324 lines
26 KiB
Plaintext
324 lines
26 KiB
Plaintext
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THAILAND
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GEOGRAPHY
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Total area: 514,000 km2; land area: 511,770 km2
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Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
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Land boundaries: 4,863 km total; Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km,
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Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km
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Coastline: 3,219 km
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Maritime claims:
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Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
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Territorial sea: 12 nm
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Disputes: boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime
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boundary with Vietnam
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Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon
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(mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to
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mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
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Terrain: central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains
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elsewhere
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Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum,
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timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
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Land use: arable land 34%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures
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1%; forest and woodland 30%; other 31%; includes irrigated 7%
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Environment: air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok
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area
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Note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and
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Singapore
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PEOPLE
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Population: 56,814,069 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)
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Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)
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Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
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Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
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Infant mortality rate: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
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Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)
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Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)
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Nationality: noun--Thai (sing. and pl.); adjective--Thai
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Ethnic divisions: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
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Religion: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%,
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Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.5% (1991)
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Language: Thai; English is the secondary language of the elite;
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ethnic and regional dialects
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Literacy: 93% (male 96%, female 90%) age 15 and over can
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read and write (1990 est.)
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Labor force: 30,870,000; agriculture 62%, industry 13%,
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commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)
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Organized labor: 309,000 union members (1989)
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GOVERNMENT
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Long-form name: Kingdom of Thailand; under martial law since
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military takeover 23 February 1991
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Type: constitutional monarchy; under martial law since
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military coup of 23 February 1991
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Capital: Bangkok
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Administrative divisions: 73 provinces (changwat, singular and
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plural); Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum,
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Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin,
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Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon,
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Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon
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Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan,
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Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum
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Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,
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Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin
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Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sakon
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Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun,
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Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin,
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Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit,
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Yala, Yasothon
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Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized
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Constitution: 22 December 1978; interim constitution promulgated
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by National Peace-Keeping Council on 1 March 1991
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Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of
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common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial
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law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup
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National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December
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(1927)
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Executive branch: monarch, interim prime minister, three
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interim deputy prime ministers, interim Council of Ministers (cabinet),
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Privy Council; following the military coup of 23 February 1991
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a National Peace-Keeping Council was set up
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Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha)
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consists of an upper house or Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or
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House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn); following the
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military coup of 23 February 1991 the National Assembly was dissolved
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and a new interim National Legislative Assembly has been formed until
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elections are held in April 1992
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Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarndika)
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Leaders:
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Chief of State--King PHUMIPHON ADUNLAYADET (since 9 June 1946);
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Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952);
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Head of Government--Interim Prime Minister ANAN Panyarachun
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(since 4 March 1991);
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Interim Deputy Prime Minister SANO Unakun (since 6 March 1991);
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Interim Deputy Prime Minister Police Gen. PHAO Sarasin (since 6 March
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1991);
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Interim Deputy Prime Minister MICHAI Ruchupan (since 6 March 1991);
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National Peace-Keeping Council (ruling junta)--Chairman
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Gen. SUNTHON Khongsomphong;
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Vice Chairman Gen. SUCHINDA Khraprayun;
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Vice Chairman Adm. PRAPHAT Kritsanachan;
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Vice Chairman Air Chief Mar. KASET Rotchananin;
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Vice Chairman Police Gen. SAWAT Amonwiwat
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Political parties and leaders: under martial law political
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parties are prohibited from meeting; leaders of several parties have
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resigned and other parties are fragmenting; it is unclear which of
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the following parties functioning at the time of the military
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coup will still be in existence by the time new elections are
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held;
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Thai Nation Party (TNP);
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Solidarity Party;
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Thai Citizens Party (TCP);
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People's Party (Ratsadon);
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Thai People's Party;
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Social Action Party (SAP);
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Democrat Party (DP);
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Mass Party;
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Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma);
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People's Party (Prachachon);
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New Aspiration Party;
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United Democracy Party;
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Liberal Party;
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Social Democratic Force
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Suffrage: universal at age 21
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Elections:
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House of Representatives--last held 24 July 1988 (next to be
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held by April 1992 for a new National Legislative Assembly according
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to the National Peace-Keeping Council);
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results--TNP 27%, SAP 15%, DP 13%, TCP 9%, other 36%;
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seats--(357 total) TNP 96, Solidarity 62, SAP 53, DP 48, TCP 31,
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People's Party (Ratsadon) 21, Thai People's Party (Prachachon) 17,
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Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma) 15, United Democracy Party 5,
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Mass Party 5, Liberal 3, Social Democratic Force 1; note--the
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House of Representatives was dissolved 23 February 1991; the
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new interim National Legislative Assembly has 292 seats with 148 of
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the seats held by active and retired military officers
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Communists: illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members;
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armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 300 to 500
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(est.)
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Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT,
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IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
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INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
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UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
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Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG
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Kasemsi; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008;
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telephone (202) 483-7200; there are Thai Consulates General in Chicago,
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Los Angeles, and New York;
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US--Ambassador Daniel A. O'DONAHUE; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road,
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Bangkok (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96346); telephone 66 (2)
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252-504019; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates
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in Songkhla and Udorn
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Flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double
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width), white, and red
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ECONOMY
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Overview: Thailand, one of the more advanced developing countries
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in Asia, enjoyed a year of 9% growth in 1990, although down from the
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double-digit rates of 1987-89. The increasingly sophisticated
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manufacturing sector benefited from export-oriented investment, but
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the agricultural sector contracted 2%, primarily because of weaker
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demand in Thailand's major overseas markets for commodities such as
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rice. The trade deficit almost doubled in 1990, to $9 billion, but
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earnings from tourism ($4.7 billion), remittances, and net capital
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inflows helped keep the balance of payments in surplus. The government
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has followed fairly sound fiscal and monetary policies, aided by
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increased tax receipts from the fast-moving economy. In 1990 the
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government approved new projects--especially for telecommunications
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and roads--needed to refurbish the country's now overtaxed
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infrastructure. Although growth in 1991 will slow further, Thailand's
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economic outlook remains good, assuming the continuation of prudent
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government policies in the wake of the 23 February 1991 military coup.
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GNP: $79 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 10% (1990
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est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1990 est.)
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Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1990 est.)
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Budget: revenues $15.2 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion,
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including capital expenditures of $4.1 billion (FY91)
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Exports: $23.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
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commodities--light manufactures 66%, fishery products 12%,
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rice 8%, tapioca 8%, manufactured gas, corn, tin;
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partners--US 22%, Japan 17%, Singapore 7%, Netherlands, FRG,
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Hong Kong, UK, Malaysia, China (1989)
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Imports: $32.0 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);
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commodities--machinery and parts 23%, petroleum products 13%,
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chemicals 11%, iron and steel, electrical appliances;
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partners--Japan 30%, US 11%, Singapore 8%, FRG 5%, Taiwan,
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South Korea, China, Malaysia, UK (1989)
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External debt: $26.9 billion (end 1990 est.)
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Industrial production: growth rate 14% (1990 est.); accounts for
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almost 27% of GDP
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Electricity: 7,270,000 kW capacity; 29,000 million kWh produced,
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530 kWh per capita (1990)
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Industries: tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange;
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textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco,
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cement, other light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances
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and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's
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second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
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Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP and 62% of labor force;
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leading producer and exporter of rice and cassava (tapioca); other
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crops--rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans; except for wheat,
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self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 2.8 million tons (1989)
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Illicit drugs: a minor producer, major illicit trafficker of
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heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, and cannabis for the
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international drug market; eradication efforts have reduced the area of
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cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring
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countries; opium poppy cultivation has been affected by eradication
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efforts
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Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870
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million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
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(1970-88), $8.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million
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Currency: baht (plural--baht); 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
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Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1--25.224 (January 1991), 25.585
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(1990), 25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988), 25.723 (1987), 26.299 (1986),
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27.159 (1985)
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Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
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COMMUNICATIONS
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Railroads: 3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track
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Highways: 44,534 km total; 28,016 km paved, 5,132 km earth surface,
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11,386 km under development
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Inland waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with
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navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor
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waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft
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Pipelines: natural gas, 350 km; refined products, 67 km
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Ports: Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha
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Merchant marine: 136 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 521,565
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GRT/791,570 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 79 cargo,
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9 container, 29 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
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9 liquefied gas, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulk, 3 refrigerated cargo,
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1 combination bulk
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Civil air: 41 (plus 2 leased) major transport aircraft
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Airports: 127 total, 103 usable; 56 with permanent-surface runways;
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1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 28 with
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runways 1,220-2,439 m
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Telecommunications: service to general public inadequate; bulk of
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service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and
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radio relay network; 739,500 telephones (1987); stations--over 200 AM,
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100 FM, and 11 TV in government-controlled networks; satellite earth
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stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT; domestic
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satellite system being developed
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DEFENSE FORCES
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Branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (including Royal Thai
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Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
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Manpower availability: males 15-49, 16,028,159; 9,778,003 fit for
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military service; 604,483 reach military age (18) annually
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Defense expenditures: $2.4 billion, 3% of GNP (1990 est.)
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