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Thailand
Area: 513,115 sq km (196,512 sq mi)
Population: 62 million (end of 2004)
Capital City: Bangkok (9.4m)
People (main ethnicity): Thai, Chinese, and Malay
Languages: Thai
Religion(s): Buddhist (94%), Muslim (5%), Other (inc. Christian, and Hindu 1%)
Currency: Baht
Major political parties: Thai Rak Thai Party, Democrat Party, Chart Thai Party
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Head of State: King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Prime Minister/Premier: General Surayud Chulanond
Foreign Minister: Mr Nitya Pibulsongram
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G77), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), World Trade Organisation (WTO), BIMSTEC, Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) (observer), Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE) (observer).
(Note on Thai Names: Thai people generally have two names, the first being the given name and the second the family name. Nevertheless, if only one name is used, it should be the first, eg. Prime Minister Surayud.)
GEOGRAPHY
Area: 513,155 sq km, divided into four administrative regions and 76 administrative provinces (plus Bangkok).
Cities: Bangkok (pop. 9.4m), Nakorn Ratchasima (430,000), Chiang Mai (257,000)
Terrain: Central plain; plateau in Northeast; mountain range in North and West; Gulf of Thailand; islands and isthmus joining Malaysia in South
Climate: Tropical; three seasons – monsoon (June to October), cool (November to February), hot (March to May)
Neighbouring Countries: Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia
HISTORY
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 unbroken civilian rule, until 19 September 2006.
Longer Historical Perspective
The geographical area of Thailand has been inhabited for thousands of years, but the country's emergence as a nation is usually traced back to the Sukothai Kingdom (1238-1376), which saw the introduction of the Thai writing system and the first efforts to codify the Thai form of Theravada Buddhism. Sukothai was later eclipsed by Ayuthaya, which served as Siam's capital for over 400 years before its destruction in 1765 by Burmese invaders. After a brief period of rule from Thonburi (1769-82), the first Chakri monarch ascended the throne in 1782 and moved the capital across the Chao Phraya River to Bangkok. The Chakri kings consolidated Siam's territorial boundaries and introduced a wide range of social, legal and administrative reforms, including the establishment of a professional civil service. King Mongkut (1851-68) and King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910) played key roles in this process, opening Siam to outside influence while managing, through skilful diplomacy, to preserve its independence.
THE INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI
The tsunami struck six provinces of southern Thailand on 26 December 2004 at the height of the tourist season. Official Thai figures record over 5,000 deaths and 8,000 injuries. Casualties included foreigners from over a hundred different nations, with the largest numbers from Thailand, Sweden, Germany and the UK. 130 British citizens have been confirmed dead in Thailand, with a further 6 likely to have been victims. Hundreds of bodies are likely never to be recovered or identified.
The Thai Government and Thai people responded to the disaster with humanity, generosity and efficiency. The Government stated early on that it did not require international humanitarian assistance, although it has accepted technical assistance in some areas. The British contribution has been largely towards the Disaster Victim Identification effort, where we have played a leading role. Hundreds of police and Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff have been rotated through Thailand since the tsunami. The UK has also contributed geological and environmental assistance to Thailand. HRH The Duke of York visited Thailand 25-27 April 2005 to express his commiseration to the Thai people and his thanks for their assistance to British citizens during the disaster. The Foreign Secretary visited Phuket and Bangkok on 7 January 2005. A memorial service was held in Westminster Cathedral on 11 May 2005. Memorial services were held in the affected areas on 26 December 2005.
POLITICS
Recent Political Developments
A military coup took place on 19 September 2006, led by the Commander in Chief of the Army, General Sonthi Boonyaratgklin. The 1997 Constitution was suspended and martial law declared. The coup leaders formed a governing council called the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM), later changed to the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR). The CDR appointed a Privy Counsellor, retired General Surayud Chulanond, Prime Minister on 2 October 2006. He is tasked with heading an interim administration to draft a new constitution and hold elections with one year.
From May 1992 to September 2006Thailand enjoyed a continual period of rule by democratically elected governments and a process of significant political reform, including the adoption of a new Constitution in 1997. The progressively worded constitution aimed to improve the selection of political office holders, reduce the scope for corruption and promote human rights. Implementation of the new provisions did not always live up to expectations, but the overall impact on Thailand's political landscape was significant. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai ('Thais Love Thais') Party had held power from January 2001. Mr Thaksin, a former police officer who made his fortune in the mobile phone business before entering politics in his early 40s, dominated the domestic political landscape. However despite being re-elected with an increased parliamentary majority in February 2005, opposition to his government led to the dissolution of Parliament in February 2006. New elections were held on 2 April 2006, but were boycotted by the opposition parties. In early May the Constitutional Court ruled the elections unconstitutional and ordered a new round of elections to take place.
Elections
The 1997 Constitution established an Electoral Commission to enforce new rules aimed at discouraging vote-buying and other fraud. On 6 January 2001, the Electoral Commission organised the first ever general election under the new constitutional rules. The House of Representatives contained 500 seats (400 constituency MPs plus 100 MPs appointed from party lists based on each party's proportion of the national vote). Since then, general elections were held twice, in February 2005 and April 2006. Following a ruling by the Constitutional Court in May 2006, (see Politics section above), a new election was to take place later this year. The election has now been postponed until late 2007 as a result of the coup.
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US$ 176.3bn (2005)
GDP per head: US$ 2,719 (2005)
Annual growth: 4.5% (2005)/5.5% (H1 of 2006)
Inflation: 4.5% (2005) / 3.8%/ 5.9% (H1 of 2006)
Major industries: services including tourism, manufacturing including computers & parts, vehicles, and parts and electronics.
Major trading partners (ranked by value): US, Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and UK.
Exchange rate: £1=Bt73.13 (average of 2005)/BT69.66 (Q1-Q3 of 2006).
Thailand's economy has made a good recovery since the Asian financial crisis in 1997 with average annual growth of around 6% over 2002-2004. But the sharp rises of world oil prices, tsunami disaster and drought dampened Thai economic growth to 4.5% in 2005. Rising oil prices have caused inflation to increase to 6% in the first quarter of 2006. The Bank of Thailand therefore has reacted by raising the short-term interest rate in order to curb inflation. Potential growth in 2006 is constrained by sustained high oil prices, rising interest rates and political uncertainty.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Thailand's Relations with Neighbours
The previous administration's foreign policy had focused primarily on enhancing ties with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) neighbours, China and India. Thailand is a founder member of ASEAN, and takes a leading role in the region.
Thailand's biggest foreign policy challenge was Burma. The long, fluid border between the two countries sees large numbers of refugees, illegal immigrants and drugs pass from Burma into Thailand. There have been occasional cross border skirmishes between their respective armed forces and terrorist incidents, with several dozen deaths. The Thai/Burmese border was closed between May and October 2002 after one such incident. In December 2003 Thailand initiated the 'Bangkok Process' with Burma and other 'Like Minded Countries' to take forward the process of National Reconciliation in Burma.
Relations with Cambodia deteriorated sharply in January 2003 when anti-Thai riots erupted in Phnom Penh leading to the burning down of the Thai Embassy and the premises of a number of Thai businesses. Relations have improved since then.
Thailand's Relations with the International Community
Thailand was a close ally of the West during the cold war and is a long-term member of the United Nations. It is increasingly active in the international arena and looks to maintain a balance between key partners: US, Australia, China, Japan, EU and ASEAN. Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, a former Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) 2002-2005, became UNCTAD Secretary General on 1 September 2005, a first for Thailand. Thai armed forces have undertaken peacekeeping duties in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Afghanistan, Aceh, Indonesia and more recently, Iraq and Burundi. Thailand was granted partner status in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in November 2000 and held a seat on the UN Commission on Human Rights from 2001-2003. The US granted Thailand the status of Major Non-NATO Ally in January 2004.
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