Thailand

Thailand

http://o.aolcdn.com/art/travel_maps/asia-thailand.jpg

Thailand, the world's 49th largest country, is located in southeast Asia. It is bordered by Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. It's official language is Thai. The largest city in Thailand, Bangkok (known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon in Thai), and the Bangkok Metropolitan Area is home to approximately 17 million people. Thailand is a lower middle income nation that is economically developing right now, and relies heavily on exports, which comes out to about 60% of their gross domestic product (GDP). Thailand has approximately 63,038,247 people, or 317 people per square mile.

HISTORY:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Thailand#Democracy
 * the region has been inhabited by humans since the paleolithic period
 * Thailand began with migration of the Thais from their home in southern China
 * prior to the 12th century, the first Thai (Siamese) state was the buddhist state of Sukhothai
 * Ayutthaya overpowered Sukhothai in the mid-14th century but lost control to the Burmese in 1767
 * the current era of Thai history (Rattanakosin) began in 1782 following the establishment of Bankok as the capital
 * Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation to never be colonised
 * 1932---bloodless revolution led to a new constitutional monarchy
 * during WWII---Thailand became an ally of Japan while maintaining Seri Thai (an anti-japanese resistance movement)
 * after WWII, Thailand underwent much political transgression characterised by military rule but eventually became a democracy in the 1980's
 * a coup d'etat is the sudden overthrow of a government by a small group of persons in or previously in postions of authority
 * There were many problems in making the transition to democracy and rule often fluctuated between military and democracy
 * populist Thai Rak Thai party, led by prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, came to power in 2001
 * Thaksin Shinawatra was exiled until February 28, 2008
 * he became a resident of London during his exile and owned the English footbal club Manchester City
 * Thaksin was very wealthy and won the 2001 election by a landslide. The election was regarded as the most corruption-free election in Thai history
 * he was the first elected prime minister to complete a full term and he was re-elected in 2005
 * during his terms, he alleviated rural poverty (it fell by half in 5 years) and provided affordable health care
 * September 19, 2006-- the Council for National Security overthrew his government in a bloodless coup while he was at a UN meeting in New York
 * the CNS banned Thaksin from engaging in politics for 5 years because his government was often challenged with allegations of corruption, dictatorship, tax evasion, etc.
 * he has been the victim of attemtped assassination many times

This video shows the military (and it's supporters) side of the battle between democracy and military rule. http://youtube.com/watch?v=ky_XVIEgUKU

Thai citizens wanted Thaksin out... http://youtube.com/watch?v=taB9lx-Rm1Y