Thailand

The Thailand ( ประเทศไทย ), country of Asia whose territory covers 514  000 km ², account approximately 63 million inhabitants (2006). It is bordered in the west by the Burma, in the south by the Malaysia, in the east by the Kampuchea and in the North-East by the Laos.

Its capital is Bangkok or Thai Krungthep in . The Official language is the Thai and the Monnaie the Baht.

History

See also: History of Thailand, List of the kings de Thaïlande

The history of Thailand is very complex. Many kingdoms, principalities or empires divide the country in a very overlapping history, the foreign invasions and dominations remaining until the end of the 17th century. Chronological summary:

  • first century at the 6th century, the kingdom known by its Chinese name of Insane-nan dominates the area
  • 3rd with the 5th century, kingdom known under the Chinese name of Dun-sun (southern)
  • 6th at the 11th century, kingdom my of Dvaravati (center)
  • 7th century, relation with the kingdom of Sriwijaya (southern)
  • 8th century at the 13th century, kingdom My of Haripunjaya (northern)
  • 11th and 12th centuries, invasions khmères
  • 13th century, kingdom Thai of Sukhothai (center)
  • 13th with the 17th century, Thai kingdom of the Lan Na (northern)
  • 15th century, kingdom of Ayutthaya (center)
  • 18th century at our days, dynasty Chakri in Bangkok (or krungthep in Thai)

Geography

See also: Geography of Thailand

Thailand belongs to the Indochinese Péninsule, until the Isthme of Kra, which marks the transition with the Malayan Péninsule. The country extends on approximately 805  km of is in west and: 1770  km of north in the south.

In the center, one finds a vast plain, the alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya, the largest river inhabitant of Thailand. It is the densest area on the level of the richest population and from the agricultural point of view.

Bangkok is located near the fertile delta of Menam Chao Phraya (Me Nam - แม่นำ - literally mother of water, wants to say river or river in Thai). All around this basin rise mountainous solid masses. The solid masses which skirt the Burmese border are the most raised tops, culminating with: 2595  m with DOI Inthanon. As for the peninsular area, bordered of narrow coastal plains, it reaches its culminating point with the Khao Luang with: 1786  Mr.

In the east of the basin of the Chao Phraya, one finds another mountainous chain, of North-South axis, which culminates with: 1270  m thanks to DOI Pia Fai.

A low and arid plate extends to north and the east from this chain: it is the plate of Khorat, which occupies one the Eastern third of the country (called the Isan) and borders the valley of the Mekong, at the border with the Laos.

Policy

See also: Political of Thailand, Coup d'etat of September 2006 in Thailand

September 19th, 2006, whereas the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in New York, at the time of the General meeting of the United Nations, the army seized the power. During first days of the coup d'etat, the population seemed to take this coup d'etat positively. However, less than one week after the takeover, the army declared the state of emergency generalized . Consequently, this one was found applied to the worldwide and either only with the three Moslem provinces of the south.

Armoured tanks surrounded the offices of the government in Bangkok and the soldiers took the control of the television channels, before announcing the introduction of a provisional authority faithful to king de Thaïlande. Deposed the Prime Minister took refuge in London, where it has a second home. He claims to be always invested function, but its authority is from now on non-existent. Surayud Chulanont, former commander-in-chief of the army, was indeed invested lately in the capacity as Prime Minister by the king of Thailand. Let us specify that its government does not have anything a junta, because it comprises only two former servicemen, on twenty-six ministers. Elections should be organized soon, in order to put an end to the martial law into force currently.

Provinces

See also: Provinces of Thailand

The country is divided administratively into 76 provinces ( changwat , singular and plural), divided into five groups. The name of each province is derived from the name of its capital.

It is only by the effect of the treaty britannico - Siamese of 1909 that old the Royaume of Patani became integral part of Thailand, in the shape of four new provinces: Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun.

The provinces of the south, old the Kingdom of Patani, Moslem and are mainly shaken by interreligieuses violences and separatists since the years 1970. Between January 2004 and June 2006, these tensions made 1300 died. 87 Moslems died the October 25th 2004 after a demonstration in the province of Narathiwat (“massacre of Tak Bai”). Six months earlier, during the slaughter of the mosque of Krue, 32 " rebelles" had been killed by the police force. In reprisals, a Buddhist was decapitated.

July 19th 2005, the government inhabitant of Thailand imposes the state of emergency in the south of the country to restore safety: death squads launch kingpins on the public buildings and of the Bonze S are assassinated. The February 18th 2007, a series of attacks and fires makes four dead and 49 wounded in the southernmost provinces.

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