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1 1 (September 1, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govemsy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congr ssionaI Res Informing the ei ive d ba arch Sea sioe1914 Updated September 1, 2023 Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner of the United States. The United States operates numerous regional offices from the Bangkok Embassy, one of the largest American diplomatic missions in the world. Bilateral cooperation includes security initiatives and operations, intelligence and law enforcement efforts, and regional health and education programs. These ties endure, but nearly two decades of political turmoil in Thailand, including military coups in 2006 and 2014, have complicated relations. Many observers saw the May 2023 elections as likely to prolong instability, as a reformist party that earned the largest vote total was blocked from forming a government. Srettha Thavasin, a real estate tycoon, became Prime Minister in August 2023, leading a diverse coalition including military parties. Efforts by successive Thai governments to manipulate political processes and suppress critics have raised questions about Thailand's prospects for returning to full democratic governance, including the peaceful transfer of power and protection for civil liberties. Human rights organizations have alleged numerous abuses, including the curtailment of freedoms of speech and assembly, harassment of government critics, use of lese majeste (offenses against the monarchy) laws to muzzle dissent, arbitrary arrests, and a lack of protections for human trafficking victims, laborers, and refugees. Despite these trends, the United States maintains a military alliance with Thailand. With one of the region's largest economies and possession of key strategic military facilities, Thailand is an important strategic partner in Southeast Asia. As U.S.-China tensions shape regional decision-making, Thailand remains an arena of competition and an important component of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. Congress and the Executive Branch may struggle to reconcile how to express concerns about human rights in Thailand without losing access and influence in the country. 2023 Elections Thailand held elections in May 2023, the first since 2019. In heavy turnout, two reformist parties earned over 58% of seats in the Lower House of Parliament: the Move Forward Party, led by U.S.-educated Pita Limjaroenrat, which advocated for lessening privileges enjoyed by the military and royal palace; and Pheu Thai, associated with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in the 2006 coup. Two military-backed parties finished with the third and seventh largest vote totals. Under Thailand's current military-written constitution, a government is selected by combined vote of the elected Lower House and a 250-seat Upper House, whose members are appointed by the military. In July, an initial vote for a Pita-led coalition government failed. Parliament subsequently voted to void Pita's nomination as Prime Minister, and a constitutional court suspended him from Parliament for failing to disclose his holdings in a defunct media firm before running for office, a move many observers consider politically motivated. In August, Pheu Thai formed an 11-party coalition, and Parliament approved Srettha as Prime Minister. As part of an apparent agreement, Thaksin returned from 15 years in exile in August 2023. He was immediately arrested on corruption charges and requested a royal pardon. On September 1, 2023, the king commuted his sentence from 8 years to 1 year. Thaksin, 74, currently is being held at a police hospital. In its early weeks, the new government announced plans to implement a number of populist measures including digital- currency handouts to the public, agricultural and fuel subsidies, and lower public transportation fares. Figure I. Thailand at a Glance Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023, World Bank. Map, CRS. Political Divisions and Protests Thailand remains deeply politically divided, with the potential for more conflict ahead. Broadly, Thailand's political turmoil involves a clash between the political establishment (a mix of the military, royalists, and senior bureaucrats), young Thais seeking a democratic voice, and Thaksin supporters, traditionally associated with less- affluent rural citizens. Pita and the Move Forward Party had garnered the support of Thailand's young, urban voters, who are protesting the denial of their democratic choice. Move Forward's status as the primary opposition raises the possibility of street protests and civil disobedience in the months to come. Similarly, Pheu Thai's ruling coalition, which includes parties from across the political spectrum, may struggle to maintain unity and govern effectively. Move Forward's call to lessen the monarchy's privileges is a major point of controversy in Thailand. Criticizing the monarch is illegal, and the definition of lese majeste has expanded over the past two decades to include even subtle criticisms of the king, palace, military, or government. King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his widely revered father in 2019, is reportedly deeply unpopular with the public for his profligate lifestyle and history of capricious and often violent behavior. Since 2020, pro-democracy

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