(since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled
ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister
OLARN Cahipravat (since 24 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister
SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7
February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SOMPONG Amornwiwat (since 24
September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council
elections: monarch is hereditary; according to 2007 constitution,
prime minister is designated from among members of House of
Representatives; following national elections for House of
Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority
coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king; prime
minister is limited to two 4-year terms
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the Senate or
Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular vote
representing 76 provinces, 74 appointed by judges and independent
government bodies; all serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 members
elected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected on
proportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings of
provinces; all serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held in
March 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 23
December 2007 (next to be held in December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, Middle
Way 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5
note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by a
seven-member committee headed by the chief of the Constitutional
Court; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to the
Senate are non-partisan; registered political party members are
disqualified from being senators
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also
spelled ABHISIT Vejjajiva]; Matchima Thippatai (Middle Way Party)
[ANONGWAN Therpsuthin] - disbanded; Motherland Party (Peua Pandin
Party); People's Power Party (Palang Prachachon Party) or PPP
[SOMCHAI Wongsawat, acting] - disbanded; Royalist People's Party
(Pracharaj) [SANOH Thienthong]; Ruam Jai Thai Party (Thai Unity
Party) [CHETTA Thanacharo, also spelled CHETTHA Thanajaro]; Thai
Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA] -
disbanded
Political pressure groups and leaders:
People's Alliance for Democracy; Campaign for Democracy [Pibob
THONGCHAI]
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires DAMRONG
Kraikruan
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric G. JOHN
embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width),
white, and red
Economy
Thailand
Economy - overview:
With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and
generally pro-investment policies, Thailand appears to have fully
recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis. The country was
one of East Asia's best performers from 2002-04. Boosted by strong
export growth, the Thai economy grew 4.5% in 2007. Bangkok has
pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners in
an effort to boost exports and to maintain high growth. By 2007, the
tourism sector had largely recovered from the major 2004 tsunami.
Following the military coup in September 2006, investment and
consumer confidence stagnated due to the uncertain political climate
that lasted through the December 2007 elections. Foreign investor
sentiment was further tempered by a 30% reserve requirement on
capital inflows instituted in December 2006, and discussion of
amending Thailand's rules governing foreign-owned businesses.
Economic growth in 2007 was due almost entirely to robust export
performance - despite the pressure of an appreciating currency.
Exports have performed at record levels, rising nearly 17% in 2006
and 12% in 2007. Export-oriented manufacturing - in particular
automobile production - and farm output are driving these gains.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$521.5 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$245.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.4%
industry: 43.8%
services: 44.8% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
36.9 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 14%
services: 37% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.4% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 33.4% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42 (2002)
Investment (gross fixed):
26.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $44.14 billion
expenditures: $49.83 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Public debt:
37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.75% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.05% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$28.62 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$216.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$241.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Industries:
tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages,
tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric
appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture,
plastics, automobiles and automotive parts; world's second-largest
tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate:
5.4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
130.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
123.9 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
731 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
4.488 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 91.3%
hydro: 6.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2.4% (2001)
Oil - production:
348,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
928,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
207,400 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
832,900 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
460 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
25.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
35.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
9.8 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
331.2 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
$14.92 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$151.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry,
automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
Exports - partners:
US 12.6%, Japan 11.9%, China 9.7%, Singapore 6.3%, Hong Kong 5.7%,
Malaysia 5.1% (2007)
Imports:
$125.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods,
fuels
Imports - partners:
Japan 20.3%, China 11.6%, US 6.8%, Malaysia 6.2%, UAE 4.9%,
Singapore 4.5%, Taiwan 4.1% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$171.1 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$87.46 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$59.52 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$80.83 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$7.013 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$139.6 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
baht (THB)
Currency code:
THB
Exchange rates:
baht per US dollar - 33.599 (2007), 37.882 (2006), 40.22 (2005),
40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003)
Communications
Thailand
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.024 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
51.377 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas
like Bangkok
domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and
commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and
outpacing fixed lines
international: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable
systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East,
Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 238, FM 351, shortwave 6 (2007)
Radios:
13.96 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
111 (2006)
Televisions:
15.19 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.th
Internet hosts:
1.116 million (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
15 (2000)
Internet users:
13.416 million (2007)
Transportation
Thailand
Airports:
106 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 65
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 6 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 28 (2007)
Heliports:
3 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 4,381 km; refined products 320 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 4,071 km
narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006)
Waterways:
4,000 km
note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 398
by type: bulk carrier 53, cargo 135, chemical tanker 15, container
22, liquefied gas 28, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 100,
refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 16 (China 1, Japan 4, Malaysia 3, Singapore 2, Taiwan
1, UK 5)
registered in other countries: 40 (Bahamas 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10,
Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha
Military
Thailand
Military branches:
Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN, includes Royal Thai
Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Knogtap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for
voluntary military service; males are registered at 18 years of age;
2-year conscript service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,553,410
females age 16-49: 17,751,268 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,968,674
females age 16-49: 14,058,779 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 531,315
female: 511,288 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Thailand
Disputes - international:
separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern
provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem
terrorist activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border
surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on
completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several
islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee
talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels,
refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, and as of 2006, over
116,000 Karen, Hmong, and other refugees and asylum seekers from
Burma; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of historic boundary
with missing boundary markers; Cambodia claims Thai encroachments
into Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah Vihear
temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; Thailand
is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam
on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004,
international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt
construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through
China, Burma, and Thailand
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 132,241 (Burma) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit point for
illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma
and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis
cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries;
opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts;
also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in methamphetamine
production for regional consumption; major consumer of
methamphetamine since the 1990s despite a series of government
crackdowns
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Timor-Leste
Introduction
Timor-Leste
Background:
The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early
16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the
Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which
Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan
occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed
colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East
Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975
and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later.
It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of
Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification
followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated
100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999,
in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of
the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia.
Between the referendum and the arrival of a multinational
peacekeeping force in late September 1999, anti-independence
Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian
military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of
retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and
forcibly pushed 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. The
majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes,
irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly
100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20
September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the
International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the
country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002,
Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.
In late April 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's
security when a military strike led to violence and a near breakdown
of law and order in Dili. At the request of the Government of
Timor-Leste, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force
(ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste in late May. In August, the UN
Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in
Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of
over 1,600 personnel. In subsequent months, many of the ISF soldiers
were replaced by UN police officers; approximately 80 ISF officers
remained as of January 2008. From April to June 2007, the Government
of Timor-Leste held presidential and parliamentary elections in a
largely peaceful atmosphere with the support and assistance of UNMIT
and international donors.
Geography
Timor-Leste
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda
Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note -
Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the
Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of
Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates:
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline:
706 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:
mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural resources:
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use:
arable land: 8.2%
permanent crops: 4.57%
other: 87.23% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,065 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical
cyclones
Environment - current issues:
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification
Geography - note:
Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor is
part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of
the Lesser Sunda Islands
People
Timor-Leste
Population:
1,108,777
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 197,975/female 191,716)
15-64 years: 61.6% (male 347,573/female 334,908)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 17,578/female 19,027) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.5 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.05% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
26.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 41.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 48.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.94 years
male: 64.6 years
female: 69.39 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.36 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)
Languages:
Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English
note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole,
Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA
female: NA (2002)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government
Timor-Leste
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
conventional short form: Timor-Leste
local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum];
Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro
(Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos),
Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence:
28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20
May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of
Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:
22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system:
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains in place but
is to be replaced by civil and penal codes based on Portuguese law;
these have passed but have not been promulgated; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2007); note
- the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto
legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8
August 2007), note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre
GUSMAO; Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007
with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following
elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority
coalition as prime minister
election results: Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of
vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary from 52 to
65; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 June 2007 (next elections due by June
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT
24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN 4.5%, KOTA-PPT (Democratic
Alliance) 3.2%, UNTERDIM 3.2%, others 8.9%; seats by party -
FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT 2, UNDERTIM
2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be
appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior
Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established,
Court of Appeals is highest court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; National Congress for
Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO]; National Democratic
Union of Timorese Resistance or UNDERTIM [Cornelio DA Conceicao
GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Fernanda BORGES]; People's Party
of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent
Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic
Association of Timor or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Sons of the Mountain
Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN] (also known as Association of
Timorese Heroes)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, ARF, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jorge CAMEO
chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: