Group Rights

Thailand: Political Violence Leads to Human Rights Abuses

The political conflict in Thailand that has been raging since 14 March 2010 between the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) known as the ‘Red Shirts’ and the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has led to violence and possible human rights abuses. At least 85 have been killed and 1,898 injured according to the Public Health Ministry, and violence has spread beyond the capital Bangkok.

Although the government has used military force against the protestors and hostilities in have been continuing for some time, the violence is unlikely to be classified as an ‘armed conflict’ for the purposes of international humanitarian law. However Thailand remains bound by a number of international human rights obligations.

Violence peaked on 10 April, when the government’s attempt to forcibly disperse anti-government protests organized by the (UDD) and supported by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra escalated into a street battle in the capital. According to the Erawan Emergency Medical Center, 15 civilians and 5 soldiers were killed by gunshots, explosions from grenades and improvised explosive devices and beatings. At least 569 civilians, 265 soldiers, and 8 police officers were injured from teargas inhalation, assaults, and gunshot and shrapnel wounds.

The protestors were successfully dispersed last week in a bloody military crackdown during which the army shot at them, used armoured vehicles to destroy their bamboo-and-tire barricades and forced them to retreat from the city centre. All these allegations could give rise to violations of the right to life and personal security and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

Along with Libya and twelve other countries, Thailand was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) on 13 May, as the Royal Thai Army was shooting and killing people in Bangkok amid continuing political turmoil.

The situation in Thailand, and more specifically Bangkok, could be best described as a state of turmoil or “internal unrest” where fundamental human rights are being violated.

Government:

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy under the beloved king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has reigned since 1946. King Bhumibol is the world's longest-serving head of state. Thailand's current Prime Minister is Abhisit Vejjajiva, who assumed office on December 17, 2008.

Geography:

Thailand covers 514,000 square kilometers (198,000 square miles) at the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
The Thai coastline stretches for 3,219 km along both the Gulf of Thailand on the Pacific side, and the Andaman Sea on the Indian Ocean side. The west coast was devastated by the Southeast Asian tsunami in December of 2004, which swept across the Indian Ocean from its epicenter off Indonesia.
The highest point in Thailand is Doi Inthanon, at 2,565 meters (8,415 feet). The lowest point is the Gulf of Thailand, at sea level.

Economy:

Thailand's "Tiger Economy" was humbled by the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, when the GDP growth rate plummeted from +9% in 1996 to -10% in 1998. Since then, Thailand has recovered well, with growth at a manageable 4-7%.
The Thai economy depends mainly on automotive and electronics manufacturing exports (19%), financial services (9%), and tourism (6%). About half of the workforce is employed in the agriculture sector, and Thailand is the world's top exporter of rice. The country also exports processed foods like frozen shrimp, canned pineapple, and canned tuna.
Thailand's currency is the baht.

Thailand

History:

Modern humans first settled the area that is now Thailand in the Paleolithic Era, perhaps as early as 100,000 years ago. For up to 1 million years prior to the arrival of Homo sapiens, the region was home to Homo erectus such as Lampang Man, whose fossilized remains were discovered in 1999.
As Homo sapiens moved in to Southeast Asia, they began to develop appropriate technologies: watercraft for navigating the rivers, intricate woven fish nets, etc. People also domesticated plants and animals, including rice, cucumbers and chickens. Small settlements grew up around fertile land or rich fishing spots, and developed into the first kingdoms.
The early kingdoms were ethnically Malay, Khmer, and Mon. Regional rulers vied with one another for resources and land, but all were displaced when the Thai people immigrated into the area from southern China.
Around the 10th century A.D. ethnic Thais invaded, fighting off the governing Khmer empire and establishing the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1448), and its rival, the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767). Over time, the Ayutthaya grew more powerful, subjecting the Sukhothai and dominating most of southern and central Thailand.
In 1767, an invading Burmese army sacked the Ayutthaya capital and divided up the kingdom. The Burmese held central Thailand for only two years before they were defeated in turn by the Siamese leader General Taksin. Taksin soon went mad, and was replaced by Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty with continues to rule Thailand today. Rama I moved the capital to its present site at Bangkok.
During the nineteenth century, the Chakri rulers of Siam watched European colonialism sweep across neighboring countries of Southeast and Southern Asia. Burma and Malaysia became British, while the French took Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Siam alone, through skilled royal diplomacy and internal strength, was able to fend off colonization.
In 1932, the military forces staged a coup d'etat that transformed the country into a constitutional monarchy. Nine years later, the Japanese invaded the country, inciting the Thais to attack and take Laos from the French. Following Japan's defeat in 1945, the Thais were forced to return the land they'd taken.
The current monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, came to the throne in 1946 after the mysterious shooting death of his older brother. Since 1973, power has moved from military to civilian hands repeatedly.

Fast Facts about Thailand

• Border countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma)
• Population: 65,493,296
• Religion: 95% Buddhist
• Literacy: 92.6%, though reading anything other than the newspaper or comic books is regarded as an eccentric hobby
• Prime Minister: Abhisit Vejjajiva
• Highest point: Doi Inthanon 2565m
• Head of state: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)