| The earliest civilisation in Thailand is believed
to have been that of the Mons in central Thailand, who brought
a Buddhist culture from the Indian subcontinent. In the 12th
century, this met a Khmer culture moving from the east, the
Sumatran-based Srivijaya culture moving north, and citizens
of the Thai state of Nan Chao, in what is now southern China,
migrating south. Thai princes created the first Siamese capital
in Sukhothai, later centres in Chiang Mai and, notably, Ayuthaya. |
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The Burmese invaded Siam in both the
16th and 18th centuries, capturing Chiang Mai and destroying
Ayuthaya. The Thais expelled the Burmese and moved their
capital to Thonburi. In 1782, the current Chakri dynasty
was founded by King Rama I and the capital was moved across
the river to Bangkok. |
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In the 19th century, Siam
remained independent by deftly playing off one European
power against another. In 1932, a peaceful coup converted
the country into a constitutional monarchy, and in 1939
Siam became Thailand. During WW II, the Thai government
allowed Japanese troops to occupy Thailand. After the war,
Thailand was dominated by the military and experienced
more than twenty coups and countercoups interspersed with
short-lived experiments with democracy. Democratic elections
in 1979 were followed by a long period of stability and
prosperity as power shifted from the military to the business
elite. |
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In February 1991 a military
coup ousted the Chatichai government, but bloody demonstrations
in May 1992 led to the reinstatement of a civilian government
with Chuan Leekpai at the helm. This coalition government
collapsed in May 1995 over a land-reform scandal but replacement
Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa was no better. Dubbed
a 'walking ATM' by the Thai press, he was forced to relinquish
the prime ministership just over a year later after a spate
of corruption scandals. Ex-general and former deputy PM
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh headed a dubious coalition until
late 1997, when veteran pragmatist Chuan Leekpai retook
the reins. |
In 2000, Thaksin Shinawatra and his 'Thai Loves Thai' party
had a landslide victory in national elections. Thailand's new
leader is popular, but is embroiled in a scandal involving allegedly
false declarations of assets that could cost him the premiership.
The controversy is grist for Thai cynics who will tell you that,
despite all the leader-swapping, things never change. Widespread
vote-buying and entrenched corruption make a joke of democracy,
and until this is rectified Thailand's claims to democratic status
and political stability will remain as shaky as ever.
In 1997 the Thai baht pretty
much collapsed, dragging the economy (and many other South-East
Asian economies) down in a screaming heap. In August the
International Monetary Fund stepped in with a bailout package
of austerity measures, which - although it slowed Thailand's
growth dramatically and hit the poor hardest - seemed to
have turned things around by early 1998. By the turn of
the new century, Thailand's economy had stopped going into
free fall, but rebuilding had only just begun. Genuine
attempts to weed out corruption seem underway, but the
poverty-stricken members of Thailand are still wary of
promises and agitating for more reforms.
Over recent months, the relatively new Thai Rak Thai Party (Thais
Love Thais), led by Thaksin Shinawatra, emerged as a force in Thai
politics and saw many sitting MPs defect to its ranks. In parliamentary
elections (January 2001), Thai Rak Thai trounced Prime Minister Chuan
Leekpai's democrats and will form a new coalition government in Thailands
first election under a new constitution designed to reduce electoral
fraud. Nonetheless, allegations of corruption caused the Electoral
Commission to run revotes in sixty-two constituencies. |
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Thailand is the geographical heart of South-East Asia.
The infamous golden triangle, located at the nation's northernmost
point, is where Thailand's borders meet those of both Laos and
Myanmar (Burma). The border with Myanmar continues to the west
and then south as far as the Malay peninsula, much of which is
occupied by Thailand. On the east, the border with Laos meanders
southeast along the Mekong River until it reaches Cambodia, which
is due east of Bangkok, the Thai Capital. In the south is the Gulf
of Thailand. Roughly the size of France (200,000 sq. miles), Thailand
is composed of four main regions. The northern mountainous region
contains numerous ruins and temples, the ancient city of Chieng
Mai, and Thailand's highest peak, Doi Inthanon. This region is
also home to the hill tribes of Thailand, distinct ethnic groups
which settled in the area thousands of years ago after migrating
from as far away as Tibet and central China. The north-east of
Thailand occupies the semi-arid Korat plateau, the most desolate
and least-visited part of the country. An interesting blend of
Thai, Lao, and Khmer influences characterise the culture of the
Korat. Central Thailand, which consists of the fertile plains surrounding
the Chao Phraya River, is the country's most populous region and
its rice basket. Thailand's alluring and congested capital city
of Bangkok is located along the banks of the Chao Phraya, near
the river's outlet into the Bight of Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand.
The southern region of Thailand, which stretches for hundreds of
miles along the Malay peninsula, abounds with stunning beaches
and scores of tropical islands.
Thailand can be an extremely hot and soggy place. Its
tropical climate is divided into three seasons: cool
in November to February, hot in March to May, and rainy
in June to October. The seasons are more extreme in the
northern regions, where the dry heat can grow quite intense
in late spring and the cool can become cold in the mountains.
The rainy season is no detriment to travel in Thailand,
as the rains can be cool and refreshing.
Today Thailand has a population of 64 million people, the vast majority
of whom are of Thai ethnicity. Significant minorities of Chinese, Malay,
Khmer, Mons, and various hill tribes also reside in Thailand, in addition
to tens of thousands of refugees in border camps from the more troubled
countries of South-East Asia.
is the dominant religion in Thailand, although a variety of tribal religions
continue to be practiced. Thailand's people regard their royal family
with a respect bordering on awe. The main language in Thailand is Thai,
although Lao, Chinese, Malay and English are also spoken by significant
numbers of people.
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