Long-form name: Kingdom of Thailand; under martial law since military takeover 23 February 1991

Type: constitutional monarchy; under martial law since military coup of 23 February 1991

Capital: Bangkok

Administrative divisions: 73 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized

Constitution: 22 December 1978; interim constitution promulgated by National Peace-Keeping Council on 1 March 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)

Executive branch: monarch, interim prime minister, three interim deputy prime ministers, interim Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council; following the military coup of 23 February 1991 a National Peace-Keeping Council was set up

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha) consists of an upper house or Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn); following the military coup of 23 February 1991 the National Assembly was dissolved and a new interim National Legislative Assembly has been formed until elections are held in April 1992

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarndika)

Leaders: Chief of State--King PHUMIPHON ADUNLAYADET (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952); Head of Government--Interim Prime Minister ANAN Panyarachun (since 4 March 1991); Interim Deputy Prime Minister SANO Unakun (since 6 March 1991); Interim Deputy Prime Minister Police Gen. PHAO Sarasin (since 6 March 1991); Interim Deputy Prime Minister MICHAI Ruchupan (since 6 March 1991); National Peace-Keeping Council (ruling junta)--Chairman Gen. SUNTHON Khongsomphong; Vice Chairman Gen. SUCHINDA Khraprayun; Vice Chairman Adm. PRAPHAT Kritsanachan; Vice Chairman Air Chief Mar. KASET Rotchananin; Vice Chairman Police Gen. SAWAT Amonwiwat

Political parties and leaders: under martial law political parties are prohibited from meeting; leaders of several parties have resigned and other parties are fragmenting; it is unclear which of the following parties functioning at the time of the military coup will still be in existence by the time new elections are held; Thai Nation Party (TNP); Solidarity Party; Thai Citizens Party (TCP); People's Party (Ratsadon); Thai People's Party; Social Action Party (SAP); Democrat Party (DP); Mass Party; Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma); People's Party (Prachachon); New Aspiration Party; United Democracy Party; Liberal Party; Social Democratic Force

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Elections: House of Representatives--last held 24 July 1988 (next to be held by April 1992 for a new National Legislative Assembly according to the National Peace-Keeping Council); results--TNP 27%, SAP 15%, DP 13%, TCP 9%, other 36%; seats--(357 total) TNP 96, Solidarity 62, SAP 53, DP 48, TCP 31, People's Party (Ratsadon) 21, Thai People's Party (Prachachon) 17, Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma) 15, United Democracy Party 5, Mass Party 5, Liberal 3, Social Democratic Force 1; note--the House of Representatives was dissolved 23 February 1991; the new interim National Legislative Assembly has 292 seats with 148 of the seats held by active and retired military officers

Communists: illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members; armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 300 to 500 (est.)

Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7200; there are Thai Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York; US--Ambassador Daniel A. O'DONAHUE; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96346); telephone [66] (2) 252-504019; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates in Songkhla and Udorn

Flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

NOTE: The information regarding Thailand on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Thailand Government 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Thailand Government 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.