead of the Thailand Classic in Hua Hin by shooting a six-under-par 66 in the third round despite a bogey on the last hole.

February 15, 2015, Sunday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: GOLF , PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS ASSN EUROPEAN TOUR , THAILAND

In Thailand, the Ghost Business Thrives

By THOMAS FULLER

Kapol Thongplub, who hosts a nightly call-in show in Thailand dedicated to the supernatural, has become the leading ghost expert in a country that takes them quite seriously.

February 11, 2015, Wednesday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: THAILAND , BANGKOK (THAILAND) , KAPOL THONGPLUB ,GHOSTS , SUPERSTITIONS , RADIO

Thailand’s Junta Tries to Bury the Opposition in Endless Lawsuits

By THOMAS FULLER

Hundreds of people have been summoned and forced to sign documents that allow the junta to seize their assets if they become involved with “any political movement.”

February 10, 2015, Tuesday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: THAILAND , COUPS D'ETAT AND ATTEMPTED COUPS D'ETAT , YINGLUCK SHINAWATRA , THAKSIN SHINAWATRA , DEMOCRAT PARTY (THAILAND) , CORRUPTION (INSTITUTIONAL) , BRIBERY AND KICKBACKS

U.S. Envoy Urges Thailand to Lift Martial Law

By THOMAS FULLER

Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said in an interview that he had told the junta it was losing credibility.

January 27, 2015, Tuesday

MORE ON THAILAND AND: THAILAND , COUPS D'ETAT AND ATTEMPTED COUPS D'ETAT , YINGLUCK SHINAWATRA , UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ,RUSSEL, DANIEL R

In Targeting Ex-Premier, Thai Junta Takes a Risk

By THOMAS FULLER

The decision to prosecute Yingluck Shinawatra, who enjoys the support of the provinces, risks prolonging what has already been a lost decade of economy-sapping protests and coups.