A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been colonized by a European power.
A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam.
Thailand since 2005 has experienced several rounds of political turmoil including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. A blanket amnesty bill for individuals involved in street protests, altered at the last minute to include all political crimes - including all convictions against THAKSIN - triggered months of large-scale anti-government protests in Bangkok beginning in November 2013.
In early May 2014 YINGLAK was removed from office by the Constitutional Court and in late May 2014 the Royal Thai Army staged a coup against the caretaker government. The head of the Royal Thai Army, Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, was appointed prime minister in August 2014. The interim military government created several interim institutions to promote reform and draft a new constitution.
In September 2015, the draft constitution was rejected by 135 members of the National Reform Council (NRC) and approved by just 105. The military rule is now effectively prolonged to 2017 because the whole process needs to start from scratch.
Thailand has also experienced violence associated with the ethno-nationalist insurgency in its southern Malay-Muslim majority provinces. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded in the insurgency.
Recent
Weekly
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A plaque of Pai Jatupat's face has been added on the May 18 Memorial Foundation wall of honor. A student activist and human rights def...
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Human Rights Watch has just released its annual report, which includes a country chapter on Thailand . Nothing unexpected at all in the di...
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Another prove that Thailand's royal insult laws are among the world's harshest. Reuters say: U.S. ambassador to Thailand Glyn D...
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We were so proud to be apart of the 12th Asia Europe People's Forum ( AEPF 12) in Ghent, Belgium during 29 September - 1 October 2018. ...
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Thailand Human Right Campaign UK is deeply concerned about the detention of human right lawyer Annon Nampa, former labor right Somyot Prueks...
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Thailand Human Rights Campaign joined the 12th Asia Europe People's Forum (AEPF12) during 29 September - 1 October 2018 in Ghent, Be...
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Labour rights activist Somyot Prueksakasemsuk will turn 5ุุ6 on Wedensday, 20 September 2017. It's been 6 years since a human righ...
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Dear Dominic, As a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political (ICCPR), Thailand is obligated to uphold the principles...
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AP News on Friday Oct 2, 2015: BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is including Thailand's actions to stamp out slave labor in the fis...
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