A powerpoint presentation I made for our subject, Southeast Asian Politics and Government~
This presentation revolves around the Kingdom of Thailand. A little bit too long for reporting but I hope it would contain everything you need for your assignment, project, etc.
Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...
Thailand
3. Thailand has an area of 198,114 square
miles The country is commonly divided into
four main regions and borders Burma,
Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. The
northern region is hilly, with much of its
population concentrated in upland valleys
and the flood plains of rivers; the dominant
geographic feature is the Khorat Plateau.
The southern region is a narrow isthmus
with hills running down the center.
5. ORIGIN OF THAIS
It presumed that about 4,500 years, Thais
originated in northwestern Szechuan in
China and later migrated down to Thailand
along the southern part of China. They split
into two main groups, the Lanna and
Sukothai.
6. KHMER INFLUENCE
From the 9th to the 11th century, the central
and western area of Thailand was occupied
by Mon civilization called Dvaravati. The Mon
share the same common lineage as the
Khmers and settle in southern Burma latter.
7. LANNA PERIOD
Northern Thailand was once occupied by
the ancient Lanna Empire, which spread
over Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun and
Phayao. Tucked comfortably in a valley,
Chiang Mai - Lamphun and Chiang Rai -
Phayao represented the two main plateaus
of the empire.
8. SUKHOTHAI PERIOD
Sukhothai, meaning the ''Dawn of
Happiness'' was the first truly independent
Thai Kingdom founded in 1238, by two Thai
chieftains, Khun Bang Klang Tao and Khun
Pa Muang , this ending Khmer rule from
Angkor Wat. In the early 1300s, Sukhothai
enjoyed rule over the Chao Phya River
basin, westward to the bay of Bengal and
the entire Peninsula.
9. AYUTTHAYA PERIOD
For 417 years the kingdom of Ayutthaya was the
dominant power in the fertile Menam or Chao
Phraya Basin. Its capital was Ayutthaya, an
island-city situated at the confluence of three
rivers, the Chao Phraya, the Pasak, and the
Lopburi, which grew into one of Asia's most
renowned metropolises, inviting comparison
with great European cities such as Paris.
10. THONBURI PERIOD
Thonburi was founded by a Thai general named
Phraya Taksin, who was later crowned King
Taksin Maharaj. After the fall of Ayutthaya to the
Burmese in 1767, Thonburi, situated on the
west bank of the Chao Phraya opposite what is
now the City of Bangkok, became the new Thai
capital.
11. RATTANAKOSIN PERIOD
The Chakris were inaugurated on April 6,
1782 together with the coronation of Rama I
or King Buddha Yot Fa Chulalok. He moved
the capital across the Chao Phaya River from
Thonburi to a small village known as
"Bangkok" and raised up new laws to rule the
country. Under his reign, Thailand covered all
areas of present day Laos and parts of Burma,
Cambodia and Kedah province in Malaysia.
13. • Religion in Thailand is varied. There is no
official state religion in the Thai
constitution, which guarantees religious
freedom for all Thai citizens, though the
king is required by law to be Theravada
Buddhist. The main religions practiced in
Thailand is Buddhism. According to the
latest official religious demographics
figures, 94.6% of Thais are Buddhists of
the Theravada tradition.
14. • The other religions in Thailand are Islam, Hinduism,
Judaism, Sikhism and Christianity
• Freedom of Religion in Thailand - The law provides
for freedom of religion, and the government
generally respects this right in practice; however, it
does not register new religious groups that have not
been accepted into one of the existing religious
governing bodies on doctrinal or other grounds. In
practice, unregistered religious organizations operate
freely, and the government's practice of not
recognizing any new religious groups does not
restrict the activities of unregistered religious groups.
16. • Thai culture has been shaped by many influences,
including Indian, Lao, Burmese, Cambodian, and
Chinese.
• The traditional Thai greeting, the wai, is generally
offered first by the younger of the two people
meeting, with their hands pressed together,
fingertips pointing upwards as the head is bowed to
touch face to fingertips, usually coinciding with the
spoken word "sawasdee khrap" for male speakers,
and "sawasdee ka" for females. The elder may then
respond in the same way.
• Respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai
spiritual practice. Thais have a strong sense of
hospitality and generosity, but also a strong sense of
social hierarchy
17. • Family is central to Thai life.
• Another concept that is very important in Thai
culture is sanuk. Sanuk is a wide-reaching idea that
embodies the playfulness and sense of humor that is
so central to life in Thailand.
19. • Education in Thailand is provided mainly by
the Thai government through the Ministry of
Education from pre-school to senior high
school. A free basic education of twelve years
is guaranteed by the constitution, and a
minimum of nine years' school attendance is
mandatory.
• Formal education consists of at least twelve
years of basic education, and higher
education.
20. • Non-formal education is supported by the
state. Independent schools contribute
significantly to the general education
infrastructure. Administration and control of
public and private universities are carried out
by the Office of Higher Education Commission,
a department of the Ministry of Education.
22. • The Thailand government is based on
a constitutional monarchy quite
similar to that of the United
Kingdom, in which a Prime Minister
serves as head of a parliamentary
government and a hereditary Thai
king functions as head of state.
24. • The present king of Thailand since 1946
is King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
• According to Thailand’s constitution,
although the state ‘s sovereignty is
vested in the people, the King will
exercise such powers through the
branches of the Thai government.
• As the Head of State however he is given
some powers and has a role to play in the
machinations of government.
25. • According to the Constitution, the King is the
Head of the Armed forces, required to be
Buddhist as well as the defender of all faiths in
the country.
• The King also retained some traditional
powers such as the power to appoint his heirs,
power to grant pardons and the royal assent.
The King is aided in his duties by the Privy
Council of Thailand.
27. PRIME MINISTER
• is the Head of Government of Thailand
• The Prime Minister is, in accordance with the
constitution, selected; first by an election in
the lower house then officially appointed by
the King.
• As head of the executive branch, is also the
leader of the Cabinet of Thailand. The Prime
Minister therefore retains the prerogative to
appoint or remove any Minister he or she so
chooses.
28. CABINET
• is a council composed of 35: Ministers of State
and Deputy Ministers, who run the cabinet
ministries of the Kingdom. There are currently 20
cabinet ministries, which comprises the main
portion of state employees.
• is also responsible for the formulation and
execution of policies of the government.
Members of the Cabinet do not necessarily need
to be a member of the lower house, as in other
countries but most often are.
30. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
• Is a bi-cameral legislature and comprises two
houses: the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
• The legislative branch took its current form in
2007. The National Assembly has 630
members. Both houses of the National
Assembly meet at the Parliament House of
Thailand.
31. SENATE
• The current Senate has 150 members. 76 members
are elected, one per province from the 75 provinces
of Thailand (Bueng Kan does not have an elected
senator yet) and 1 from the Bangkok Metropolitan
Area.
• The chamber is strictly a non-partisan chamber, and
members may not be a member of a partisan
organization, House of Representatives, judiciary and
the Cabinet for five years.
32. • The Senate has little power legislative -wise,
but retain considerable powers of scrutiny and
appointment. As the Senate is vested with the
power to ‘advise’ on the appointment of
several members of the Judiciary and
independent government agencies. The
Senate sits for a set six years non renewable
term, the Senate cannot be dissolved. The
Senate is presided by a President of the
Senate, who is also the Vice President of the
National Assembly. He is assisted by two Vice
Presidents of the Senate.
33. THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
• is the primary legislative house of the government of
Thailand.
• The House comprises 500 members. 375 of the MPs
are elected directly from single-seat constituencies
around the country. The other 125 members are
selected using ‘proportional representation’ through
party-lists. There are 8 electoral areas from which
the proportionally representative votes are taken
and 375 constituencies.
35. COURTS OF JUSTICE
• Is the largest of the court system and makes
up the majority of courts in the Kingdom. The
Courts as mandated in the Constitution is
made up of three tiers: the Court of First
Instance, the Court of Appeals and the
Supreme Court of Justice of Thailand.
36. ADMINISTRATIVE COURTS
• is made up of two tiers: The Administrative
Courts of First Instance and the Supreme
Administrative Court. The court system was
first created in 1997, the court’s main
jurisdiction is to settle litigation between the
State or an organ of state (government
ministries, departments and independent
agencies) and private citizens
37. CONSTITUTIONAL
COURT
• The Constitutional Court of Thailand was
created solely as a high court to settle matters
pertaining to the constitution. The court has
since accumulated huge amounts of power
and influence; gaining many controversies on
the way. This has become especially clear
during the 2006 and 2008 political crises,
settling political deadlocks and social unrest.
39. • September 19, 2006
Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is
deposed by the army while absent at the UN General
Assembly in New York.
• May 2007
Mr. Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) Party is
banned.
• August 2007
A new military-approved constitution is supported by
voters in a national referendum.
40. • December 2007
General election is won by the People's Power Party,
widely viewed as a proxy for Mr Thaksin's outlawed
Thai Rak Thai party.
• February 2008
Thaksin political ally, Samak Sundaravej sworn in as
prime minister.
41. • May 2008
Anti-government Yellow Shirt protesters occupy the
prime ministerial compound accusing Samak
Sundaravej of being Mr Thaksin's puppet.
• August 2008
Mr Thaksin flees to the UK after failing to appear in
court to face corruption charges.
• September 2008
The Constitutional Court dismisses prime minister
Sundaravej, declaring that his appearance on TV
cooking shows constitutes a conflict of interest.
42. • October 2008
Supreme Court convicts Mr Thaksin in absentia of
corruption; he is sentenced to two years prison.
• November 2008
Anti-government Yellow Shirt protesters occupy
Bangkok's two major airports, paralyzing air travel for
several days.
43. • December 2008
Yellow Shirt protesters end the airport
occupation after Mr Somchai resigns as prime
minister, following a Constitutional Court ruling
that his party was guilty of electoral fraud.
44. • April 2009
Pro-Thaksin Red Shirt protesters rally in Bangkok and
clash with the military.
• December 2009
More than 20,000 Red Shirts rally in Bangkok in support
of Mr Thaksin.
• February 2010
The Supreme Court seizes $US1.4 billion of Mr
Thaksin's assets after ruling he had abused power while
prime minister.
45. • March 2010
Tens of thousands of Red Shirts paralyse central
Bangkok demanding Mr Abhisit's resignation as prime
minister. Demonstrations continue for weeks.
46. • May 2010
The military finally storm the protesters encampment,
ending the street campaign. More than 90 people are
killed and 1,800 injured.
• July 2011
The pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai Party wins a landslide
election. Mr Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra is
appointed Thailand's first female prime minister
47. • June 2012
Ms Yingluck's government attempts to pass a bill of
national reconciliation intended to end the political
tensions.
• December 2012
Former prime minister Abhisit is charged with
responsibility for the death of a protester during the
crackdown on the May 2010 anti-government protests.
48. • April 2013
The Constitutional Court blocks bid by Ms Yingluck's
government to amend the 2007 constitution.
• November 1, 2013
Anti-government protesters rally in Bangkok against a
proposed amnesty bill for political offences committed
since 2006.
• November 24, 2013
Anti-government protests in Bangkok draw large
crowds. Democrat Party opposition leader Suthep
Thaugsuban resigns to lead protests.
49. • November 24, 2013
Government and ministerial offices surrounded by tens
of thousands of protesters.
50. • November 30, 2013
Pro-Yingluck Red Shirts rally in Bangkok, and clash with
anti-government demonstrators, leaving four dead and
dozens injured.
• December 1 - 2, 2013
Street clashes continue. Anti-Yingluck protesters in
Bangkok fail in their attempt to seize the prime
minister’s office and police headquarters.
51. • December 3, 2013
Police withdraw from their HQ, enabling anti-
government protesters to make a politically symbolic
occupation of the complex and the prime minister's
offices
• December 8, 2013
Thailand's prime minister Mr Yingluck refuses to step
down, announcing early elections for February 2014.
52. • December 21, 2013
Opposition Democrat Party announces it will boycott
the elections if not proceeded by political reforms.
• December 24, 2013
Violent street protests leave a police officer dead and
dozens injured
• January 4, 2014
Thailand's Electoral Commission announces February
elections will proceed as planned
53. • January 14, 2014
Anti-government protesters occupy key locations in
Bangkok in a bid to shut down the capital and force Ms
Yingluck's resignation.
• January 18, 2014
• Tensions increase in Bangkok after a suspected
grenade attack on opposition protesters leaves one
dead and more than 30 injured.
54. • January 29-31, 2014
Anti-government protesters gather for three days of
marches in Bangkok in a final bid to disrupt the general
election.
55. • February 2, 2014
The general election is held amid anti-government
protests
• March 2, 2014
Voting in re-run elections is peacefully held in five
provinces where voting was disrupted by anti-
government protests during February's general election
• March 21, 2014
Thailand's Constitutional Court rules February's general
election is invalid.
56. • March 31, 2014
Caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra appears
before an anti-corruption panel to defend herself
against charges that could lead to her removal from
office.
• April 30, 2014
A new general election is scheduled to be held on July
20 after talks between caretaker prime minister
Yingluck Shinawatra and the Election Commission.
57. • May 6, 2014
Caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra appears
before the Constitutional Court to answer charges over
an alleged abuse of power.
May 7, 2014
The Constitutional Court delivers a guilty verdict,
dismissing prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine
of her ministers for abuse of power.
58. • May 8, 2014
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is found
guilty of the negligence charge over a state rice-buying
scheme.
• May 15, 2014
The Election Commission calls for national polls
planned for July 20 to be postponed because of the
escalating political unrest.
59. • May 20, 2014
Thailand's army declares martial law in an
announcement on military TV.
• May 22, 2014
Thailand's military chief General Prayuth
Chan-ocha takes power in a coup d'état.
61. • A political crisis is currently going period in
Thailand. Anti-government protests took place
between November 2013 and May 2014,
organised by the People's Democratic Reform
Committee (PDRC), a political pressure group
set up and led by former Democrat Party MP
Suthep Thaugsuban. The protests eventually
resulted in the removal of the incumbent
prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a coup
d'état and the establishment of a military
junta.
63. THAILAND is the world’s
• 17th largest manufacturer output
• 28rd largest exporter
• 24th largest economy by purchasing power
• the 2nd largest economy in ASEAN
64. • Thailand is the world’s leading exporter of rice
and a major exporter of shrimp. Other
agricultural products include coconuts, corn,
rubber, soybeans, sugarcane, and tapioca.
• Thailand is the world’s second largest exporter
of gypsum after Canada, even though
government policy limits gypsum exports to
prevent price cutting
65. • Gross Domestic Product: In 2006 Thailand’s GDP was
US$196.6 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 4.4
percent over 2005.
• Government Budget: In 2005 Thailand’s central
government budget was estimated at US$35.2
billion.
• Inflation: Consumer prices increased by 4.5 percent
in 2005, up from 1.8 percent the previous year, partly
as a result of global demand for crude oil
66. • Thailand’s economic freedom score is 63.3,
making its economy the 72nd freest in the
2014 Index. Its score is 0.8 point worse than
last year due to continuing declines in labor
freedom, the control of government spending,
and freedom from corruption.
68. • Thailand seeks to position itself as the
gateway to mainland Southeast Asia and as
such its foreign policy is focused on the
immediate region
• Australia and Thailand signed a Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) in 2004 and New Zealand
and Thailand signed a Closer Economic
Partnership in April 2005. In April 2007,
Thailand signed an FTA with Japan and
continues to pursue a number of other
bilateral FTAs.
69. • Thailand's major security preoccupation has
traditionally been with its borders and the
internal situations in neighboring countries,
Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Malaysia.
• Thailand has supported an open international
trading environment through membership of
the WTO, and joined, as founding member, of
both the Cairns Group and APEC.