Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2006
King Bhumibol celebrates 60th year on the throne; Thaksin government overthrown in a coup and
prime minister forced into exile. Thaksin's allies win the following elections.
2008
Cambodia successfully petitions Unesco to list Phra Wihan (known as Phrea Vihear in Cambodia)
as a World Heritage Site, reigniting border tensions with Thailand.
2008
Yellow Shirt, anti- Thaksin, pro-royalist activists seize Bangkok's international airports, causing a
weeklong shut-down.
2010
Red Shirt, pro-Thaksin activists occupy central Bangkok for two months demanding dissolution of
the government and re-instatement of elections; military crackdown results in 91 deaths.
2011
Puea Thai party wins general election; Yingluck Shinawatra (Thaksin's younger sister) becomes
Thailand's first female prime minister on a platform of reconciliation.
2012
More Yellow Shirt protests, culminating with a 10,000-strong march against Prime Minister Yin-
gluck, whom protestors see as a puppet of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin.
2013
The International Court Justice rules that Phra Wihan is part of Cambodia, although the area sur-
rounding it and another 100km of border are still disputed.
2014
Anti-Yingluck protestors shut down Bangkok calling for the prime minister to step down. Demands
include a proposed overhaul of the political system; tensions are high.
