Thailand II

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Thailand II

• Government/History 352
• Campbell University

2
Student Revolt of 1973

• Oct 6 - Twelve students arrested for leafleting.
  Thousands protest. Oct 14 Hundreds killed as army
  suppresses demonstrations.
• King intervenes. Thanom Kittikachorn exiled.
  Replaced with Sanya Thammasak, reactor of
  Thammasat University. Civilian rule restored.

Sanya Thammasak
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Civilian Rule

• Government in turmoil. Seni Pramoj Kukrit
  Pramoj serve as P.M.s (1975-76).
• Competing pressures.
• Leftist National Student Center of Thailand and
  Farmers Federation of Thailand.
• Rightist Nawapon Red Gaurs.
• Assassination of Socialist Party
  Secretary-General, Dr. Boonsanong Bunyothayan.
• Vandalism of P.Ms (Kukrits) home Thammasat
  University.
• 1975 election violence.
• 1976 All U.S. forces equipment withdrawn.
• 1976 Thais establish diplomatic relations with
  Vietnam.

4
Constitutional Military Rule

• 1980-88 Prem Thinsulanond as P.M..
• Coped with a huge refugee problem from Cambodia,
  Laos and Burma. Stopped Vietnamese incursions.
• Internal Communist became disillusioned.
  Economic development and amnesty ended
  insurgency.
• Relied on a freely elected legislature.
• 1988-91 Chatichai Choonhaven as P.M.
• A retired general, hero of 1972 Black September
  hijacking at Don Muang and a wealthy businessman.
• First P.M. to be an elected member of parliament
  since 1976. Had held a variety of ministerial
  posts.
• Increased wages and salaries, banned some Teak
  logging. Proposed Suwannaphum (Golden Land).

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1991 Coup

• The Coup
• National Peace Keeping Council (NPKC) headed by
  Gen. Sunthorn Kongsompong and Gen. Suchinda
  Kaprayoon
• Siezed Chatichai at Don Muang enroute to an
  audience with the King in Chiang Mai. Charged
  with possessing unusual wealth. Corruption and
  perceived lack of respect for military were the
  real problems.
• Declared marshal law, took over radio and TV
  stations, but did not ban political parties.
• Appointed Anand Punyarachun to head interim
  government. A well respected diplomat.

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Revolt of 1992

• The Revolt centered on resistance to the
  restoration of military rule.
• NPKC appoints Suchinda as P.M. Angels demand
  that M.P. be an elected representative.
• 500,000 people protest led by Chamlong Srimuang,
  who conducted a hunger strike. Suppression was
  brutal.
• King intervenes. Suchinda resigned.

Chamlong Srimuang
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Transition To Democracy

• Anand Panyarachun served as interim P.M. again
  for 4 months.
• Chuan Leekpai was elected P.M. in 1992 and served
  until 1995, making him the longest serving
  civilian Thai P.M. He sought to democratize the
  military dominated political system.

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Economic Crises of 1997

• Chavalit Yongchaiyudh replaced Chuan Leekpai as
  P.M. and serves until 1997 Asian currency crises.
  Reduced trade with Japan in particular leads the
  Thais to float the Baht. It looses 60 of value.
  The real estate market crashes which starts a
  chain reaction.
• Chuan Leekpai becomes P.M. for second time. He
  institutes reforms and requires transparency and
  accountability. The crises continued.

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Current Prime Minister

• Thaksin Shinawat has served as P.M. since 1998.
• He was born into a wealthy merchant family in
  Chiang Mai.
• Attended Thai Police Academy and graduate school
  in the U.S.
• Founded a highly successful telecommunications
  business and the Thai Rak Thai party

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Questions

• What led to the Student Revolt of 1973?
• Which P.M., when ambassador to the U.S. at the
  beginning of WWII, refused to formally declare
  war?
• Which P.M. appeared with Marlon Brando in the
  Ugly American?
• What measures did P.M. Prem Thinsulanond take to
  eliminate Communist insurgency?
• Which P.M. substituted himself for ten Israeli
  hostages in the 1972 Black September hijacking?

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More Questions

• The 1991 coup was conducted by ____ ____ ____
  Council.
• What led to the 1992 Revolt?
• Who is the current P.M. of Thailand?

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Thai Institutions

• Constitution
• 15 changes have transitioned the country from
  autocratic to democratic. Most recent drafted and
  signed in 1997 under leadership Anand
  Punyarachun.
• Military
• Completely dominated government until 1992. Why?
• 1980 Order 66/2523 gave military responsibility
  for defeating Communism
• Dual Function
• Greening Of Isarn (Northeast) New Hope (South)

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Thai Institutions

• Bureaucracy
• Provided stability in spite of frequent political
  change.
• Technocrats lost credibility after 1997 economic
  collapse.
• Parliament 1997 Constitution
• Both senate house elected.
• P.M. must be a member of house.
• Cabinet members must resign elected positions.

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Thai Institutions

• Political Parties Becoming respectable.
• Angelic vs. Satanic Parties.
• Military political parties.
• Public campaign against buying votes.
• Pork constituency service.
• Parties formed around personalities.
• Political parties buying candidates.
• Monarchy Highly venerated influential.
• Crown Prince Vachiralongkorn is heir apparent.
• Crown Princess Sirindhorn.

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Thai Institutions

• Peasantry Economically, politically active.
• 65 of population involved in farming.
• 50 rice, remainder diversified crops.
• Chinese Thai Community Assimilating.
• 10 of population encouraged to intermarry.
• Dominate economy.
• Have become core of professional middle
  classes.
• Anti-military rule.

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Role of Women

• Women
• Important role in professions of medicine, law,
  accounting academia. gt U.S.
• Remain quite limited in politics public sector.

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Economic Social Issues

• Economic growth rate 10-11 7 sustained.
• Export driven economy.
• Political stability
• Free market extensive foreign investment.
• Reinvestment in economy by Thailands Chinese.
• Population growth rate slowed from 3 to 1.4.
• Number of technically trained graduates too low.
• Depletion of natural resources forests.
• Infrastructure overtaxed.
• Tourism, prostitution (800,000) AIDS

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Foreign Affairs

• New nationalism reflected in tone foreign
  relations.
• Friendly relations with U.S. a counterbalance.
• Intellectual property rights (IPR)
• 1992 ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).
• Gods Army, Karen refugees.

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What Do You Know?

• What was the name to Thailand prior to 1938.
• When did Thailand become a constitutional
  monarchy?
• What is dual function?
• What is the name of the Kings wife?
• Where is ASEAN headquartered?
• What is Thailands greatest export?
• What famous structure were WWII POWs forced to
  build by the Japanese in Thailand?

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The End