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{{Wikify|date=April 2010}} |
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{{Infobox Country |
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| native_name = ราชอาณาจักรไทย <br /> ''Ratcha Anachak Thai'' |
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| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Thailand |
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| common_name = Thailand |
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| image_flag = Flag of Thailand.svg |
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| image_coat = Thai Garuda emblem.svg |
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| symbol_type = Emblem |
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| national_anthem = ''[[Phleng Chat Thai]]'' |
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| royal_anthem = ''[[Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami]]'' |
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| image_map = Location Thailand ASEAN.svg |
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| map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=green|region=[[Southeast Asia]]|region_color=dark grey|legend=Location Thailand ASEAN.svg}} |
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| capital = |latd=13 |latm=45 |latNS=N |longd=100 |longm=29 |longEW=E |
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| capital = [[Bangkok]]<sup>1</sup> |
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| largest_city = capital |
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| official_languages = [[Thai language|Thai]]<ref>CIA - The World Factbook -- Thailand. 2009-10-03. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html</ref> <!--Thai is the official language, while English is a non-official secondary language.--> |
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|languages_type = [[Official script]]s |
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|languages = [[Thai alphabet]] |
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| ethnic_groups = <!--List/breakdown of ethnic groups--> |
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| ethnic_groups_year = <!--Year of ethnic groups breakdown (if provided) --> |
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| demonym = Thai |
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| government_type = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary democracy]] and [[Constitutional monarchy]] |
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| leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of Thailand|Monarch]] |
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| leader_name1 = [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] (Rama IX) |
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| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]] |
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| leader_name2 = [[Abhisit Vejjajiva]] |
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| leader_title3 = |
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| leader_name3 = |
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| leader_title4 = |
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| leader_name4 = |
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|legislature = [[National Assembly of Thailand|National Assembly]] |
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|upper_house = [[Senate of Thailand|Senate]] |
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|lower_house = [[House of Representatives of Thailand|House of Representatives]] |
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| sovereignty_type = [[History of Thailand|Formation]] |
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| established_event1 = [[Sukhothai Kingdom]] |
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| established_date1 = 1238 - 1448 |
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| established_event2 = [[Ayutthaya Kingdom]] |
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| established_date2 = 1351 - 1767 |
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| established_event3 = [[Thonburi Kingdom]] |
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| established_date3 = 1768 - 1782 |
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| established_event4 = [[Rattanakosin Kingdom]] |
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| established_date4 = 6 April 1782 |
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| established_event5 = [[History of Thailand (1932–1973)|Constitutional Monarchy]] |
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| established_date5 = 24 June 1932 |
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| established_event6 = [[2007 Constitution of Thailand|Later Constitution]] |
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| established_date6 = 24 August 2007 |
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| area_rank = 50th |
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| area_magnitude = 1 E11 |
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| area_km2 = 513,120 |
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| area_sq_mi = 198,115 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |
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| percent_water = 0.4 (2,230 km<sup>2</sup>) |
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| population_estimate = 63,525,062 |
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| population_estimate_rank = 21st |
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| population_estimate_year = 2010 |
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| population_census = 60,606,947<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.nso.go.th/eng/en/pop2000/prelim_e.htm |title=Population and Housing Census 2000, National Statistical Office |publisher=Web.nso.go.th |date=2000-04-01 |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> |
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| population_census_year = 2000 |
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| population_density_km2 = 132.1 |
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| population_density_sq_mi = 342 <!--Do remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |
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| population_density_rank = 88th |
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| GDP_PPP = $539.871 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=578&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=40&pr.y=0 |title=Thailand|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref> <!--Do not edit!--> |
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| GDP_PPP_rank = |
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| GDP_PPP_year = 2009 |
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| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $8,060<ref name=imf2/> <!--Do not edit!--> |
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| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = |
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| GDP_nominal = $263.889 billion<ref name=imf2/> <!--Do not edit!--> |
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| GDP_nominal_rank = |
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| GDP_nominal_year = 2009 |
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| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $3,939<ref name=imf2/> <!--Do not edit!--> |
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| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = |
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| Gini = 42 |
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| Gini_rank = |
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| Gini_year = 2002 |
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| HDI = {{increase}}0.783<ref name="UN">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2009. Human development index trends: Table G|format=PDF|publisher=The United Nations|accessdate=2009-10-05}}</ref> |
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| HDI_rank = 87th |
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| HDI_year = 2007 |
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|HDI_category = <span style="color:#fc0;">medium</span> |
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| currency = [[Thai baht|Baht]] (฿) |
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| currency_code = THB |
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| time_zone = |
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| utc_offset = +7 |
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| time_zone_DST = |
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| DST_note = |
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| utc_offset_DST = <!-- +N, where N is number of hours --> |
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| cctld = [[.th]] |
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| drives_on = left |
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| calling_code = [[+66]] |
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| footnotes = <!--for any generic non-numbered footnotes--> |
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| footnote1 = {{note|1}}Thai name: ''Krung Thep Maha Nakhon'' or ''Krung Thep''. The full name is ''Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit''. |
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| footnote2 = {{note|2}}According to the Department of Provincial Administration's [http://www.dopa.go.th/stat/y_stat50.html official register], not taking into account unregistered citizens and immigrants. |
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}} |
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'''Thailand''' ({{pron-en|ˈtaɪlænd}} {{respell|TYE|land}} or {{IPA|/ˈtaɪlənd/}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thailand |title=Merriam-Webster Online |publisher=Merriam-webster.com |date=2007-04-25 |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref>; {{lang-th|ราชอาณาจักรไทย}} ''Ratcha Anachak Thai,'' {{IPA-all|râːtɕʰa ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k tʰɑj|IPA|Th-pratheidthai raachaanaajakthai.ogg}})<!-- See and listen here: http://www.thai-language.com/id/210678 --> (formerly '''Siam''') is an independent country that lies in the heart of [[Southeast Asia]]. It is bordered to the north by [[Burma]] and [[Laos]], to the east by Laos and [[Cambodia]], to the south by the [[Gulf of Thailand]] and [[Malaysia]], and to the west by the [[Andaman Sea]] and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include [[Vietnam]] in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and [[Indonesia]] and [[India]] in the Andaman Sea to the southwest. |
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The country is a kingdom, a [[constitutional monarchy]] with King [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]], the [[List of Kings of Thailand|ninth king]] of the [[Chakri Dynasty|House of Chakri]], who has reigned since 1946, making him the world's [[List of longest reigning current monarchs|longest-serving]] current [[head of state]] and the [[List of longest reigning monarchs of all time|longest-reigning]] [[Monarchy of Thailand|monarch]] in [[History of Thailand|Thai history]].<ref name="longestthai">{{cite web |year=1996 |url=http://www.worldhop.com/Journals/J5/ROYAL.HTM |title=A Royal Occasion speeches |publisher=Worldhop.com Journal |accessdate=2006-07-05}}</ref> The king is officially titled Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths. |
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The largest city in Thailand is [[Bangkok]], the capital, which is also the country's center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. |
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Thailand is the world's [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|50th largest country]] in terms of total area (slightly smaller than [[Yemen]] and slightly larger than [[Spain]]), with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km<sup>2</sup> (198,000 sq mi), and the [[List of countries by population|21st most-populous country]], with approximately 64 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically [[Thai people|Thai]], 14% is of [[Thai Chinese|Chinese]] origin, and 3% is ethnically [[Thai Malays|Malay]];<ref name="Central Intelligence Agency">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html CIA World Factbook Thailand], CIA World Factbook.</ref> the rest belong to minority groups including [[Mon people|Mons]], [[Khmers]] and various [[Hill tribe (Thailand)|hill tribes]]. There are approximately 2.2 million legal and illegal migrants in Thailand.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=84844 THAILAND: Burmese migrant children missing out on education]. IRIN Asia. June 15, 2009.</ref> Thailand has also attracted a number of [[expatriate]]s from developed countries.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6176647.stm Hard lessons in expat paradise]. BBC News. December 14, 2006.</ref> The country's official language is [[Thai language|Thai]]. It is primarily Buddhist, which is practiced by around 95% of all Thais. |
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Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1995 and is a [[newly industrialized country]] with [[Tourism in Thailand|tourism]], due to well-known [[tourist destination]]s such as [[Pattaya]], Bangkok, [[Phuket Island|Phuket]] and [[Chiang Mai]], and exports contributing significantly to the economy.<ref name="middleIncomeCountry">[http://www.worldbank.or.th/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/THAILANDEXTN/0,,menuPK:333304~pagePK:141132~piPK:141121~theSitePK:333296,00.html Thailand and the World Bank], World Bank on Thailand country overview.</ref><ref name="GuardianThailandOverview">The Guardian, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/country-profile/thailand Country profile: Thailand], 25 April 2009.</ref> |
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==Etymology== |
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The country's official name was '''Siam''' ({{lang-th|[[wikt:สยาม|สยาม]]}} {{RTGS|Sayam}}, {{IPA-all|sàˈjǎːm|pron}}) until June 23, 1939,<ref name="ThaiCSM">[http://www.csmngt.com/thailand_history.htm Thailand (Siam) History], CSMngt-Thai.</ref> when it was changed to Thailand. It was then renamed Siam from 1945 to May 11, 1949, after which it was again renamed Thailand. Also spelled ''Siem'', ''Syâm'' or ''Syâma'', it has been identified with the [[Sanskrit]] ''Śyâma'' ([[wikt:श्याम|श्याम]], meaning "dark" or "brown"). The names [[Shan]] and A-hom seem to be variants of the same word, and Śyâma is possibly not its origin but a learned and artificial distortion.<ref>{{cite book | last = Eliot | first = Charles | title = The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3 (of 3) [EBook #16847] | publisher = Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd. | year = 1921 | location = London | pages = Ch. xxxvii 1; citing in turn Footnote 189: The name is found on [[Champa]]n inscriptions of 1050 A.D. and according to Gerini appears in [[Ptolemy]]'s [[Geographia|Samarade]] = Sâmaraṭṭha. See Gerini, Ptolemy, p. 170. But Samarade is located near Bangkok and there can hardly have been Tais there in Ptolemy's time; and Footnote 190: So too in Central Asia Kustana appears to be a learned distortion of the name [[Khotan]], made to give it a meaning in Sanskrit.}}</ref> |
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The word ''Thai'' ([[wikt:ไทย|ไทย]]) is not, as commonly believed, derived from the word ''Tai'' ([[wikt:ไท|ไท]]) meaning "freedom" in the [[Thai language]]; it is, however, the name of an [[ethnic group]] from the central plains (the [[Thai people]]).{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} A famous Thai scholar argued that Tai (ไท) simply means "people" or "human being" since his investigation shows that in some rural areas the word "Tai" was used instead of the usual Thai word "khon" ([[wikt:คน|คน]]) for people.<ref>จิตร ภูมิศักดิ์ 1976: "ความเป็นมาของคำสยาม ไทย ลาวและขอม และลักษณะทางสังคม ของชื่อชนชาติ" (Jid Phumisak 1976: "Coming Into Existence for the Siamese Words for Thai, Laotian and Khmer and Societal Characteristics for Nation-names")</ref> The phrase "Land of the free" is derived from Thai pride in the fact that Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia never colonized by a European power. |
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While the Thai people will often refer to their country using the polite form ''Prathet Thai'' (Thai: ประเทศไทย), they most commonly use the more colloquial word ''Mueang Thai'' (Thai: เมืองไทย) or simply ''Thai'' (Thai: ไทย); the word ''mueang'' (Thai: เมือง) meaning nation but most commonly used to refer to a city or town. ''Ratcha Anachak Thai'' ({{lang-th|ราชอาณาจักรไทย}}) means "Kingdom of Thailand" or "Kingdom of Thai". |
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Etymologically, its components are: ''-Ratcha-'' (from Sanskrit ''[[raja]]'', meaning "king, royal, realm") ; ''-ana-'' (from [[Pāli language|Pāli]] ''{{unicode|āṇā}}'', "authority, command, power", itself from Sanskrit ''{{unicode|ājñā}}'', same meaning) ''-chak'' (from Sanskrit ''[[cakra]]'' or ''[[cakraṃ]]'' meaning "wheel", a symbol of power and rule). The [[Thai National Anthem]] ({{lang-th|เพลงชาติ}}) refers to the Thai nation as: prathet-thai (Thai: ประเทศไทย). The first line of the national anthem is: ''prathet thai ruam lueat nuea chat chuea thai'' (Thai: ประเทศไทยรวมเลือดเนื้อชาติเชื้อไทย) and was translated in 1939 by Colonel Luang Saranuprabhandi as: “Thailand is the unity of Thai blood and body.” |
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==History== |
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{{Main|History of Thailand|People of Thailand}} |
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[[File:BlackCeramicBanChiangCultureThailand1200-800BCE.jpg|thumb|150px|left|An example of pottery discovered near [[Ban Chiang]] in Udon Thani province, the earliest dating to 2100 BCE.]] |
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The region known as Thailand has been inhabited by humans since the [[Paleolithic]] period, about 10,000 years ago. Similar to other regions in [[Southeast Asia]], it was heavily influenced by the [[Indianized kingdom|culture and religions of India]], starting with the [[kingdom of Funan]] around the [[1st century]] [[Common Era|CE]]. |
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After the fall of the [[Khmer Empire]] in the [[13th century]], various states thrived there, such as the various [[Tai peoples|Tai]], [[Mon (ethnic group)|Mon]], [[Khmer people|Khmer]] and [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]] kingdoms, as seen through the numerous archaeological sites and artifacts that are scattered throughout the Siamese landscape. Prior to the [[12th century]] however, the first [[Thai people|Thai]] or Siamese state is traditionally considered to be the [[Buddhist]] kingdom of [[Sukhothai kingdom|Sukhothai]], which was founded in 1238. |
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[[File:Sukhothai.jpg|thumb|220px|Buddhist images at Wat Mahathat built during the [[Sukhothai Kingdom|Sukhothai period]].]] |
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Following the decline and fall of the Khmer empire in the [[13th century|13th]]–[[14th century]], the Buddhist Tai kingdoms of Sukhothai, [[Lanna]] and Lan Chang were on the ascension. However, a century later, the power of Sukhothai was overshadowed by the new [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|kingdom of Ayutthaya]], established in the mid-[[14th century]] in the lower [[Chao Phraya River]] or [[Menam]] area. |
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Ayutthaya's expansion centered along the Menam while in the northern valley the Lanna Kingdom and other small Tai city-states ruled the area. In 1431, the Khmer abandoned [[Angkor]] after the Ayutthaya forces invaded the city.<ref>"[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/12/AR2010041203198.html Science news: What happened at Angkor Wat]". The Washington Post. April 13, 2010.</ref> Thailand retained a tradition of trade with its neighbouring states, from [[China]] to [[India]], [[Persia]] and [[Arab]] lands. Ayutthaya became one of the most vibrant trading centres in Asia. European traders arrived in the [[16th century]], beginning with the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]], followed by the [[France|French]], [[Netherlands|Dutch]] and [[England|English]]. |
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After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to the Burmese, King [[Taksin]] the Great moved the capital of Thailand to [[Thonburi]] for approximately 15 years. The current Rattanakosin era of Thai history began in 1782, following the establishment of [[Bangkok]] as capital of the [[Chakri dynasty]] under King [[Rama I]] the Great. A quarter to a third of the population of some areas of Thailand were [[slave]]s.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/article-24156 Slave-owning societies]. Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref><ref>[http://kyotoreviewsea.org/slavery4.htm Slavery in Nineteenth-Century Northern Thailand]. Kyoto Review of South East Asia.</ref> |
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Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only [[Southeast Asia]]n nation that has never been colonized. Two main reasons for this were that Thailand had a long succession of very able rulers in the [[19th century]] and that it was able to exploit the rivalry and tension between [[French Indochina]] and the [[British Empire]]. As a result, the country remained a [[buffer state]] between parts of Southeast Asia that were colonized by the two powers, Great Britain and France. [[File:WatChaiwatthanaram 2295b.JPG|thumb|220px|left|The ruins of [[Wat Chaiwatthanaram]] at Ayutthaya, the city was burned and sacked in 1767 by a [[Burma|Burmese]] army under the [[Alaungpaya]] Dynasty.]] Western influence nevertheless led to many reforms in the [[19th century]] and major concessions, most notably being the loss of a large territory on the east side of the [[Mekong]] to the French and the step-by-step absorption by Britain of the Shan ([[Thai Yai]]) States (now in [[Burma]]){{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} and the [[Malay Peninsula]]. |
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==== 20th century ==== |
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The losses initially included Penang and Tumasik (Singapore) and eventually culminated in the loss of four predominantly ethnic-Malay southern provinces, which later became [[Malaysia]]'s four northern states, under the [[Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909]]. |
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In 1932, a [[Siamese revolution of 1932|bloodless revolution]] carried out by the [[Khana Ratsadon]] group of military and civilian officials resulted in a transition of power, when King [[Prajadhipok]] was forced to grant the people of Siam their first constitution, thereby ending centuries of [[absolute monarchy]]. |
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During [[World War II]], the [[Empire of Japan]] demanded the right to move troops across Thailand to the Malayan frontier. [[Japanese invasion of Thailand|Japan invaded the country]] and engaged the [[Thai Army]] for six to eight hours before [[Plaek Pibulsonggram]] ordered an [[armistice]]. Shortly thereafter Japan was granted free passage, and on December 21, 1941, Thailand and Japan signed a military alliance with a secret protocol wherein [[Tokyo]] agreed to help Thailand regain territories lost to the British and French. Subsequently, Thailand undertook to 'assist' Japan in its war against the Allies, while at the same time maintaining an active anti-Japanese resistance movement known as the [[Seri Thai]]. About 200,000 Asian labourers and 60,000 [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] POWs worked on the Thailand–Burma [[Death Railway]].<ref>Werner Gruhl, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ow5Wlmu9MPQC&pg=PA112&dq&hl=en#v=onepage&q=&f=false Imperial Japan's World War Two, 1931-1945]'', Transaction Publishers, 2007 ISBN 978-0-7658-0352-8</ref> [[File:The Grand Palace of Thailand 2.jpg|thumb|230px|[[Grand Palace]] in Bangkok built in 1782, is the official residence of the [[King of Thailand]].]] After the war, Thailand emerged as an ally of the [[United States]]. As with many of the developing nations during the [[Cold War]], Thailand then went through decades of political instability characterised by [[coup d'état|coups d'état]] as one military regime replaced another, but eventually progressed towards a stable prosperity and [[democracy]] in the 1980s. |
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====The Southern region==== |
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{{See also|South Thailand insurgency}} |
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{{Relevance|date=June 2009}} |
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{{POV-section|date=August 2008}} |
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The [[Malay Peninsula]] was once known as ''Tanah Melayu'' (Malay Land). It extends from Singapore to the [[Isthmus of Kra]] bordering Burma, Thailand and Malay Land. [[Phuket Province|Phuket]] is Bukit (hill) in Malay, "Satun" is "Setol" (a tropical fruit) was the Province of "Kedah" under the Malay Sultanate and Patani (Land of Farmers) was also part of the Malay Sultanate. In these areas people once spoke both English as well as ''Sam-sam'', a local version of the Siamese language. The majority of residents were Muslims. Thailand pushed to dominate the peninsula as far as Malacca in the 1400s and held much of the peninsula for the next few centuries, including Tumasek (Singapore) some of the [[Andaman Islands]] and a colony on [[Java]], but eventually failed when the British used force to guarantee their suzerainty over the sultanate. |
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All the states of the Malay Sultanate presented annual gifts to the Thai king in the form of a [[Bunga mas|golden flower]], which understood the gesture to be tribute and an acknowledgement of vassalage. The British intervened in the Malay State and with the [[Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909|Anglo-Siamese Treaty]] tried to build a railway from the south to Bangkok, Thailand relinquished sovereignty over what are now the northern Malay provinces of [[Kedah]], [[Perlis]], [[Kelantan]] and [[Terengganu]] to the British. Satun and Pattani provinces were given to Thailand. The Malay peninsula provinces were infiltrated by the Japanese during World War II, and by the [[Malayan Communist Party]] (CPM) from 1942 to 2008, when they decided to sue for peace with the Malaysian and Thai governments after the CPM lost its support from [[Vietnam]] and China subsequent to the [[Cultural Revolution]]. Recent insurgent uprisings may be a continuation of separatist fighting which started after World War II with Sukarno's support for the [[Patani United Liberation Organization|PULO]], and the intensification. Most victims since the uprisings have been [[Buddhist]] and [[Muslim]] bystanders. |
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== Politics and government == |
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{{Main|Politics of Thailand|Constitutions of Thailand|Government of Thailand|Foreign relations of Thailand}} |
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===History=== |
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[[File:Ac.democracymonument-.JPG|thumb|right|Bangkok's [[Democracy Monument, Bangkok|Democracy Monument]]: a representation of the 1932 Constitution sits on top of two golden offering bowls above a turret.]] |
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Since the [[Siamese coup d'état of 1932|political reform]] of the [[absolute monarchy]] in 1932, Thailand has had [[Constitutions of Thailand|17 constitutions and charters]].<ref>The Council of State, [http://www.parliament.go.th/files/library/b05.htm Constitutions of Thailand]. This list contains 2 errors: it states that the 6th constitution was promulgated in 1912 (rather than 1952), and it states that the 11th constitution was promulgated in 1976 (rather than 1974).</ref><ref name="Thanet">Thanet Aphornsuvan, {{PDFlink|[http://rspas.anu.edu.au/pah/human_rights/papers/2001/Thanet.pdf The Search for Order: Constitutions and Human Rights in Thai Political History]|152 KB}}, 2001 Symposium: Constitutions and Human Rights in a Global Age: An Asia Pacific perspective</ref> Throughout this time, the form of government has ranged from military dictatorship to electoral democracy, but all governments have acknowledged a [[List of Kings of Thailand|hereditary monarch]] as the head of state.<ref name="multiple">{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060919/thailand_coups_060919/20060919/ |title=A list of previous coups in Thailand |publisher=Ctv.ca |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,214562,00.html |title=A list of recent coups in Thailand's history |publisher=Foxnews.com |date=2006-09-19 |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> |
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===28th of June 1932=== |
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Prior to [[1932]], the Kingdom of [[Siam]] did not possess a legislature, as all legislative powers were vested within the person of the [[List of Kings of Thailand|monarch]]. This has been the case since the foundation of the [[Sukhothai Kingdom]] in the 12th century: as the king was seen as a “Dharmaraja” or “King who rules in accordance with [[Dharma]]” (the Buddhist law of righteousness). However on the 24 June 1932 a group of civilians and military officers, calling themselves the [[Khana Ratsadon]] (or People’s Party) carried out a [[Siamese revolution of 1932|bloodless revolution]], in which the 150 years of [[Absolute Monarchy|absolute rule]] of the [[House of Chakri]] was ended. In its stead the group advocated a [[Constitutional Monarchy|constitutional form of monarchy]] with an elected legislature. |
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The "Draft Constitution" of 1932 signed by King [[Prajadhipok]], created Thailand’s first legislature, a '''People’s Assembly''' with 70 appointed members. The assembly met for the first time on the 28 June 1932, in the [[Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall]]. The Khana Ratsadon decided that the people were not yet ready for an elected assembly; however they later changed their minds. By the time the "permanent" constitution came into force in December of that year, elections were scheduled for the 15 November 1933. The new constitution also changed the composition of the assembly to 78 directly elected and 78 appointed (by the Khana Ratsadon) together compromising 156 members. |
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===1997 to 2006=== |
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{{See also|1997 Constitution of Thailand}} |
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[[Image:Bangkok old parliament.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall]] the old meeting place of the National Assembly, now only the State Opening is held there.]] |
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[[File:Thai Parliament House.JPG|thumb|Parliament House the meeting place of the two chambers of the [[National Assembly of Thailand]].]] |
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The 1997 Constitution was the first constitution to be drafted by popularly elected Constitutional Drafting Assembly, and was popularly called the "People's Constitution".<ref name="Criminal Justice">Kittipong Kittayarak, {{PDFlink|[http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/pdf/PDF_rms/no60/ch06.pdf The Thai Constitution of 1997 and its Implication on Criminal Justice Reform]|221 KB}}</ref> The 1997 Constitution created a [[bicameral legislature]] consisting of a 500-seat House of Representatives (สภาผู้แทนราษฎร, sapha phutaen ratsadon) and a 200-seat [[Senate]] (วุฒิสภา, wuthisapha). For the first time in Thai history, both houses were directly [[election|elected]]. |
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Many [[human rights]] are explicitly acknowledged, and measures were established to increase the stability of elected governments. The House was elected by the [[first past the post]] system, where only one candidate with a simple majority could be elected in one constituency. The Senate was elected based on the province system, where one province can return more than one senator depending on its population size. |
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The two houses of the National Assembly have two different terms. In accordance with the constitution the Senate is elected to a six year term, while the House is elected to a four year term. Overall the term of the National Assembly is based on that of the House. The National Assembly each year will sit in two sessions an "ordinary session" and a "legislative session". The first session of the National Assembly must take place within thirty days after the [[general election]] of the House of Representatives. The first session must be opened by the [[King of Thailand|king]] in person by reading a [[Speech from the Throne]]; this ceremony is held in the [[Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall]]. He may also appoint the [[crown prince]] or a representative to carry out this duty. It is also the duty of the king to prologue sessions through a [[Royal Decree]] when the House term expires. The king also has the [[royal prerogative|prerogative]] to call extraordinary sessions and prolong sessions at his discretion. |
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The National Assembly may host a "Joint-sitting" of both Houses under several circumstances. These include: The appointment of a regent, any alteration to the [[1924 Palace Law of Succession]], the opening of the first session, the announcement of policies by the [[Cabinet of Thailand]], the approval of the [[declaration of war]], the hearing of explanations and approval of a [[treaty]] and the amendment of the Constitution. |
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Members of the House of Representatives served four-year terms, while senators served six-year terms. The 1997 People's Constitution also promoted human rights more than any other constitutions. The court system (ศาล, saan) included a [[Constitutional Court of Thailand|constitutional court]] with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, and political matters. |
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The [[Thailand legislative election, 2001|January 2001 general election]], the first election under the 1997 Constitution, was called the most open, corruption-free election in Thai history.<ref>Robert B. Albritton and Thawilwadee Bureekul, {{PDFlink|[http://www.asianbarometer.org/newenglish/publications/workingpapers/no.28.pdf Developing Democracy under a New Constitution in Thailand]|319 KB}}, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica Asian Barometer Project Office Working Paper Series No. 28, 2004</ref> The subsequent government was the first in Thai history to complete a four-year term. The [[Thailand legislative election, 2005|2005 election]] had the highest voter turnout in Thai history.<ref>Pongsudhirak Thitinan, "Victory places Thaksin at crossroads," Bangkok Post, 9 February 2005</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/Election2005/news/news.php?news=02%2F10020506.htm |date=10 February 2005 |title=Unprecedented 72% turnout for latest poll |publisher=The Nation}}</ref> Despite efforts to clean up the system, vote buying and electoral violence remained problems of electoral quality in 2005.<ref name="QuoVadis">Aurel Croissant and Daniel J. Pojar, Jr., [http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/si/2005/Jun/croissantJun05.asp Quo Vadis Thailand? Thai Politics after the 2005 Parliamentary Election], Strategic Insights, Volume IV, Issue 6 (June 2005)</ref> |
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The PollWatch Foundation, Thailand's most prominent election watchdog, declared that vote buying in this election, specifically in the North and the Northeast, was more serious than in the 2001 election. The organization also accused the government of violating the election law by abusing state power in presenting new projects in a bid to seek votes. |
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===2006 coup d'état=== |
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{{See also|2006 Thai coup d'état}} |
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[[Image:BKK24090618.jpg|right|thumb|230px|Armoured vehicles parked inside the compound of the Headquarters of the 1st Army]] |
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Without meeting much resistance, a [[military junta]] [[2006 Thailand coup|overthrew]] the interim government of [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] on 19 September 2006. The [[Military dictatorship|junta]] [[wikt:abrogated|abrogated]] the constitution, dissolved Parliament and the Constitutional Court, detained and later removed several members of the government, declared [[martial law]], and appointed one of the king's Privy Counselors, General [[Surayud Chulanont]], as the Prime Minister. The junta later wrote a highly abbreviated [[2006 Interim Constitution of Thailand|interim constitution]] and appointed a panel to draft a [[Next constitution of Thailand|permanent constitution]]. The junta also appointed a 250-member legislature, called by some critics a "chamber of generals" while others claimed that it lacks representatives from the poor majority.<ref>The Nation, [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/13/headlines/headlines_30016076.php NLA 'doesn't represent' all of the people], 14 October 2006</ref><ref>The Nation, [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/13/headlines/headlines_30016078.php Assembly will not play a major role], 14 October 2006</ref> |
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In this interim constitution draft, the head of the junta was allowed to remove the prime minister at any time. The legislature was not allowed to hold a vote of confidence against the cabinet and the public was not allowed to file comments on bills.<ref>The Nation, [http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/27/headlines/headlines_30014776.php Interim charter draft], 27 September 2006</ref> This interim constitution was later surpassed by [[2007 Constitution of Thailand|the permanent constitution]] on 24 August 2007. |
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Martial law was partially revoked in January 2007. The ban on political activities was lifted in July 2007,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/18/politics/politics_30041398.php|title=Ban on political activities lifted|publisher=The Nation|date=18 July 2007}}</ref> following the [[Party dissolution charges in Thai politics, 2006|30 May dissolution]] of the [[Thai Rak Thai]] party. The [[Next constitution of Thailand|new constitution]] has been approved by a referendum on 19 August, which led to a return to [[Thai general election, 2007|democratic elections on 23 December 2007]]. |
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===Political crisis=== |
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{{See also|2008–2010 Thai political crisis}} |
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[[File:Police "response" to PAD Protest.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Royal Thai Police]]men at the ready during the 2008 political crisis.]] |
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[[File:2010 0320 bkk red shirt demonstration 07.jpg|thumb|The demonstration of March 20, 2010, on Rama 4 road, Bangkok]] |
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The [[People's Power Party (Thailand)]], led by [[Samak Sundaravej]] formed a government with five smaller parties. Following several court rulings against him in a variety of scandals, and surviving a vote of no confidence, and protesters blockading government buildings and airports, in September 2008, Sundaravej was found guilty of conflict of interest by the [[Constitutional Court of Thailand]] (due to being a host in cooking TV program),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090900505.html |title=Thai Premier Ousted Over Stints on Cooking Show |publisher=washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> and thus, ended his term in office. |
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He was replaced by PPP member [[Somchai Wongsawat]]. As of October 2008, Wongsawat was unable to gain access to his offices, which were occupied by protesters from the [[People's Alliance for Democracy]]. On December 2, 2008, Thailand's Constitutional Court found the ruling Peoples Power Party <ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,593869,00.html] Spiegel Online, December 2, 2008</ref> guilty of electoral fraud, which led to the dissolution of the party according to the law. |
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After defections from smaller parties the opposition [[Democrat Party (Thailand)|Democrats Party]] was able to form a government, a first for the party since 2001. The leader of the Democrat party, and former leader of the opposition, [[Abhisit Vejjajiva]] was appointed and sworn-in as the 27th [[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]], together with the new cabinet on 17 December 2008. |
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Thailand remains an active member of the regional Association of [[ASEAN]] (Association of South East Asian Nations). |
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As of April 2010, a set of new protests by [[National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship|Red Shirts]] opposition supporters have resulted in 23 deaths (both civilian and military) and over 800 injured.<ref>BBC News, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8612783.stm Bangkok clashes death toll climbs to 18, with 800 hurt], 11 April 2010</ref><ref>Aj Jazeera English, [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/04/20104113019324124.html Bloodiest Thai clashes in 18 years], 11 April 2010</ref><ref>NST Online Australia, [http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20100411120452/Article/index_html Australia 'very concerned' over Thailand clashes], 11 April 2010</ref><ref>Bangkok Post, [http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/36079/military-admits-firing-at-reds], 15 April 2010</ref> |
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==Armed forces== |
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[[File:Chakri Naruebet 2001.JPEG|thumb|right|[[Royal Thai Navy]] [[HTMS Chakri Naruebet]] [[aircraft carrier]]]] |
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[[Image:Rtaf f16.jpg|thumb|right|[[F-16]] Block 15OCUs in flight, [[Royal Thai Air Force]]]] |
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{{Main|Royal Thai Armed Forces}} |
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The '''[[Royal Thai Armed Forces]]''' ({{lang-th|กองทัพไทย: ''Kongthap Thai'')}} is the name of the [[military]] of the Kingdom of Thailand. It consists of the following branches: |
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* '''[[Royal Thai Army]]''' (กองทัพบกไทย) |
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* '''[[Royal Thai Navy]]''' (กองทัพเรือไทย, ราชนาวีไทย) |
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* [[Royal Thai Marine Corps]] (นาวิกโยธินไทย) |
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* '''[[Royal Thai Air Force]]''' (กองทัพอากาศไทย) |
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* Other [[Paramilitary]] Forces |
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Today the Royal Thai Armed Forces comprises about 1,025,640 personnel. The [[Monarchy of Thailand|Head of the Thai Armed Forces]] (จอมทัพไทย: ''Chomthap Thai'') is His Majesty [[King Bhumibol Adulyadej]] (Rama IX),<ref>[[s:2007 Constitution of Thailand#CHAPTER 2 : THE KING|Chapter 2 of the 2007 Constitution of Thailand]]</ref> however this position is only nominal. The Armed Forces is managed by the [[Ministry of Defence (Thailand)|Ministry of Defence of Thailand]], which is headed by the Minister of Defence (a member of the [[Cabinet of Thailand]]) and commanded by the [[Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters]], which in turn is headed by the [[List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters|Chief of Defence Forces of Thailand]].<ref>{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/thailand/mod.htm |title=www.globalsecurity.org |publisher=www.globalsecurity.org |date=2005-04-27 |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> |
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According to the [[2007 Constitution of Thailand|Constitution of the Kingdom]], serving in the Armed Forces is a duty of all Thai citizens.<ref>[[s:2007 Constitution of Thailand#CHAPTER 4 : DUTIES OF THE THAI PEOPLE|Chapter 4 of the 2007Constitution of Thailand]]</ref> However only males over the age of 21, who have not gone through reserve training (Ror Dor) are given the option of whether they want to volunteer for the armed forces, or pick the random draft. The candidates are subjected to varying lengths of training from 6 months to 2 years of fulltime service depending on their education, whether they have partially completed the reserve training course, and whether they volunteered prior to the drafting date (usually April 1 every year). |
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Candidates with a recognized bachelor's degree will be subjected to 1 year of full-time service if they picked the random draft, or 6 months if they volunteer at their respective district office (Sasadee). |
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Likewise, the training length is also reduced for those who have partially completed the 3-year reserve training course (Ror Dor). A person who completed 1 year out of 3 will only have to serve full-time for 1 year. Those completed 2 years of reserve training will only have to do 6 months of full-time training. While those who complete 3 years or more of reserve training will be exempted. |
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The [[Public holidays in Thailand|Royal Thai Armed Forces Day]] is celebrated on January 18 to commemorate the victory of King [[Naresuan the Great]] in battle against the Crown Prince of [[Toungoo dynasty|Burma]] in 1593. |
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==Education== |
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{{Main|Education in Thailand}} |
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[[File:Thai Students.jpg|thumb|right|Primary school students in Thailand]] |
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Thailand enjoys a high level of literacy, and education is provided by a well-organized school system of kindergartens, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools, numerous vocational colleges, and universities. The private sector of education is well developed and significantly contributes to the overall provision of education which the government would not be able to meet through the public establishments. |
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Education is compulsory up to and including grade 9, and the government provides free education through to grade 12. |
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Thailand has never been colonized, and its teaching relies heavily on rote rather than on student-centred methodology. Education in a modern sense is therefore relatively recent and still needs to overcome some major cultural hurdles to ensure further development and improvement to its standards. |
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The establishment of reliable and coherent curricula for its primary and secondary schools is subject to such rapid changes that schools and their teachers are not always sure what they are supposed to be teaching, and authors and publishers of textbooks are unable to write and print new editions quickly enough to keep up with the volatile situation. [[File:MahaChulalongkorn Building.jpg|thumb|left|160px|[[Chulalongkorn University]], established in 1917 is the oldest university in Thailand.]]The issue concerning university entrance has therefore also been in constant upheaval for a number of years. Nevertheless, education has seen its greatest progress in the years since 2001. Most of the present generation of students are computer literate, and knowledge of English is on the increase at least in quantity if not in quality. |
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There has been concern in recent years regarding the low [[Race and intelligence|IQ scores of many Thai youth]]. A study in the [[Nation]] newspaper reported that the "Department of Health and the Department of Mental Health will (make) an effort to combat low intelligence, after it found the average IQ level among many youths was lower than 80."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2005/08/13/headlines/index.php?news=headlines_18334355.html |title=Bangkok's Independent Newspaper |publisher=Nationmultimedia.com |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> In 2006, the Vice Minister for Education Watchara Phanchet reported that "the average intelligence quotient (IQ) of Thai children, somewhere between 87 and 88 points, remains in the "low average" category when ranked internationally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/19/headlines/headlines_30009114.php |title=Thai children's IQ average low |publisher=Nationmultimedia.com |date=2006-07-19 |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> Further, with the exception of the well-educated wealthy class, the level of English speaking remains quite low. |
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==Science and technology== |
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{{main|Science and technology in Thailand}} |
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[[File:East Water 01.JPG|thumb|right|160px|Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Company Limited, a water technology and wholesale supply company in Bangkok, Thailand]] |
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[[File:Doi Inthanon Park - Telescope.jpg|thumb|left|160px|14" telescope Astronomical Seeing Test project National Astronomical Research Institute, Ministry of Science & Technology]] |
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The '''National Science and Technology Development Agency''' is an [[government agency|agency]] of the government of Thailand which supports research in science and technology and their application in the [[Economy of Thailand|Thai economy]]. |
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From the agency's website: |
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<blockquote> |
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The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) reflects the Thai government’s deep commitment to apply scientific and technological capabilities to promote and sustain the nation’s economic, social development and growth through the promotion of linkage and collaboration between the public and private sectors. Since its inception in 1991, NSTDA has grown into an active organization with a diverse program focusing on cutting-edge S&T research, design, development and engineering. NSTDA offers a full potential and opportunity for cooperative challenges and investment. Through such a convergence, the organization brings a layered, multi-faceted approach to the scholarly and most practical description of scientific and technological discoveries and advancement to serve national needs and maintain a sustained linkage with the international community. </blockquote> |
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L’Oreal (Thailand) with the support of the Thai National Commission for UNESCO announced the presentation of the “L’OREAL for Women in Science 2009” fellowship at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel. The fellowship awarded is presented annually to women working in doctoral and post-doctoral research who have already distinguished themselves in the life sciences. |
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Dr. Nitsara Karoonuthaisiri, Head of BIOTEC Microarray Laboratory is one of the recipients of the fellowship L’Oreal Thailand "For Women in Science 2009". Her research paper entitled “Applications of Microarray Technology in Research and Development in Thailand” attracted the interest of the L’Oreal Thailand judging. |
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Oréal Thailand fellowships are divided into two categories of ‘Life Science’ and ‘Material Science’. This year’s fellowships in the Life Science category were granted to Dr Nitsara Karoonuthaisiri from BIOTEC and Associate Professor Dr Artiwan Shotipruk from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University. In the Material Science category, fellowships were granted to Assistant Professor Dr Anongnat Somwangthanaroj from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, and Assistant Professor Dr Joongjai Panpranot from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University. |
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"L'Oreal was founded by a chemist, and more than half of our 3,000 researchers today are women. We feel a close bond with science and want to raise the profile of the women who are behind today's scientific advancements. We hope that the fellowship recipients will feel encouraged by the recognition their work has received, and that their stories will be an inspiration for other researchers," said Jean-Philippe Charrier, managing director of L'Oreal (Thailand). |
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“Microarray technology is still considered new to Thailand. Therefore, receiving this award will certainly help to promote the awareness to the importance and benefits that Microarray technology brings to the local research community. This will in turn help to increase the number of researchers in this field” said Dr. Kanyawim Kirtikara, Executive Director, BIOTEC. |
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==Administrative divisions== |
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{{Main|Subdivisions of Thailand}} |
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Thailand is divided into 75<!--not 76, Bangkok is not a province, see next sentence!--> [[Provinces of Thailand|provinces]] (จังหวัด, changwat), which are gathered into 5 groups of provinces by location. There are also 2 special governed [[districts]]: the capital [[Bangkok]] (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) and [[Pattaya]], of which Bangkok is at provincial level and thus often counted as a 76th province. |
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Each province is divided into [[Amphoe|districts]] and the districts are further divided into sub-districts (tambons). As of 2006 there are 877 districts (อำเภอ, amphoe) and the 50 [[districts of Bangkok]] (เขต, khet). Some parts of the provinces bordering Bangkok are also referred to as [[Bangkok Metropolitan Area|Greater Bangkok]] (ปริมณฑล, pari monthon). These provinces include [[Nonthaburi Province|Nonthaburi]], [[Pathum Thani Province|Pathum Thani]], [[Samut Prakan Province|Samut Prakan]], [[Nakhon Pathom Province|Nakhon Pathom]] and [[Samut Sakhon Province|Samut Sakhon]]. The name of each province's capital city (เมือง, mueang) is the same as that of the province. For example, the capital of Chiang Mai province (''changwat Chiang Mai'') is ''Mueang Chiang Mai'' or ''Chiang Mai''. The 76 [[Provinces of Thailand|provinces]] are as follows: |
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[[File:Thailand map CIA.png|right|thumb|222px|Map of Thailand]] |
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[[File:Chao Phraya - Wat Arun.JPG|right|thumb|222px|[[Wat Arun]], in [[Bangkok]]]] |
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====Central==== |
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# [[Ang Thong Province|Ang Thong]] |
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# [[Bangkok|Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon)]], Special Governed District of |
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# [[Chainat Province|Chai Nat]] |
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# [[Kanchanaburi Province|Kanchanaburi]] |
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# [[Lopburi Province|Lopburi]] |
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# [[Nakhon Nayok Province|Nakhon Nayok]] |
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# [[Nakhon Pathom Province|Nakhon Pathom]] |
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# [[Nonthaburi Province|Nonthaburi]] |
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# [[Pathum Thani Province|Pathum Thani]] |
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# [[Phetchaburi Province|Phetchaburi]] |
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# [[Ayutthaya Province|Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya]] |
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# [[Prachuap Khiri Khan Province|Prachuap Khiri Khan]] |
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# [[Ratchaburi Province|Ratchaburi]] |
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# [[Samut Prakan Province|Samut Prakan]] |
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# [[Samut Sakhon Province|Samut Sakhon]] |
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# [[Samut Songkhram Province|Samut Songkhram]] |
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# [[Saraburi Province|Saraburi]] |
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# [[Sing Buri Province|Sing Buri]] |
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# [[Suphanburi Province|Suphan Buri]] |
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====East==== |
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# [[Chachoengsao Province|Chachoengsao]] |
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# [[Chanthaburi Province|Chanthaburi]] |
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# [[Chonburi Province|Chonburi]] |
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# [[Prachinburi Province|Prachinburi]] |
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# [[Rayong Province|Rayong]] |
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# [[Sa Kaeo Province|Sa Kaeo]] |
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# [[Trat Province|Trat]] |
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====North==== |
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# [[Chiang Mai Province|Chiang Mai]] |
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# [[Chiang Rai Province|Chiang Rai]] |
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# [[Kamphaeng Phet Province|Kamphaeng Phet]] |
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# [[Lampang Province|Lampang]] |
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# [[Lamphun Province|Lamphun]] |
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# [[Mae Hong Son Province|Mae Hong Son]] |
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# [[Nakhon Sawan Province|Nakhon Sawan]] |
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# [[Nan Province|Nan]] |
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# [[Phayao Province|Phayao]] |
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# [[Phetchabun Province|Phetchabun]] |
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# [[Phichit Province|Phichit]] |
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# [[Phitsanulok Province|Phitsanulok]] |
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# [[Phrae Province|Phrae]] |
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# [[Sukhothai Province|Sukhothai]] |
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# [[Tak Province|Tak]] |
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# [[Uthai Thani Province|Uthai Thani]] |
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# [[Uttaradit Province|Uttaradit]] |
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[[File:Chmwphrasingh0506e.jpg|right|thumb|222px|upright|[[Wat Phra Sing]], [[Chiang Mai Province]] ]] |
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====Northeast (Isan)==== |
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{{main|Isan}} |
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# [[Amnat Charoen Province|Amnat Charoen]] |
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# [[Buri Ram Province|Buri Ram]] |
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# [[Chaiyaphum Province|Chaiyaphum]] |
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# [[Kalasin Province|Kalasin]] |
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# [[Khon Kaen Province|Khon Kaen]] |
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# [[Loei Province|Loei]] |
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# [[Maha Sarakham Province|Maha Sarakham]] |
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# [[Mukdahan Province|Mukdahan]] |
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# [[Nakhon Phanom Province|Nakhon Phanom]] |
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# [[Nakhon Ratchasima Province|Nakhon Ratchasima]] |
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# [[Nongbua Lamphu Province|Nong Bua Lamphu]] |
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# [[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]] |
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# [[Roi Et Province|Roi Et]] |
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# [[Sakon Nakhon Province|Sakon Nakhon]] |
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# [[Sisaket Province|Si Sa Ket]] |
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# [[Surin Province|Surin]] |
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# [[Ubon Ratchathani Province|Ubon Ratchathani]] [[File:Phra That Nakhon.jpg|thumb|222px|upright|right|Phra Borommathat [[Nakhon Si Thammarat Province|Nakhon Si Thammarat]] Thailand ]] |
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# [[Udon Thani Province|Udon Thani]] |
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# [[Yasothon Province|Yasothon]] |
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====South==== |
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# [[Chumphon Province|Chumphon]] |
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# [[Krabi Province|Krabi]] |
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# [[Nakhon Si Thammarat Province|Nakhon Si Thammarat]] |
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# [[Narathiwat Province|Narathiwat]] |
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# [[Pattani Province|Pattani]] |
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# [[Phang Nga Province|Phang Nga]] |
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# [[Phatthalung Province|Phatthalung]] |
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# [[Phuket Province|Phuket]] |
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# [[Ranong Province|Ranong]] |
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# [[Satun Province|Satun]] |
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# [[Songkhla Province|Songkhla]] |
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# [[Surat Thani Province|Surat Thani]] |
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# [[Trang Province|Trang]] |
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# [[Yala Province|Yala]] |
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{| class="infobox" style="text-align:center; width:97%; margin-right:10px; font-size:90%" |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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! colspan="8" style="padding:0.3em 0; line-height:1.2em; | Largest Metropolitan Areas of Thailand |
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|- |
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! rowspan=11 | |
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[[Image:Bangkok nighttime.jpg|border|135px|Bangkok]]<br />[[Bangkok]]<br /> |
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[[Image:Pattaya beach from view point.jpg|border|135px|Pattaya]]<br />[[Pattaya|Pattaya Beach]] |
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[[Image:NKR AERIAL.jpg|border|135px|Pattaya]]<br />[[Nakhon Ratchasima]] |
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|- |
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! style="text-align:center; background:#f5f5f5;"| [[List of cities in Thailand|Rank]] |
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! style="text-align:center; background:#f5f5f5;"| [[List of metropolitan areas in Thailand by population|Metropolitan area]] |
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! style="text-align:center; background:#f5f5f5;"| [[List of cities in Thailand by population|Population]] |
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! rowspan=11 | |
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! rowspan=11 | |
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[[Image:Chiang Mai from Doi Suthep.jpg|border|135px|Chiang Mai]]<br />[[Chiang Mai]] |
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[[Image:Hat Yai 2.png|border|135px|Hatyai]]<br />[[Hatyai]] |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"| 1 |
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| [[Bangkok Metropolitan Area|Bangkok]] |
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| 11,971,000 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"| 2 |
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| [[Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area|Pattaya-Chon Buri]] |
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| 1,183,604 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"| 3 |
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| [[Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area|Chiang Mai]] |
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| 960,906 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"| 4 |
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| [[Greater Hatyai-Songkhla Metropolitan Area|Hat Yai-Songkhla]] |
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| 801,747 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"| 5 |
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| [[Nakhon Ratchasima Metropolitan Area|Nakhon Ratchasima]] |
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| 439,546 |
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|}<noinclude> |
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==Law enforcement in Thailand== |
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{{Main|Royal Thai Police}} |
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==Foreign relations== |
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{{Main|Foreign relations of Thailand}} |
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[[Image:Vladimir Putin in Thailand 21-22 October 2003-1.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Shinawatra with then [[President of Russia]] [[Vladimir Putin]] at [[APEC Bangkok 2003]] on 21 October 2003 in Bangkok]] |
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[[File:Abhisit Vejjajiva with Obamas.jpg|thumb| [[Pimpen Vejjajiva]], [[Michelle Obama]], Prime Minister [[Abhisit Vejjajiva]] and U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] on 23 September 2009, in New York]] |
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[[File:Abhisit Vejjajiva and Yukio Hatoyama 20091108.jpg|thumb|Abhisit with [[Prime Minister of Japan|Japanese prime minister]] [[Yukio Hatoyama]] on November 8, 2009, in Tokyo]] |
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The foreign relations of Thailand are handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand |
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Thailand participates fully in international and regional organizations. It is a [[Major non-NATO ally]] of the United States. Thailand has developed increasingly close ties with other ASEAN members—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and Vietnam—whose foreign and economic ministers hold annual meetings. Regional cooperation is progressing in economic, trade, banking, political, and cultural matters. In 2003, Thailand served as APEC host. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, currently serves as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). In 2005 Thailand attended the inaugural East Asia Summit. |
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In recent years, Thailand has taken an increasingly active role on the international stage. When East Timor gained independence from Indonesia, Thailand, for the first time in its history, contributed troops to the international peacekeeping effort. Its troops remain there today as part of a UN peacekeeping force. As part of its effort to increase international ties, Thailand has reached out to such regional organizations as the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Thailand has contributed troops to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
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Thaksin initiated negotiations for several [[free trade agreement]]s with China, Australia, Bahrain, India, and the US. The latter especially was criticized, with claims that high-cost Thai industries could be wiped out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ftawatch.org/ |title=FTA Watch Group website |publisher=Ftawatch.org |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> |
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Thailand joined the US-led invasion of Iraq, sending a 423-strong humanitarian contingent. It withdrew its troops on 10 September 2004. Two Thai soldiers died in Iraq in an insurgent attack. |
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Thaksin announced that Thailand would forsake foreign aid, and work with donor countries to assist in the development of neighbors in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=3502 |publisher=Straits Times |title=Thaksin's Chance for Leading Role in the Region |date=10 March 2004}}</ref> |
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Thaksin was repeatedly attacked for acting undiplomatically with foreign leaders and the international community. Besides his famous swipe at the UN (see The 'war on drugs' above), there were also allegations of gaffes at international meetings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/03/26/headlines/headlines_30000240.php |publisher=The Nation |title=Ex-envoys tell of 'multi-tasking' premier |date=17 March 2006}}</ref> |
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Thaksin was ambitious to position Thailand as a regional leader, initiating various development projects in poorer neighbouring countries like Laos. More controversially, he established close, friendly ties with the Burmese dictatorship, including extending the impoverished country a 4 billion baht credit line so it could conclude a satellite telecom deal with his family business.<ref>[http://www.burmait.net/ict-news/2007/aug07/thaksin-to-face-charges-over-burma-telecom-deal/ 'Thaksin to face charges over Burma telecom deal]. ICT News, 2 August 2007</ref> |
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Thaksin energetically supported his former foreign minister [[Surakiart Sathirathai]]'s somewhat improbable campaign to become UN Secretary General. |
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Abhisit appointed Peoples Alliance for Democracy leader Kasit Piromya as Foreign Minister. Prior to his appointment, Kasit had led anti-Cambodia protests and called Cambodian Prime Minister [[Hun Sen]] a "gangster" (he later claimed the word he used actually meant "a person who is lionhearted, a courageous and magnanimous gentleman"). In April 2009, "large-scale fighting" erupted between Thai and Cambodian troops amid the 900-year-old ruins of the [[Preah Vihear Temple|Preah Vihear]] Hindu temple near the Cambodian border. The Cambodian government claimed its army had killed at least four Thais and captured 10 more, although the Thai government denied that any Thai soldiers were killed or injured. Two Cambodian soldiers were killed and three Thai soldiers were killed. Both armies blamed the other for firing first and denied entering the other's territory.<ref>The Telegraph, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/5101029/Troops-from-Thailand-and-Cambodia-fight-on-border.html Troops from Thailand and Cambodia fight on border], 3 April 2009</ref><ref>Bloomberg, [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a2G.h3Ms.a3s&refer=asia Thai, Cambodian Border Fighting Stops, Thailand Says], 3 April 2009</ref> |
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==Communications== |
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{{main|Telecommunications in Thailand}} |
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* Telephone: Thailand has about 7,024,000 base telephones, and about 51,377,000 numbers for [[GSM]]/[[3G]] |
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* Radio: AM 238 stations, FM 351 stations |
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* Television: 6 stations with 111 network stations. There are about 15,190,000 cable subscribers. |
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* Satellite: 4 satellites |
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==Transportation== |
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{{main|Transportation in Thailand}} |
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==Geography== |
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[[File:Palm tree at dawn, Patong beach.jpg|thumb|180px|Dawn at [[Patong]] beach, [[Phuket Province]], Thailand.]] |
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[[File:Hills in northern Thailand.jpg|thumb|180px|Mountainous landscape of Northern Thailand]] |
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{{Main|Geography of Thailand}} |
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Totaling {{convert|513120|km2}},<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html CIA - The World Factbook - Thailand<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in land mass, while it is the world's 20th largest country in terms of population. It is comparable in population to countries such as [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]], and is similar in land size to France and California in the United States. The local [[climate]] is tropical and characterized by [[monsoon]]s. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid. |
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Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the provincial groups. The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest point being [[Doi Inthanon]] at {{convert|2565|m|ft|-1}} above sea level. The northeast, [[Isan]], consists of the [[Khorat Plateau]], bordered to the east by the [[Mekong]] River. The centre of the country is dominated by the predominantly flat [[Chao Phraya]] river valley, which runs into the [[Gulf of Thailand]]. The south consists of the narrow [[Kra Isthmus]] that widens into the [[Malay Peninsula]]. Politically, there are six geographical regions which differ from the others in population, basic resources, natural features, and level of social and economic development. The diversity of the regions is the most pronounced attribute of Thailand's physical setting. |
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The [[Chao Phraya]] and the [[Mekong River]] are the sustainable resource of rural Thailand. Industrial scale production of crops use both rivers and their tributaries. The [[Gulf of Thailand]] covers {{convert|320000|km2|-3}} and is fed by the Chao Phraya, [[Mae Klong River|Mae Klong]], [[Bang Pakong River|Bang Pakong]] and [[Tapi River, Thailand|Tapi]] Rivers. It contributes to the tourism sector owing to its clear shallow waters along the coasts in the Southern Region and the Kra Isthmus. The Gulf of Thailand is also an industrial center of Thailand with the kingdom's main port in [[Sattahip]] along with being the entry gates for [[Port Authority of Thailand|Bangkok's Inland Seaport]]. The [[Andaman Sea]] is regarded as Thailand's most precious natural resource as it hosts the most popular and luxurious resorts in Asia. [[Phuket Province|Phuket]], [[Krabi]], [[Ranong]], [[Phang Nga]] and [[Trang]] and their lush islands all lay along the coasts of the Andaman Sea and despite the [[2004 Tsunami]], they continue to be and ever more so, the playground of the rich and elite of [[Asia]] and the world. |
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Plans have resurfaced of a logistical connection of the two bodies of water which would be coined the [[Thai Canal]], analogous to the [[Suez Canal|Suez]] and the [[Panama Canal]]. Such an idea has been greeted with positive accounts by Thai politicians as it would cut fees charged by the [[Port of Singapore|Ports of Singapore]], improve ties with [[China]] and [[India]], lower shipping times and increase ship safety owing to pirate fears in the [[Strait of Melaka]] and, support the Thai government's policy of being the logistical hub for Southeast Asia. The ports would improve economic conditions in the south of Thailand, which relies heavily on tourism income, and it would also change the structure of the Thai economy moving it closer to a services center of Asia. The canal would be a major engineering project and has expected costs of 20–30 billion dollars. |
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==Economy== |
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{{Main|Economy of Thailand}} |
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[[File:Bangkok Skytrain Saladaeng.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Bangkok]], the largest city, business and industrial center of the country |
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]] |
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[[File:Bangkok at Night.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Bangkok]], Bangkok at night, view from State Tower |
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]] |
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[[File:View of the Business district skyline in Bangkok.PNG|thumb|left|180px|View of the Business district skyline in Bangkok]] |
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[[File:Bangkok night.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Night view of Bangkok city]] |
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[[File:Rice fields Chiang Mai.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Thailand is the [[Rice production in Thailand|largest rice exporter in the world]]]] |
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Thailand is an [[emerging markets|emerging economy]] and considered as a [[newly industrialized country]]. After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1996 – averaging 9.4% annually – increased pressure on Thailand's currency, the [[Thai baht|baht]], in 1997, the year in which the economy contracted by 1.9% led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the [[Chavalit Yongchaiyudh]] administration to float the currency, however, Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was forced to resign after his cabinet came under fire for its slow response to the crisis. The baht was pegged at 25 to the [[US dollar]] from 1978 to 1997, however, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.8% that year. This collapse prompted the [[Asian financial crisis]]. |
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Thailand's economy started to recover in 1999, expanding 4.2% and 4.4% in 2000, thanks largely to strong exports. Growth (2.2%) was dampened by the softening of the global economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent years owing to strong growth in Asia, a relatively weak baht encouraging exports and increasing domestic spending as a result of several mega projects and incentives of [[List of Prime Ministers of Thailand|Prime Minister]] [[Thaksin Shinawatra]], known as [[Thaksinomics]]. Growth in 2002, 2003 and 2004 was 5–7% annually. Growth in 2005, 2006 and 2007 hovered around 4–5%. Due both to the weakening of the US dollar and an increasingly strong Thai currency, by March 2008, the dollar was hovering around the 33 baht mark. |
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Thailand exports an increasing value of over $105 billion worth of goods and services annually.<ref name=CIA_Thailand>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html CIA world factbook - Thailand]</ref> Major exports include [[Rice production in Thailand|Thai rice]], textiles and footwear, fishery products, rubber, jewellery, cars, computers and electrical appliances. Thailand is the world’s no.1 exporter of rice, exporting more than 6.5 million tons of milled rice annually. Rice is the most important crop in the country. Thailand has the highest percentage of arable land, 27.25%, of any nation in the Greater Mekong Subregion.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2097.html CIA world factbook - Greater Mekong Subregion]</ref> About 55% of the arable land area is used for rice production.<ref name=IRRI_Thailand>{{cite web|url=http://www.irri.org/science/cnyinfo/thailand.asp |title=IRRI country profile |publisher=Irri.org |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> |
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Substantial industries include electric appliances, components, computer parts and cars, while [[tourism in Thailand]] makes up about 6% of the economy. [[Prostitution in Thailand]] and sex tourism also form a de facto part of the economy. Cultural milieu combined with poverty and the lure of money have caused [[prostitution]] and sex tourism in particular to flourish in Thailand. One estimate published in 2003 placed the trade at [[United States dollar|US$]]4.3 billion per year or about three percent of the Thai economy.<ref name=legal>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/26/1069825832486.html?oneclick=true Thailand mulls legal prostitution.] ''[[The Age]]'', November 26, 2003</ref> According to research by [[Chulalongkorn University]] on the Thai illegal economy, prostitution in Thailand in the period between 1993 and 1995, made up around 2.7% of the GDP.<ref>http://pioneer.netserv.chula.ac.th/~ppasuk/illegaleconomy.doc</ref> It is believed that ''at least'' 10% of tourist dollars are spent on the sex trade.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2006/01/25/2003290710 Paradise revealed], ''Taipei Times''</ref> |
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The economy of Thailand is an emerging economy which is heavily export-dependent, with exports accounting for more than two thirds of gross domestic product (GDP) The exchange rate is Baht 33.00/USD. |
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Thailand has a GDP worth 8.5 trillion Baht (on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis), or US$627 billion (PPP). This classifies Thailand as the 2nd largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. Despite this, Thailand ranks midway in the wealth spread in Southeast Asia as it is the 4th richest nation according to GDP per capita, after Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia. |
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It functions as an anchor economy for the neighboring developing economies of Laos, Burma, and Cambodia. Thailand's recovery from the 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis depended mainly on exports, among various other factors. Thailand ranks high among the world's automotive export industries along with manufacturing of electronic goods. |
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Most of Thailand's labor force is working in agriculture. However, the relative contribution of agriculture to GDP has declined while exports of goods and services have increased.[1] |
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Tourism revenues are on the rise. With the instability surrounding the recent coup and the military rule, however, the GDP growth of Thailand has settled at around 4-5% from previous highs of 5-7% under the previous civilian administration, as investor and consumer confidence has been degraded somewhat due to political uncertainty. |
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The incumbent elected civilian administration under Samak Sundaravej in power from January 29 to September 9, 2008 stated that the economy will have grown by 5.5% to 6% by the end of 2008. Due to rising oil and food prices, the annual inflation rate for 2008 shot up to 9.2% in July; a 10-year high, but it will unlikely reach double digit rates later this year as oil and food prices are stabilizing |
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Thailand generally uses the metric system but traditional units of measurement for land area are used, and imperial measure (feet, inches etc.) are occasionally used with building materials such as wood and plumbing sizes. Years are numbered as B.E. ([[Thai solar calendar|Buddhist Era]]) in education, the civil service, government, and on contracts and newspaper datelines; in banking, however, and increasingly in industry and commerce, standard Western year (Christian or Common Era) counting prevails.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cockatoo.com/english/thailand/thailand-weights-measures.htm |title=Weights and measures in Thailand |publisher=Cockatoo.com |date=1923-12-17 |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> |
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==Demographics== |
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{{Main|Demographics of Thailand}} |
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===Language=== |
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The official language of Thailand is [[Thai language|Thai]], a [[Kradai language]] closely related to [[Lao language|Lao]], [[Shan language|Shan]] in Burma, and numerous smaller languages spoken in an arc from [[Hainan]] and [[Yunnan]] south to the Malaysian border. It is the principal language of education and government and spoken throughout the country. The standard is based on the dialect of the central Thai people, and it is written in the [[Thai alphabet]], an [[abugida]] script that evolved from the [[Khmer script]]. Several other dialects exist, and coincide with the regional designations. [[Southern Thai language|Southern Thai]] is spoken in the southern provinces, and [[Northern Thai language|Northern Thai]] is spoken in the provinces that were formally part of the independent kingdom of [[Lannathai]]. |
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Thailand is also host to several other minority languages, the largest of which is the [[Lao language|Lao]] dialect of [[Isan language|Isan]] spoken in the northeastern provinces. Although sometimes considered a Thai dialect, it is a Lao dialect, and the region in where it is traditionally spoken was historically part of the Lao kingdom of [[Lan Xang]]. In the far south, [[Yawi language|Yawi]], a dialect of Malay, is the primary language of the Malay Muslims. [[Chinese language|Chinese]] dialects are also spoken by the large [[Thai Chinese|Chinese]] population, [[Teochew]] being the dialect best represented. |
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Numerous tribal languages are also spoken, including those belonging to the [[Mon-Khmer]] family, such as [[Mon language|Mon]], [[Khmer language|Khmer]], [[Vietnamese language|Viet]], [[Mlabri language|Mlabri]]; [[Austronesian]] family, such as [[Cham language|Cham]], Moken, and [[Aslian languages|Orang Asli]], [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] family such as Lawa, [[Akha language|Akhan]], and [[Karen languages|Karen]]; and other [[Tai languages]] such as [[Nyaw language|Nyaw]], [[Phu Thai language|Phu Thai]], and [[Saek language|Saek]]. [[Hmong language|Hmong]] is a member of the [[Hmong-Mien languages]], which is now regarded as a language family of its own. |
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[[English language|English]] is a mandatory school subject, but the number of fluent speakers remains very low, especially outside the cities. |
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===Religion=== |
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{{Main|Religion in Thailand}} |
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{{bar box |
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|title= Thailand religiosity |
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|titlebar=#ddd |
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|left1=religion |
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|right1=percent |
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|float=right |
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|bars= |
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{{bar percent|Buddhism|yellow|94.7}} |
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{{bar percent|Islam|green|4.6}} |
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{{bar percent|Christianity|blue|0.5}} |
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{{bar percent|Others|pink|0.2}} |
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}} |
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Thailand has a prevalence of [[Buddhist|Buddhism]] that ranks among the highest in the world. The national religion is [[Theravada]] Buddhism which is practiced by more than 94.7% of all Thais. [[Muslim]]s make up 4.6% of the population and 0.7% belong to other religions.<ref>[http://web.nso.go.th/eng/en/pop2000/table/eadv_tab3.pdf Population by religion, sex, area and region], National Statistic Office of Thailand.</ref> |
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According to the last census (2000) 94.7% of the total population are Buddhists of the [[Theravada]] tradition. [[Islam in Thailand|Muslims]] are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4.6%<ref>{{cite web |
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| title =CIA World Factbook: Thailand |
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| publisher =Central Intelligence Agency |
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| date =2007-02-08 |
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| url =https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html |
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| accessdate =2007-03-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71359.htm |title=U.S. Department of States - Thailand |publisher=State.gov |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref>. Thailand's southernmost provinces – [[Pattani]], [[Yala Province|Yala]], [[Narathiwat]] and part of [[Songkhla]] [[Chumphon]] have dominant Muslim populations, consisting of both ethnic Thai and Malay. The southern tip of Thailand is mostly ethnically [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]], and most Malays are [[Sunni Muslim]]s. [[Christianity|Christians]] represent 0.5% of the population. A tiny but influential community of [[Sikhism in Thailand|Sikhs in Thailand]] and some [[Hinduism in Thailand#Thailand|Hindus]] also live in the country's cities, and are heavily engaged in retail commerce. There is also a small [[Jews and Judaism in Thailand|Jewish community in Thailand]], dating back to the 17th century. Since 2001, Muslim activists have rallied against the central government because of alleged corruption and ethnic bias among officials. |
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==Culture== |
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{{Main|Culture of Thailand}}{{see also|Music of Thailand|Isan}} |
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[[File:Phutthamonthon Buddha.JPG|thumb|right|[[Theravada Buddhism]] is highly respected in Thailand.]] |
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Thai culture has been shaped by many influences, including Chinese, Lao, Burmese, Cambodian, and Indian. |
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Its traditions incorporate a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia, and the rest of Southeast Asia. Thailand's national religion [[Theravada Buddhism]] is important to modern Thai identity. [[Buddhism in Thailand|Thai Buddhism]] has evolved over time to include many regional beliefs originating from [[Hinduism]], [[animism]] as well as ancestor worship. The [[Thai solar calendar|official calendar]] in Thailand is based on the Eastern version of the [[Buddhist calendar|Buddhist Era]], which is 543 years ahead of the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian (western) calendar]]. For example, the year AD 2010 is 2553 BE in Thailand. |
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Several different ethnic groups, many of which are marginalized, populate Thailand. Some of these groups overlap into [[Burma]], [[Laos]], [[Cambodia]], and [[Malaysia]] and have mediated change between their traditional local culture, national Thai and global cultural influences. [[Overseas Chinese]] also form a significant part of Thai society, particularly in and around Bangkok. Their successful integration into Thai society has allowed for this group to hold positions of economic and political power. |
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{{Life in Thailand}} |
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The traditional Thai greeting, the ''[[Thai greeting|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 their face to the hands, usually coinciding with the spoken word "Sawasdee khrap" for male speakers, and "Sawasdee ka" for females. The elder then is to respond afterwards in the same way. Social status and position, such as in government, will also have an influence on who performs the ''[[Thai greeting|wai]]'' first. For example, although one may be considerably older than a provincial governor, when meeting it is usually the visitor who pays respect first. When children leave to go to school, they are taught to ''wai'' to their parents to represent their respect for them. They do the same when they come back. The wai is a sign of respect and reverence for another, similar to the [[namaste]] greeting of India and Nepal. |
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[[Muay Thai]], or Thai boxing, is the national sport in Thailand and its native [[martial art]] call "Muay". In the past "Muay" was taught to royal soldiers for combat on battlefield if unarmed. After they retired from the army, these soldiers often became Buddhist monks and stayed at the temples. Most of the Thai people's lives are closely tied to Buddhism and [[Thai temple art and architecture|temples]]; they often send their sons to be educated with the monks. ”Muay” is also one of the subjects taught in the temples.<ref name=History>[http://www.muaythaiart.com/blog/muay-thai-history Muay Thai History]{{dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> Muay Thai achieved popularity all over the world in the 1990s. Although similar martial arts styles exist in other [[Southeast Asian]] countries, few enjoy the recognition that Muay Thai has received with its full-contact rules allowing strikes including elbows, throws and knees. |
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[[Association football]], however, has possibly overtaken Muay Thai's position as most widely viewed and liked sport in contemporary Thai society and it is not uncommon to see Thais cheering their favourite English Premier League teams on television and walking around in replica kits. Another widely enjoyed pastime, and once a competitive sport, is [[kite flying]]. |
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[[File:Thai Seafood Curry.jpg|thumb|left|Thai seafood curry, an example of [[Thai cuisine]].]] |
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[[Cuisine of Thailand|Thai cuisine]] blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. Some common ingredients used in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass, and fish sauce. The staple food in Thailand is rice, particularly [[jasmine rice|jasmine variety rice]] (also known as Hom Mali rice) which is included in almost every meal. Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice, and Thais domestically consume over 100 kg of milled rice per person per year.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.irri.org/science/cnyinfo/thailand.asp |title=IRRI country profile Thailand |publisher=Irri.org |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> Over 5000 varieties of rice from Thailand are preserved in the rice gene bank of the [[International Rice Research Institute]] (IRRI), based in the Philippines. The king of Thailand is the official patron of IRRI.<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.irri.org/media/facts/pdfs/THAILAND.pdf Cooperation of IRRI and Thailand]|38.7 KB}}</ref> |
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Like most Asian cultures, 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. Seniority is an important concept in Thai culture. Elders have by tradition ruled in family decisions or ceremonies. Older siblings have duties to younger ones. |
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Taboos in Thailand include touching someone's head or pointing with the feet, as the head is considered the most sacred and the foot the dirtiest part of the body.Thai society has been influenced in recent years by its widely available multi-language press and media. There are some English and numerous Thai and Chinese newspapers in circulation; most Thai popular magazines use English headlines as a [[chic (style)|chic]] glamor factor. Many large businesses in Bangkok operate in English as well as other languages. |
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Thailand is the largest newspaper market in Southeast Asia with an estimated circulation of at least 13 million copies daily in 2003. Even upcountry, out of Bangkok, media flourishes. For example, according to Thailand's Public Relations Department Media Directory 2003-2004, the nineteen provinces of [[Isan]], Thailand's northeastern region, hosted 116 newspapers along with radio, TV and cable. |
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==International rankings== |
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{{main|International rankings of Thailand}} |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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! Organization |
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! Survey |
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! Ranking |
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|- |
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| [[Heritage Foundation]] |
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| [[Index of Economic Freedom|Indices of Economic Freedom]] |
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| 50 out of 157 |
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|- |
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| [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]] |
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| [http://www.atkearney.com/index.php/News-media/geography-of-offshoring-is-shifting.html Global Services Location Index 2009] |
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| 4 out of 50 |
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|- |
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| [[Reporters Without Borders]] |
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| [[Reporters Without Borders#Worldwide Press Freedom Index|Worldwide Press Freedom Index]] |
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| 134 out of 169 |
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|- |
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| [[Transparency International]] |
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| [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] |
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| 84 out of 179 |
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|- |
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| [[United Nations Development Programme]] |
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| [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] |
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| 78 out of 177 |
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|- |
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| [[World Economic Forum]] |
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| [[Global Competitiveness Report]](2008)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gcr/2008/rankings.pdf |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-09-12 |publisher=www.weforum.org |work=World Economic Forum |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009|format=PDF}}</ref> |
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| 34 out of 125 |
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|} |
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==Sports== |
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{{Main| Thailand at the Olympics|Thai national football team|Thailand national beach football team}} |
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[[Image:Thammasat Stadium.jpg|right|thumb|Thammasat University Stadium [[national sport]]]] |
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[[Image:RajamangalaStadium.jpg|right|thumb|[[Rajamangala National Stadium]]]] |
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[[Image:Boxing33.jpg|right|thumb|[[Muay Thai]] is Thailand's [[national sport]]]] |
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[[Image:Pone Kingpetch during ring announcement.jpg|right|thumb|[[Muay Thai]] Pone Kingpetch, 1960s Muay Thai champion.]] |
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'''Thai boxing''' |
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[[Muay Thai]] (Thai: มวยไทย, RTGS: Muai Thai, {{IPA2|muɛj tʰɑj}},<!--mid tones not transcribed--> lit. "Thai Boxing") is a form of hard martial art practiced in large parts of the world, including Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. The art is similar to others in Southeast Asia such as: Pradal Serey in Cambodia, Lethwei in Burma, Tomoi in Malaysia, and [[Muay Lao]] in Laos. Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country's national sport. |
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Pone Kingpetch was a Thai boxer, from Hua Hin, who defeated Pascal Perez, an Argentinean boxer to become the first Thai WBC Flyweight Champion on 16 April 1960 and later a 3 time WBC Flyweight Champion. Pone Kingpetch originally known as Mana Sidokbuab, assumed this name from his training camp; Kingpetch. Thai fighters traditionally take on the name of the camps they train for. That owner of the gym and head coach’s, Thongtos Intratat is present in these pictures. Thongtos Intratat is also known for being the first person to officially formulate and bottle Namman Muay (Thai Liniment) which is desired for his fighter, Pone Kingpetch. Namman Muay (Thai Liniment) is still only produced by his direct descendants in Thailand. |
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Traditional [[Muay Thai]] practiced today varies significantly from the ancient art Muay Boran and uses kicks, punches and knee and elbow strikes in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing and this has led to Thailand gaining medals at the Olympic Games in [[Boxing]]. |
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'''Sepak Takraw''' |
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[[Takraw]] (Thai: ตะกร้อ) is a sport native to Thailand , which the players hit a rattan ball and only be allowed to use their feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball. [[Sepak Takraw]] is a form of this sport which appears in volley ball style, the players must volley a ball over a net and force it to hit the ground on oppnent's side. It is a popular in other countries in Southeast Asia also. |
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'''Rugby''' |
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Rugby is also a growing sport in Thailand with the [[Thailand national rugby union team]] rising to be ranked 61st in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000019/index.html |title=International Rugby Board - THAILAND |publisher=Irb.com |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> Thailand became the first country in the world to host an international 80 kg welterweight rugby tournament in 2005.<ref>The Nation, [http://nationmultimedia.com/2005/07/19/sport/index.php?news=sport_18070310.html], 19 July 2005</ref> The national domestic Thailand Rugby Union (TRU) competition includes several universities and services teams such as [[Chulalongkorn University]], [[Mahasarakham University]], [[Kasetsart University]], [[Prince of Songkla University]], [[Thammasat University]], [[Rangsit University]], the [[Thai Police]], the [[Thai Army]], the [[Thai Navy]] and the [[Royal Thai Air Force]]. Local sports clubs which also compete in the TRU include the British Club of Bangkok, the [[Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok)]] and the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. |
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'''Golf''' |
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''Further information: [[Golf in Thailand]]'' |
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Thailand has been called the Golf Capital of Asia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golfasia.com/golfthailand.php |title=Golf in Thailand by |publisher=Golfasia.com |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> as it is a popular destination for golf. The country attracts a large number of golfers from Japan, Korea, Singapore, South Africa and Western countries who come to play golf in Thailand every year.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chawadee Nualkhair |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE56913I20090710 |title=Thailand woos foreign golfers with sun, sand traps |publisher=Reuters |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> The growing popularity of golf, especially among the middle classes and expats, is evident since there are more than 200 world-class golf courses nationwide,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golf2thailand.com/golf_course_thailand.asp |title=Why to book with golf2thailand.com : Thailand Golf Courses Thailand Golf Packages |publisher=Golf2thailand.com |date= |accessdate=2010-04-25}}</ref> and some of them are chosen to host PGA and LPGA tournaments, such as [[Amata Spring Country Club]], Alpine Golf & Sports Club, Thai Country Club and Black Mountain Golf Club. |
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'''Other sports''' |
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Other sports in Thailand are slowly growing as the country develops its sporting infrastructure. The success in sports like [[powerlifting|weightlifting]] and [[Taekwondo]] at the last two [[Summer Olympic Games]] has demonstrated that [[boxing]] is no longer the only medal chance for Thailand. |
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'''Football''' |
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Thammasat Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 25,000. It is located in Thammasat University's Rangsit campus. |
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It was built for the 1998 Asian Games by construction firm Christiani and Nielsen, the same company that constructed the Democracy Monument in Bangkok. |
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Its appearance is that of a scaled down version of the Rajamangala Stadium. The tribunes form a continuous ring which are quite low behind each goal but rise up on each side. Unlike the Rajamangala though, Thammasat has a roof covering both side tribunes. Most striking about this stadium are the floodlights. Thai architects usually favour concrete pylons but these are the steel variety. As viewed from the exterior of the stadium the base of each pylon seems to grip the outside of the stadium and they dramatically lean over the tribunes so as to better illuminate the playing area. |
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Thammasat was going to be used for PEA FC's match against Singapore Armed Forces FC in an Asian Champions League qualifier in February 2009 but the pitch was deemed unplayable and the match was switched to the Rajamangala. |
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[[Rajamangala National Stadium]] is the biggest sporting arena in Thailand. It currently has a capacity of 65,000. It is located in Bang Kapi, Bangkok. The stadium was built in 1998 for the 1998 Asian Games and is the home stadium of [[Thailand national football team]] up to present. |
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{{Sport in Asia}} |
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==See also== |
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{{Portal|Thailand|Thailand portal by Melanochromis.jpg|80|120}} |
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{{Portal|Geography|Terrestrial_globe.svg}} |
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{{Main|Outline of Thailand}} |
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* [[Index of Thailand-related articles]] |
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* [[Thai Temple Art and Architecture]] |
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* [[:Category:Thai Buddhist temples]] |
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* [[Buddhism in Thailand]] |
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* [[Tourism in Thailand]] |
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* [[Football in Thailand]] |
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{{dead end|date=April 2010}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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{{sisterlinks|Thailand}} |
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; Government |
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* [http://www.thaigov.go.th/ Thaigov.go.th] Royal Government of Thailand |
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* [http://www.parliament.go.th/files/mainpage.htm Thai National Assembly] Official Thai Parliament website |
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* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-t/thailand.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members] |
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* [http://www.mfa.go.th/ Mfa.go.th] Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
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* [http://internet.nectec.or.th/webstats/internetmap.current.iir?Sec=internetmap_current Thailand Internet Information] National Electronics and Computer Technology Center |
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* [http://webhost.m-culture.go.th/en/ Ministry of Culture] |
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; General information |
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<!--Wikipedia is NOT a weblink directory. Please only add weblinks of top quality here, otherwise please consider using DMOZ (http://dmoz.org) --> |
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* {{CIA World Factbook }}<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html</ref>|th|Thailand}} |
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* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/thailand.htm Thailand] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs'' |
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* {{dmoz|Regional/Asia/Thailand}} |
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* {{wikiatlas|Thailand}} |
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* [http://map.longdo.com/en Longdo Map] On-line Thailand maps in English and Thai |
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; Travel |
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* [http://www.tourismthailand.org/ Tourism Authority of Thailand] Official tourism website |
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* {{wikitravel|Thailand}} |
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; Other |
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* {{Flickr-inline|Thailand}} |
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* [http://www.commonlanguageproject.net/?page_id=41#Thailand Thailand Country Fact Sheet] from the Common Language Project |
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Revision as of 21:16, 25 April 2010
References