Thailand: Investigation into alleged constitutional violation by new prime minister - timeline
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- June 2008. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej survives a motion of no-confidence at the end of a three-day debate in the House of Representatives (the lower house of the bicameral legislature).
- May 2008. Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair resigns after being charged by the police with lèse majesté (an offence against the king).
- February 2008. King Bhumibol Adulyadej swears in a new cabinet led by Samak, the leader of the People's Power Party (PPP).
- January 2008. The newly elected House of Representatives elects Samak as the new prime minister.
- January 2008. The wife of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Khunying Potjaman, returns from exile.
- July 2007. The Supreme Court decides to proceed with a trial of Thaksin and his wife on corruption charges.
- June 2007. The police file corruption charges against Thaksin, nine months after his government is ousted by a military coup.
- June 2007. Thaksin speaks to a rally of 15,000 anti-coup demonstrators via video link from London.
- January 2007. Both Prime Minister Gen. (retd) Surayud Chulanont and chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin state their belief that the Bangkok explosions were likely to have been caused by "those who have lost political power".
- December 2006. A series of bomb explosions in Bangkok kill three people and injure at least 34, including eight foreign tourists.
- November 2006. Surayud agrees to partially lift the state of martial law that has been imposed since September.
- October 2006. Surayud is chosen as interim prime minister by the CNS.
- October 2006. Thaksin resigns as the leader of the Thai Rak Thai (TRT - Thais Love Thais) party.
- September 2006. Army commander Boonyaratglin and five other generals stage a bloodless military coup.
- August 2006. Bangkok police intercept a suspicious vehicle near Government House, the official residence of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin.
- June 2006. The political confusion following the invalidation of the general election is prolonged when a committee of public prosecutors recommends to the Constitution Court the dissolution of both the ruling TRT party and the main opposition Democrat Party (DP) on the grounds that they have violated the constitution and acted in ways deemed detrimental to democracy.
- May 2006. The Constitution Court rules that the general election of the House of Representatives is invalid, and orders fresh elections to be held.
- May 2006. TRT leader Thaksin resumes as acting prime minister, having stepped aside following turmoil in the immediate aftermath of elections.
- April 2006. Elections are held to the 500-member House of Representatives despite a boycott by the main opposition parties.
- March 2006. Prime Minister Thaksin refuses to bow to protests calling for his resignation.
- February 2006. Thaksin dissolves the National Assembly (the legislature) and calls a general election three years ahead of schedule.
- February 2005. Thaksin wins a second consecutive term with a landslide victory.
- January 2001. Thaksin and the TRT win a general election, narrowly failing to secure an unprecedented national absolute majority.
- January 1999. The Far Eastern Economic Review states that Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai believes that a number of recent bomb attacks in Bangkok are "the work of a small group of serving and ex-military officers bent upon toppling his government".
- December 1998. The IMF announces that it has agreed to disburse a further US$500 million in aid to Thailand.
- July 1998. The World Bank approves two loans totalling US$700 million to Thailand in order to aid financial reform and to help mitigate the adverse social impact of the economic crisis on the poor and unemployed.
- June 1992. The House of Representatives is dissolved by royal decree, paving the way for fresh parliamentary elections.
- May 1992. Massive demonstrations in Bangkok against the premiership of Gen. Suchinda Kraprayoon result in a violent military crackdown.
- April 1992. Suchinda, hitherto army commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the armed forces, and the effective leader of the military junta is appointed as prime minister.
- May 1991. Martial law is lifted in most areas of the country.
- February 1991. The armed forces topple the elected government of Prime Minister Maj.- Gen. Chatichai Choonhaven in a bloodless coup.
- December 1990. Chatichai carries out his third and most extensive cabinet reshuffle in four months.
- November 1990. A dispute over the army's seizure of a mobile radio unit increases tension between the government and the military, leading to a minor government reshuffle.
- October 1990. Gen. Chaovalit Yongchaiyut, who is regarded as the principal political rival of Prime Minister Chatichai, is elected as leader of the newly formed New Hope Party (NHP).
- June 1990. Chaovalit's abrupt resignation as deputy prime minister and defence minister prompts speculation about the stability of the country's six-party coalition government.
- March 1990. Chaovalit announces that he will be joining the government as a deputy prime minister and as minister of defence, ending widespread speculation about his political plans.
- 1985. The Democrat Party wins by-elections in Bangkok.
- March 1981. Gen. Prem Tinsulanond forms a new government after a cabinet crisis leads to the resignation of 13 members of his previous government.
- 1980. An economic crisis, caused by accelerating inflation and an increasingly adverse balance of payments, leads to two changes of government in the first three months of 1980.
- April 1979. Elections are held in order to form a new House of Representatives, set up under a constitution approved by the former National Legislative Assembly.
- October 1977. Thanin Kraivichien's government is overthrown by a military coup in Bangkok. A "Revolutionary Council" of 23 high-ranking officers takes power.
- March 1977. A military coup is attempted in Bangkok but is suppressed within a few hours almost without bloodshed. The leader of the coup, Gen. Chalard Hiranyasiri, is shot without trial, and 24 other officers and civilians receive sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment.
- October 1976. The coalition government in Thailand is overthrown by a military coup
- January 1976. On the recommendation of Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj, the king of Thailand dissolves the National Assembly less than a year after it was elected.
- January 1975. General elections are held following the promulgation of a new constitution.
- May 1974. Prime Minister Sanya Dharmasakti submits his resignation to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Gen. Kris Sivara, the commander-in-chief of the army, proclaims a nationwide state of alert, while emphasising that it is merely a precautionary measure and "not a preparation for a coup".
- December 1973. King Bhumibol Adulyadej nominates a national convention of 2,346 members to choose a new National Assembly, which will ratify a new constitution.
- October 1973. The military government headed by Field-Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn resigns after mass student demonstrations in Bangkok result in riots and heavy casualties.
- August 1973. Thailand and the USA issue a joint communiqué stating that the Thai and US governments have agreed "to proceed with official discussions with a view to reducing the level of US forces in Thailand".
- December 1972. An interim constitution is promulgated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, replacing the National Executive Council formed after the military coup of November 1971.
- November 1971. The Thai armed forces carry out a bloodless coup when they dissolve the cabinet and both houses of the legislature, suspend the constitution, and proclaim martial law.
- March 1970. An agreement is signed by Air Chief Marshal Dawee Chullasapya, chief of staff of the Thai armed forces, and Tun Abdul Razak, the Malaysian deputy prime minister and minister of defence, on co-operation between the armed forces of the two countries against communist guerrillas operating on either side of the Thai-Malaysian border.
- August 1969. The USA and Thailand agree to begin talks on the reduction of US forces stationed in Thailand.
- May 1969. Thailand and the Chinese nationalist government in Formosa agree to exchange information and intelligence on security matters.
- February 1968. The Constituent Assembly approves a new constitution for Thailand
- March 1967. US and Thai spokesmen officially confirm that US aeroplanes based in Thailand are bombing targets in North Vietnam.
- January 1965. The existence of the "Thailand Patriotic Front" is announced by the official New China News Agency.
- December 1963. Field-Marshal Sarit Thanarat, prime minister and virtual dictator of Thailand since 1958, dies aged 55.
- November 1952. The police authorities discover a plot to bring about a communist revolution.
- September 1952. The crown prince of Thailand is given the official name of Vajiralongkorn.
- July 1952. Queen Sirikit of Thailand gives birth to a son, Phumiphon Aduldet.
- November 1951. A military coup d'etat by a group of high-ranking army, navy, and airforce officers takes place.
- June 1951. Naval forces in Bangkok attempts a coup d'etat when the Prime Minister, Marshal Pibul Songgram is abducted by insurgents.
- January 1951. The Thai government announces a final agreement with the Australian, Indian, and UK governments on the payment of £5,224,000 in war compensation.
- March 1950. King Phumiphon Aduldet returns to Thailand.
- July 1948. Siam changes its name back to Thailand.
- September 1945. The US Office of Strategic Services discloses that Siam acted as a secret partner of the UN while ostensibly masquerading as a Japanese "puppet" state during World War II.
- January 1942. Thailand declares war on the UK and the USA.
- December 1941. Thailand signs a 10 year treaty with Japan.
- May 1941. Thailand reinforces the Malayan Frontier and exchanges military attaches with Germany and Japan.
- Feb 1941. The Thailand-Indo-China peace conference opens in Tokyo.
- October 1940. Thailand demands Indo-China frontier rectifications.
- August 1940. Thailand exchanges ratification of a non-aggression pact with the UK.
- June 1940. Thailand signs non-aggression pacts with the Allies and the Treaty of Friendship with Japan.
- September 1939. The Thai government officially proclaims its neutrality in the war.
- July 1939. Siam becomes Thailand.
- March 1935. The proclamation of King Prajadhipok's abdication and the succession of his nephew Prince Ananda Mahidol is issued in Bangkok.
- June 1933. Siam experiences further unrest.
- April 1933. King Prajadhipok proclaims martial law, dissolves the Siamese legislature, and puts aside the constitution.
- December 1932. The new Siamese constitution comes into effect.
- July 1932. Prince Paribatra of Nagar Svarga is released by his captors.
- July 1932. The king, acting on the advice of the council of the People's Party, dismisses all his ministers.
- June 1932. A bloodless coup organised by the People's Party takes place on June 24. King Prajadhipok continues to rule but is forced to switch from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.
