Thailand

Thailand Timeline

By PJ Tziachris

  • Student protest

    Student protest
    Student protests in Bangkok about the fall of the military government. Free elections are held but the resulting governments lack stability.

  • Prem

    Prem
    Prem Tinsulanonda gives up his military position and heads a civilian government. He is re-elected in 1986.

  • Asian financial crisis

    Asian financial crisis
    The baht (Thailand's currency) falls sharply against the dollar, leading to bankruptcies and unemployment. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) steps in. Chuan Leekpai becomes prime minister.

  • Aids and HIV

    Aids and HIV
    Economy begins to pick up again. Thailand media highlighted high cost of drug treatments for Aids and HIV. Thailand begins to put pressure on drugs companies to find ways to make the drugs cheaper.

  • Criminal Gangs

    Criminal Gangs
    Controversial crackdown on drugs starts; more than 2,000 suspects are killed. The government blames many of the killings on criminal gangs; rights groups say extra-judicial killings were encouraged by the authorities.

  • Martial Law

    Martial Law
    Martial law is imposed in largely-Muslim south after more than 100 killed in a wave of attacks blamed on Islamic militants.More than 100 Islamic militants die in coordinated attacks on police bases in the south.

  • Tsunami

    Tsunami
    Thousands of people; both Thais and foreign tourists are killed when a massive tsunami, triggered by an undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, devastates communities on the south-west coast, including the resort of Phuket.

  • Violent Unrest

    Violent Unrest
    As violent unrest continues in the south, Prime Minister Thaksin is given new powers to counter suspected Muslim militants in the region. In November the death toll in violence since January 2004 tops 1,000.

  • Prime Minister

    Prime Minister
    Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra accuses several army officers of plotting to kill him after police find a car containing bomb-making materials near his house.Military leaders stage a bloodless coup while Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is at the UN General Assembly. Retired General Surayud Chulanont is appointed as interim prime minister in October.

  • Prediction for Thailand

    Prediction for Thailand
    In 2013,Thailand recorded a current account deficit of $2.79 billion. By 2016, Thailand's current account balance will hit $10.19 billion, surpassing its 2011 value for the first time in 5 years.