Thailand - A history of coups

3 Dec 2008, 3:22 pm   -   Source: SBS
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Only one Thai Prime Minister has ever reached the end of his term without being overthrown.

In the history of Thailand only one Thai Prime Minister has ever reached the end of his term without being overthrown.

1896 – Anglo-French accord guarantees the independence of Thailand despite colonisation of rest of region

1932 – Coup demotes monarchy to titular status. Representative govt and universal suffrage implemented.

1941 – Japan invades Thailand and uses it as base for campaign against Malaya.

1942 – Pro-Japanese puppet govt forced to declare war on Britain and US.

1944 – Puppet-government falls, Thailand repudiates declaration of war on Britain and US

1945 – Exiled King Ananda returns after WWII ends.

1946 – King Ananda assassinated

1947 – Pro-Japanese Phibun Songkhram leads military coup. Army stays in power until 1973.

1960s: Thailand receives US aid and becomes US base in wars in neighbouring Cambodia and Vietnam by providing base and sending some troops of its own.

1973 – Student riots in Bangkok bring about fall of military. Civilian government is freely elected.

1976 – Thailand demands US withdraw its 23,000 troops after Communist triumph in Vietnam and Khmer Rouge fall in Cambodia

October 6, 1976 – Civilian government overthrown in military coup, political parties are banned.

1978 – New constitution promulgated.

1978-1980 – Floods of refugees from Laos and Cambodia live in camps on Cambodian border despite US efforts to disperse them.

1980 – National assembly elects General Prem Tinsulanonda as prime minister. Political parties are given some freedoms.

April 3, 1980 – Attempted coup against Prem government fails.

1983 – Prem gives up military title and heads civilian government following elections.

1986 – Prem is re-elected.

1988 – General Chatichai Choonhaven replaces Prem after elections.

September 9, 1985 – Another coup is crushed by government-loyal troops after ten hours of fighting in Bangkok

February 1991 – 17th coup since 1932 yields junta which declares a state of emergency and abolishes the constitution. Anand Panyarchun becomes PM.

1992 March: General Suchinda Kraprayoon elected in place of Anand, sparking demonstrations so intense he is forced to resign. Anand returns temporarily.
September: Democratic Party head Chuan Leekpai elected PM.

May 1995 – Land-reform scandal causes fall of the government. Thai Nation party leader Banharn Silpa-archa elected PM.

1996 – Barnharn government resigns after accusations of corruption. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh of New Aspiration elected.

1997 – International Monetary Fund assists Thailand through Asian financial crisis. Chuan Leekpai re-instated.

1998 – Chuan forms coalition to get Thailand through economic slump of 3.5 percent after years of growth. Migrant workers sent home in droves.

2001 –     January: Communications tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra of Thais Love Thais wins elections and forms a coalition amid accusations of vote-buying. Middle class crticise his harassment of media and human rights record.
March: Police suspect an attempt on Thaksin’s life when his plane explodes.
April: Thaksin in court for concealing business assets while in power.

2004 – Thaksin fails to quell a Muslim insurgency which kills over 1,700 in the south.

2005 –    February: Thaksin re-elected in landslide and becomes first PM to serve full term and hold majority.
September: Thaksin cancels TV show that criticises him.
November: Presenter of show accuses Thaksin of abuse of power at weekly rallies which draw thousands.

February 2006 — Tens of thousands protest in Bangkok demanding Thaksin's resignation. Thaksin dissolves Parliament and calls snap elections three years early. Opposition refuses to vote.
 
March 2006 — Protesters march on Government House and take over main shopping district to show Thaksin’s rule is damaging economy.
 
April 2006 — Voters show dissatisfaction with Thaksin and opposition boycotts election. Thaksin claims he is victorious with a 57 percent majority. King Bhumibol Adulyadej pressures him to step down and he vows to do so.
 
April-May 2006 — Thaksin takes seven-week break from politics, but schedules a new election despite intensifying legal challenges.

2006 August: Thaksin accuses several army officers of plotting to kill him after police find a car containing bomb-making materials near his house.
 September: Six motorcycle bombs kill three people and wound more than 60 on a busy street highlighting Thaksin's deteriorating control.
 
September: Military launches a coup while Thaksin is in New York at the UN General Assembly and declares martial law.

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