identifies moments in Thailand’s political history important to the emergence of human rights in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its purpose is to help orient the reader for the study that follows, rather than to provide an exhaustive history of Thai politics.
1973
Student demonstrations in Bangkok against the military government force “The Three Tyrants,” Thanom Kittikachorn, Phraphat Charusatien, and Narong Kittikachorn, into exile, and democratic elections are restored.
1976
Students protest the return of Thanom and Phraphat, but the military and paramilitary groups violently suppress them and reinstall a military government.
1980–1982
General Prem Tinsulanonda becomes prime minister and issues an executive order offering amnesty to the Communist Party of Thailand (CPT) fighters, and the CPT sees massive defections, bringing armed struggle to an end.
1992
17–20 May: “Black May.” General Suchinda Kraprayoon deploys military to disperse up to 200,000 demonstrators in Bangkok demanding a return to electoral democracy after a 1991 coup overthrowing Chatichai Choonhavan’s elected government. Fifty-two officially confirmed dead.
13 September: Chuan Leekpai elected prime minister.
1997
11 October: The “People’s Constitution” replaces the 1991 constitution drafted by the Suchinda regime.
Section 334(1) required the passing of an organic law to establish the National Human Rights Commission within two years.
1999
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act passes, and the process of selecting commissioners begins.
2001
January: Thaksin Shinawatra becomes prime minister when Thai Rak Thai wins the election.
July: NHRC formally constituted.
2005
February: Thaksin Shinawatra completes electoral term and wins reelection.
2006
8 February: People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD, or Yellow Shirts) forms, alleging Thaksin’s conflict of interest upon the Shinawatra family’s selling its majority holding in the telecommunications company Shin Corp.
April: Thaksin Shinawatra calls snap election, which the Democrat Party boycotts. Thai Rak Thai wins a majority. Thaksin resigns within two days of victory, continuing as Caretaker Prime Minister until parliament reconvenes. The Constitutional Court declares the elections invalid, calling for new elections in October.
19 September: Coup d’état, led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin while Thaksin addresses the United Nations Council on Foreign Relations in New York; martial law declared.
“Red Shirts” (initially the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship but soon renamed the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship [UDD]) begin to organize.
1 October: General Surayud Chulanont appointed prime minister (by the Council of National Security, previously the Council for Democratic Reform, which carried out the coup). Promulgation of interim constitution (providing immunity for coup makers).
2007
30 May: Thai Rak Thai dissolved by the Constitutional Tribunal for violation of election laws in 2006.
19 August: New constitution ratified by national referendum.
23 December: Elections won by Samak Sundaravej of the People’s Power Party (PPP), widely taken to be a proxy for Thaksin, who remained in self-imposed exile.
2008
September: “Yellow Shirt” (PAD) protestors occupy Government House in Bangkok, demanding Samak’s resignation.
Constitutional Court dismisses Samak for conflict of interest (after hosting two cooking shows while in office). Parliament chooses Somchai Wongsawat (of PPP) as prime minister.
20 September: Pheua Thai (generally seen as the third iteration of Thai Rak Thai) formed in anticipation of the outcome of the Constitutional Court’s investigation of the PPP. Yellow Shirt protests continue.
31 October: Thaksin tried in absentia and found guilty by the Supreme Court on two counts of corruption over land deal.
25 November–3 December: Yellow Shirts occupy Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
2 December: PPP dissolved by the Constitutional Court for electoral fraud; Somchai loses premiership.
3 December: The majority of former PPP Minsters of Parliament join Pheua Thai, but many join a coalition with the opposition Democrat Party, which then forms the government.
17 December: Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party becomes prime minister.
2009
March–April: Red Shirts (UDD) protest Democrat government economic policies.
Prime Minister Abhisit brings troops to Bangkok to break up Red Shirt protests; over 120 injured.
June: Yellow Shirt leadership creates the New Politics Party.
December: Roughly 20,000 Red Shirts demonstrate in Bangkok, demanding new elections.
2010
March–May: Red Shirts occupy and paralyze central Bangkok, demanding Abhisit’s resignation and new elections. Military attacks break up the demonstrations, leaving ninety-one dead.
2011
3 July: Pheua Thai, led by Thaksin’s sister Yingluck Shinawatra. The Democrat Party resumes the role of opposition.
October: Controversial rice subsidy scheme guarantees a price for farmers, causing a spike in government debt and rice prices.
2012
June: Responding to a proposed reconciliation bill (granting amnesty to military personnel who injured or killed demonstrators and to Thaksin for his corruption conviction), Yellow Shirts blockade parliament to stall debate on the bill.
November: Massive Yellow Shirt protests call for Yingluck’s resignation.
2013
April: The Constitutional Court prevents the Pheua Thai government from amending the 2007 constitution.
November: Yellow Shirts protest amnesty bill that would allow Thaksin to return without facing imprisonment.
December:
