Thailand

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. Thailand is currently facing separatist violence in its southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces.

• tropical;
• rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September);
• dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);
• southern isthmus always hot and humid

• central plain;
• Khorat Plateau in the east;
• mountains elsewhere

total:

82.75 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)

per capita:

1,288 cu m/yr (2000)

• air pollution from vehicle emissions;
• water pollution from organic and factory wastes;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

Law of the Sea

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.83 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

degree of risk:

high

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A

vectorborne diseases:

dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria

animal contact disease:

rabies

water contact disease:

leptospirosis

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

noun:

Thai (singular and plural)

adjective:

Thai

conventional long form:

Kingdom of Thailand

conventional short form:

Thailand

local long form:

Ratcha Anachak Thai

local short form:

Prathet Thai

former:

Siam

name:

Bangkok

geographic coordinates:

13 45 N, 100 31 E

time difference:

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

chief of state:

King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet or (BHUMIBOL Adulyadej) (since 9 June 1946)

head of government:

• Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008);
• Deputy Prime Minister OLARN Cahipravat (since 24 September 2008);
• Deputy Prime Minister SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7 February 2008);
• Deputy Prime Minister SOMPONG Amornwiwat (since 24 September 2008)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers

note: there is also a Privy Council

elections:

• monarch is hereditary;
• according to 2007 constitution, prime minister is designated from among members of House of Representatives;
• following national elections for House of Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king;
• prime minister is limited to two 4-year terms

• Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva];
• Matchima Thippatai (Middle Way Party) [ANONGWAN Therpsuthin] - disbanded;
• Motherland Party (Peua Pandin Party);
• People's Power Party (Palang Prachachon Party) or PPP [SOMCHAI Wongsawat, acting] - disbanded;
• Royalist People's Party (Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong];
• Ruam Jai Thai Party (Thai Unity Party) [CHETTA Thanacharo, also spelled CHETTHA Thanajaro];
• Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA] - disbanded

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires DAMRONG Kraikruan

chancery:

1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:

[1] (202) 944-3600

FAX:

[1] (202) 944-3611

consulate(s) general:

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Eric G. JOHN

embassy:

120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330

mailing address:

APO AP 96546

telephone:

[66] (2) 205-4000

FAX:

[66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131

consulate(s) general:

Chiang Mai

agriculture:

49%

industry:

14%

services:

37% (2000 est.)

lowest 10%:

2.7%

highest 10%:

33.4% (2002)

• tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts;
• world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

general assessment:

high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok

domestic:

fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines

international:

• country code - 66;
• connected to major submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and US;
• satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)

total:

4,071 km

narrow gauge:

4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

total:

398

by type:

bulk carrier 53, cargo 135, chemical tanker 15, container 22, liquefied gas 28, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 100, refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned:

16 (China 1, Japan 4, Malaysia 3, Singapore 2, Taiwan 1, UK 5)

registered in other countries:

40 (Bahamas 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1) (2008)

• 21 years of age for compulsory military service;
• 18 years of age for voluntary military service;
• males are registered at 18 years of age;
• 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)

males age 16-49:

17,553,410

females age 16-49:

17,751,268 (2008 est.)

males age 16-49:

12,968,674

females age 16-49:

14,058,779 (2008 est.)

male:

531,315

female:

511,288 (2008 est.)

• separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities;
• Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu;
• talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River;
• despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, and as of 2006, over 116,000 Karen, Hmong, and other refugees and asylum seekers from Burma;
• Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of historic boundary with missing boundary markers;
• Cambodia claims Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962;
• Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma;
• in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand

• a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana;
• transit point for illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos;
• eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries;
• opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts;
• also a drug money-laundering center;
• minor role in methamphetamine production for regional consumption;
• major consumer of methamphetamine since the 1990s despite a series of government crackdowns