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Asia and Oceania
Thailand |
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Country information
Recent History
The Kingdom of Thailand has been ruled since 1782 by the Chakri dynasty based in Bangkok. Formerly called Siam, the country was officially renamed Thailand in 1939 (although the old name was briefly reinstated from 1945-49). 'Thai' refers to the ethnicity of most of the population, as well as having connotations of freedom. Thailand is the only South-East Asian country to have avoided colonisation. In 1932 a bloodless coup stripped the King of his absolute powers, transforming the country into a constitutional monarchy and handing power to a mixed military-civilian government. The military faction soon gained the upper hand and retained it for most of the next 60 years, intervening frequently to end brief periods of civilian rule. While stifling democracy, the military sided with business and bureaucrats in promoting economic development, partly to limit the spread of communism. The resulting expansion of the middle class contributed to growing pressure for civilian rule and a series of confrontations between the military and pro-democracy activists. A confrontation, in May 1992, led to the resignation of the military leadership and civilian rule until 19 September 2006, when there was a coup and a return to military rule.
Elections in December 2007 brought a return to democracy, but political turmoil and polarisation continued and a state of emergency was declared in Bangkok in September 2008. This was lifted a few weeks later, and a new government headed by Prime Minister Somchai, took office. In November 2008 anti-government protestors occupied and forced the closure of Bangkok’s two main airports. In December 2008 the Thai Constitutional Court found the main three ruling parties of the coalition government guilty of election fraud. A new government was formed and headed by Democrat Leader Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
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