Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In April 2010, violent clashes between police and protesters (numbering up to tens of
thousands) resulted in 25 deaths. Red-shirted protesters barricaded themselves into an area
stretching from Lumphini Park to the shopping district near Siam Square, effectively shut-
ting down parts of central Bangkok. In May the protesters were eventually dispersed by
force, but not before at least 36 buildings were set alight and at least 15 people killed. The
death toll from the 2010 conflicts amounted to nearly 100 people, making it Thailand's
most violent political unrest in 20 years.
In 2001, days before he became prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra transferred his shares in Shin Cor-
poration to his siblings, chauffeur and even household servants in an apparent attempt to conceal his
true assets. Eventually the country's constitutional court would clear him of all fraud charges.
Yingluck Shinawatra: Thaksin's 'Clone'
Parliamentary elections in 2011 saw the election of Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sis-
ter of the still-exiled Thaksin. A former businesswoman, Yingluck had no prior political
experience and has been described by her older brother as his 'clone'. Yingluck's leader-
ship was tested almost immediately, when in mid-2011 the outskirts of Bangkok were hit
by the most devastating floods in decades. Although nearly all of central Bangkok was
spared from flooding, it was largely perceived that this was done at the expense of up-
country regions.
In 2011, Yingluck Shinawatra became the first female prime minister in Thai history.
Yingluck's tenure progressed relatively uneventfully until 2013, when she had to deal
with the fallout from both a botched rice scheme (
Click here
)
and a proposed bill that
would have granted amnesty to her brother, potentially allowing Thaksin to return to Thai-
land without facing trial for previous corruption convictions. The bill was rejected, but
Yingluck's intentions were made clear. Within weeks, antigovernment protesters, led by
former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban, were staging frequent rallies, eventually taking
over sections of central Bangkok in early 2014. After occasionally violent clashes that led
to the deaths of 28 people and a nullified election, in May 2014 Thailand's Constitutional
Court found Yingluck and nine members of her cabinet guilty of abuse of power, forcing
them to stand down. A caretaker government was appointed, only for the Thai military to
declare martial law on May 20, and two days later, officially announce that they had
