Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Post Coup Years
Though Thaksin Shinawatra was removed
from the prime minister's position by a milit-
ary coup in 2006 and later fled the country to
avoid a gaol term, he still exerts a strong
gravitational pull on Thailand's political pro-
cess. Thaksin's politically allied party, Puea
Thai, won a majority of parliamentary seats in
2011, when his sister Yingluck Shinawatra
was elected as Thailand's first female prime
minister. This is the fifth straight electoral win
for a Thaksin-backed political party. She is
often viewed as a proxy for her brother, and
Thais rarely distinguish between the two.
Despite the unusual balance of power, Yin-
gluck's administration has brought about a de-
gree of political unity with the military.
The Shinawatra dynasty still polarises Thai
society. The legislature has spent two years
debating the details of the so-called amnesty
bill, which would allow Thaksin to return to
the country by absolving him of criminal
charges, which he is evading through self-im-
posed exile. The bill also provides amnesty
for those found guilty of wrongdoing in the
2010 military crackdown on Red Shirt activ-
ists; these include members of the military and even then-prime minister Abhisit Vej-
jajiva. The unpopularity of the extension of amnesty to the 'other' side shows a potential
rift between Thaksin's political party (Puea Thai) and his grassroots supporters (Red
Shirts; also known as the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship). As such it is
unpopular with both ends of the political spectrum, although popular with Thaksin sym-
pathisers. Thais in the political middle are fatigued from the political discord, which un-
dermines a deep-seated sense of a unified 'Thai-ness' and a cultural aversion to displays
of violence and anger.
Top Books
Very Thai (Philip Cornwell-Smith) Colourful
photos and essays on Thailand's quirks.
Chronicle of Thailand (William Warren) His-
tory of the last 50 years.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work
(Nicholas Grossman et al.) Official biography
of the king.
Top Films
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past
Lives (Apichatpong Weerasethakul; 2010)
Winner of Cannes 2010 Palm d'Or.
Paradoxocracy (Pen-ek Ratanaruang; 2013)
Traces the country's political history from the
1932 revolution to today.
OK Baytong (2007) Touches on the violence
between the Thais and Muslims.
Top News Analysis Sites
The Diplomat ( thediplomat.com ) Current af-
fairs magazine covering Asia Pacific.
New Mandala ( asiapacific.anu.
edu.au/newmandala) Commentary on news, so-
ciety and culture in Southeast Asia.
Asia Times Online ( atimes.com ) Respected
Southeast Asia reporting.
 
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