In 2015, Thailand had a population of 68.9 million people, with the majority of the population being Thai. The economy was largely based on tourism, manufacturing and agriculture. Foreign relations in 2015 were largely focused on maintaining good relations with other Asian nations such as China, Japan and South Korea as well as countries in Europe and the Americas. Thailand was also a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Politics in Thailand in 2015 was dominated by the military-backed government led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Chan-o-cha had been prime minister since 2014 following a coup d’état that ousted the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra. During his time in office, he maintained tight control over politics and media while introducing measures to improve the economy such as infrastructure investment and tax cuts for businesses. See ehealthfacts for Thailand in the year of 2005.
Yearbook 2015
Thailand. During the year, the military took a stronger grip on Thailand. According to COUNTRYAAH, Bangkok is the capital of Thailand which is located in Southeastern Asia. Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was deposed in a coup in May 2014, was sentenced in national court for corruption and was therefore banned from acting politically for five years. She was also indicted for corruption in ordinary court.
- Also see AbbreviationFinder.org for Thailand country abbreviations, including geography, history, economy and politics.
In February, China and Thailand agreed to increase military cooperation through, for example, cheaper arms exports from China to Thailand. China also promised not to interfere in Thailand’s internal affairs.
In April, the Interim Government lifted the state of emergency in the country. Instead, tough security laws were introduced in accordance with Article 44, which gave the military great powers such as arresting regime-critical journalists and oppositionists. Criticism came from the US and Europe. The human rights organization Human Rights Watch warned the outside world that Thailand was on the path of dictatorship and that it was time to stop being fooled by what was happening in Thailand. As a result of poorer relations with the West, Thailand strengthened ties with the Russian Federation.
In April, Russian Federation Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Thailand. It was the first time in 25 years that a Russian Prime Minister was visiting. The countries agreed on increased cooperation in areas such as trade and energy. They agreed that bilateral trade would double to $ 10 billion annually.
In May, the trial of Yingluck Shinawatra was opened in the Supreme Court in Bangkok. Corruption charges were directed against Yingluck and her Thailand party for buying votes by pledging farmers to buy their rice at double the world market price. The rice reform that was implemented in 2011 by the Yingluck government became a loss business for the Treasury of the equivalent of tens of billions of SEK – especially as the world market price fell sharply at that time, which meant that the state could not sell the rice further with the expected profit. If Yingluck is tried in court, she faces 10 years in prison. According to Yingluck’s supporters, the charges were an attempt to harm the Shinawatra clan for good.
In the same month, around 30 graves with dead bodies were found in southern Thailand near the border with Malaysia. The bodies were found in what were believed to be abandoned camps for trafficking and trafficking. Police believed the dead bodies were Muslim Rohingyas from Burma and Bangladesh. Tens of thousands of Rohingyas travel with the help of smugglers across the sea from the repression in Burma and Bangladesh to Thailand and then move on to the Muslim countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha demanded an end to refugee smuggling throughout the country and commissioned all provincial authorities to investigate human trafficking within ten days. The tightened control triggered a regional crisis as smugglers abandoned thousands of migrants on boats instead of putting them ashore in Thailand. At the same time, upwards of 140 graves with refugees were found in 28 smuggling camps in northern Malaysia. UN Refugee Agency The UNHCR expressed grave concern about the situation and demanded that a regional rescue operation be launched. Despite the UN’s plea for a temporary effort to resolve the humanitarian crisis, Thailand announced its intention to continue rejecting boat refugees.
In July, 72 people were indicted for smuggling and illegal immigration of foreign nationals to Thailand. Among the defendants were a high ranking military and several politicians. The criminal investigation began after the discovery of mass graves in southern Thailand.
In August, Thailand was shaken by a powerful bomb blast in central Bangkok. The attack took place next to the Hindu temple of Erawan, a popular tourist attraction which also has many Buddhist visitors. Twenty people were killed and over 120 injured. No one took the blame for the attack. In September, the so-called National Reform Council voted down a proposal for a new constitution. Thus, the transition to free elections will be delayed as they can only be announced after a new constitution has been voted on.
In November, two people were indicted for involvement in the Bangkok bombing in August. According to TT news agency, prosecutors were able to document that the two men were Uighurs from China.
In December, King Bhumibol turned 88 years old. His health condition has deteriorated in recent years, causing concern in the country. King Bhumibol has been king and head of state since 1946. He is highly respected by both politicians and the population and acts as the unifying force of the country and guarantees that the country is held together.