Thailand originally known as Siam, is an agricultural country in the tropical zone. The total area of Thailand is 520 thousand square miles, with a population amounting 40 millions. 80% of which are farmers, growing mainly paddi-rice. Thailand is one of the three "rice-bowls" of South East Asia. Just like the neighbouring countries in Indo-China, Thailand became the target of imperialist invasion for her fertile lands and rich resources. From the 16th century onwards, Thailand was under the constant invasion of Portugal, Nether land, Britain and France, and was occupied by Japan during the 2nd World War. For the past few decades, the political situation of Thailand has been in a state of flux, and the society is full of contradictions. Especially in the recent years, students and people movements one following the other, contradictions among the ruling elite become acute everyday, and always signs of coming coup d'etat, further aggravate the situation to a state of instabilities.

The political situation is inseparable with the situation of the whole of Asia the U.S. policy in Asia after the 2nd World War, from being the "World Police" to the victory of the third world people, especially those in Indo-China who are fighting for national independence and liberation, all these influence the change in the political situation of Thailand which is situated in the centre of South East Asia. What is the significance of the Thai society? This article tries to give a general introduction of the Thai society by looking at its social, political and economic structure.

Democratic constitution and military junta.

The 24th of June, 1932 was a turning point in the history of Thailand. A revolution was launched by the People's Party led by Dr Pridi Phanomyong which consisted of intelligentsia and a few military men. This ended the monarchical reign for seven centuries, and established the constitutional monarchy. Although there was tremendous change in the political structure, "democratic rights" was still a new concept to the majority of the Thai people, and was in fact limited to the minority. The democratic experience of Thailand in the past forty years were merely coup d'etat one following the other drafts of constitutions and then abolishments at last. Except for the eight years of civilian regime, the remainder of the forty years are all military junta, "democratic constitution" only stand for the "minority rule".

Between 1938 and 1957, except for chaotic civilian government between 1945 and 1948 the political regime was in the hand of Field Marchal Plag Philboonsongkram, a military man. During the 2nd World War, Thailand was invaded by the Japanese, and was forced to join the Axis of Germany, Italy and Japan. There were several coup d'etat after the war. In 1955, Plag's government announced the decree of legitimate registry of political party and suggested the "Hyde Park" style of freedom of opinion in politics. Immediately 25 political parties were formed and the democratic atmosphere for a time seemed to have flourished. However, the corruptions in the 1957 election once again proved that parliamentary democracy was only a beautiful cloak.

September, 1957, General Sarit Thanart launched a military coup d'etat, appointed his deputy as Prime Minister, abolished the parliament, constitution and all the political parties, instigated the military dictatorship under the name of "revolutionary parliament", and launched forth the first five years plan between 1960-65 in economics as well as borrowing loans and induced foreign investments to make a spur in the economic development of Thailand.

In December 1963, Sarit Thanart died, Field Marshal Thanom succeeded the dictatorship. Prapass was the Vice-Prime Minister. After the 1969 election a new cabinet was formed, Thanom maintained his position as the Prime Minister. In November, 1971, in order to suppress the opposition force in the parliament and to reinforce his own political regime, Thanom launched the Self Coup D'etat, once again he abolished the constitution. Under the control of the military junta, the democratic constitution was once again strangled. Thanom self-announced as the President and Prime Minister of the "National Executive Parliament", together win Prapass (Vice Prime Minister) and Narong (son of Thanom, son-in-law of Prapas), started the regime of military junta dictatorship of the Tyrant Trio, under the control of the American imperialism on one hand, grasped the military and economic rights of Thailand on the other This is the political situation of Thailand before October 1973.

October 1973 was another turning point in the political history of Thailand, the fight for democratic constitution movement launched by intelligentsia and students rapidly got the mass support. On the 14th of October, about 400 thousand students and people gathered together in Bangkok to hold a demonstration. Thanom ordere soldiers and tanks to suppress the mass, about 70 people were brutally killed. Finally, under the angry roar of the people page 11 and due to the internal strife among the ruling class, the Tyrant Trio was kicked out of Thailand. This great victory showed a ray of light to democratic constitution. However, for the past three years, the fundamental problems of the country still remained unsolved. The civilian government faced innumerable political crises. At the same time, the exile military men were reluctant to leave the historical arena the Tyrant Trio had tried many times to return back to Thailand. Shortly after Than om had returned back to Bangkok on October 6, a bloody coup d'etat again took place, the democratic constitution is agin put to penalty.

History showed, that Thailand was nominally implementing a democratic constitutional system, in reality it was the militia who grasped power. Their influence was entrenched deeply in the political structure in Thailand. A seat in the parliament meant no guarantee for democracy, instead it was the gun-barrel of the militia which mattered most. In front of gun and bullets, all democratic measures would became powerless. Many students were sacrificed. So long as the weapons remained in the hands of the military junta how could the masses resist with bare hands? How could the people have genuine democracy?

The invasion and exploitation of Imperialism.

The decades following the second World War, the international political situation marked the American influence controlled and penetrated into the Asia region, until their gradual decline. In Asia, on the the one hand, American imperialism took advantages of the decline of the British and French influence after the war, extended her colonialization and spheres of influence; on the other hand, the victories of the struggles of the Asian people greatly altered the situation in Asia. In order to maintain her benefit in Asia, United States imposed the policy of encircle China set up military bases in Japan South Korea Taiwan, Philippines. Indonesia, Vietnam Laos and Thailand, endeavouring in using bribery, infiltrations to control and back up the regime of these countries.

Owing to Thailand's strategic position United States gradually strengthened her infiltration. She aided the 1957 coup d'etat and established the pro-American regime. Furthermore she tried to extend her influence to the whole of the Indo-China Peninsula. From 1950 onwards, Thailand and America had signed a series of unequal treaties: "agreement of military aid", agreement of economic aid" and 'agreement of friendly economic cooperation". From 1950 to the June of 1971, the military aids that States had given to Thai land amounted to more than two hundred billion baht (about ten billion U.S. dollars). Besides, the States had used more than 200 billion baht for constructing more than 60 military bases and other military set-up in Thailand, including 5 large scale air bases and about 30 auxillary airports, 11 camps, 10 marine bases and 4 missile sites, 2 radar stations. Further still they had constructed a ten thousand miles highway network, linking American bases and the way to neighbouring countries of Thai. More than ¾ of the air crafts bombing Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia took off from these airports in Thai. The Utapao base, 90 miles south of Bangkok is the place where the famous B-52 bombers attacked Vietnam night and day. The Americans had turned Thailand into a stepping stone for invading the countries in Indo-China.

The US has established in Thailand a military 'advisory group' consisted of three thousand men, these are U.S. military advisers in the Defence Dept. Further still there are public security adviser' in the police system. The U.S. soldiers stationed in Thailand had come up to 50,000. There 'advisers' and soldiers have political privileges. Thailand had followed the American policy for a long period of time. In 1954, Thai joined the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SFATO) and the headquarters was in Bangkok.

Economically, Thailand suffered miserably from the plundering and exploitation of foreign capitals. In order to reciprocate to the American military assistance, Thailand was bound to implement her economic 'duties' prescribed on the treaty. By these 'duties', Thailand had virtually become a dumping place for the American goods and supplier of the strategic materials (like rubber and tungsten) needed by the American. From 19501970, there was a deficit of Thailand trade of 187 billion bahts (nearly equivalent to 9 billion U.S. $) with America. Foreign capital mainly American and Japanese, exploited the cheap labour of Thailand through private investment and multinational corporations. Besides they had lucrative profits. They also plundered the national resources (including petroleum, tin and rubber) of Thailand. Through various types of un-equal trade treaties, they ruthlessly expanded their business, and gave striking blows to the industry and commerce of Thai national bourgeoisie. According to unofficial statistics, America had been nibbling away more than 60 billion bahts of profits from Thailand annually, which was more than her assistance to Thanom Government. The Thai ruling class, who for their own sake, were hands-in gloves with the American imperialists. They had betrayed the national sovereignty and debased Thailand to a neo-colony under American control and intervention.

Thailand, rich in natural resources is famous for "fish found in water rice found in fields". Paddi is one of the four main exports, amounting to more than one thousand four hundred tons annually. 80% of the population are farmers. Although they are the chief producers of the financial resources of Thailand, they are always in starvation and poverty, and are under the severe suppression of the feudal authority and the heavy exploitation of the land-lords.

According to the statistics of the Thai Government, farmers occupying little or no land accounted for 85% of the total number of farmers. Although the legitimate highest rent is 25% of the harvest more than half of the farmers have to give about 30% to 55% of the harvest as rent, and some in the central Thailand have to give 80%. This interest of the rent high as 100% to 300%. Very often the farmers have to sell their children to pay for the rent. According to the material issued by the Thailand Government, the yield per acre is only 240 kilo grammes. The income of the farmer is the lowest among all the average income of every farmer is only 1000 bahts (about 250 Hong Kong dollars), equivalent to only 40% of the annual income of the average Thai citizen, also equal to 1/8 of the annual income of the average citizen in the Thai cities. There are enormous differences between the urban and the rural area.

In a country where paddi is the main export, the paddi-rice growers worked hard labours for the whole year round. However, their lives are so bitter, they are always on the verge of starvation and poverty. But the Thailand Government sees nothing of this. They only levied heavy taxes on the Thai people. The poverty and suppression in the rural area forced the farmers to find their livings in the urban areas. They settled in the slum-areas at the verge of the cities, as part time workers, coolies, non technical works. Some families even have to sell their daughters as prostitutes to maintain their livings.

The cities are places where the workers concentrate, especially Bangkok city. Among the 1.7 million labourers in the country, about 1.3 million are industrial workers. The Thai industrial workers have been leading miserable lives. A majority of them had to work 12 to 20 hours for an extremely low wage. Generally, the male workers can get only 10 to 15 bahts (approximately 50c to 80c US) while the female workers can get only halt as much. The working conditions are extremely poor. There was no welfare system. The government sided with the bourgeoisie in forbidding the workers to strike.

Since October 1973, when the three tyrants were ousted, the workers and peasants movement began to flourish. The student movement also began to integrate with the peasant and worker movement.

The setting up of the regional peasant associations further promoted the organisation of the peasants to fight for their interest and to struggle against the local bullies and bad gentry. The worker movement also surged vigorously. In 1974, there were 357 strikes and 106,000 workers had participated. In the former stage, the strikes were mainly aimed at increasing wages and improvement of welfare. Yet in the later stage, workers also participated actively in campaigns against the tyrannical order of Praprass and Thanom. Yet struggles had only begun.

Conclusion.

In Thailand, as in many other Third World countries, foreign capitalists were sucking the blood of the working people, plundering their natural resources and interventing her domestic politics and economy. In the [unclear: countryside], landlords, local gentry and money-lenders were expropriating the vast majority of peasants. The feudal suppression, which greatly obstructed the development in the forces of production had made the Thai people to live in an abyss of agonies. The obiquity of multinational corporations, the [unclear: banknm] in the countryside, the migration of poor peasants into the slum areas from the urban area, the marked differences between the city and the countrywide: all these are some of the salient features in many Third World countries.

Yet, the general trend of "countries want independence, nations want liberation, and the people want revolution" has been surging vigorously. The anti-imperialist struggles of the Third World people are achieving greater and greater success. This irresistible trend all over the world has been reshaping the world situation, and undoubtedly lasting its impacts on the Thai society. The people of Thailand on their road of struggles for genuine democracy and independence will see a bright future and hope.