1991, Mar - The military sets up a National Legislative Assembly, composed largely of its backers and own officers. The respected lawyer Dr Ukrit Mongkolnavin is appointed Chairman of the Assembly. The Assembly’s main task is to pass a new permanent constitution.
1991, May 26 - A Boeing 767-300 of the Austrian Lauda Air (owned by the former formula one world champion Niki Lauda) crashes in midair over Thai territory. All 223 passengers and crew on board die, among them 87 Austrians and 43 other Europeans. The aircraft was on its flight from Hong Kong to Vienna and had stopped over at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport. Initially, it was considered possible that a bomb had been planted on the craft during the stopover on Don Muang. However, later it was believed that a technical defect, a midair switch of one of the engines into reverse thrust, had caused the accident.
1991, Aug 30 - Army Commander-in-Chief Suchinda Kraprayoon, considered the most powerful member of the National Peacekeeping Council, promises general elections for March 1992. He also indicates that he might become the country’s next prime minister if the Samakkhi Tham Party wins the elections. The Samakkhi Than Party was founded after the military coup of February 23. It is widely regarded to be the party-arm of the military junta. Since the party had been established, it had won over a large number of regional politicians from the parties dominating the political scene before the coup.
1971 - Thai communists adopt a program to create combat villages that will provide protection to "liberated" areas.
1971, Oct - Students first show signs of becoming a politically active group when they hold their first major demonstrations.
1991, Sep 22 - Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun begins a four-day state visit to China. In talks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng in Beijing it is agreed to widen the trade between the two countries. Politically, Thailand is regarded as one of the closest non-communist friends of China as the two countries widely agree on the Cambodia issue and have been the key backers of the Khmer Rouge resistance against the Vietnam-imposed government in Phnom Penh.
1991, Oct 18 - Cambodia’s ruling Vietnam-backed People’s Revolutionary Party adopts a new platform which endorses a pluralistic society. The party’s General Secretary Heng Samrin is replaced by Chea Sim who is believed to be willing to cooperate with liberal-minded Prime Minister Hun Sen.
1991, Oct 21 - In Paris, a historic peace pact is signed, aimed to end 13 years of civil war in Cambodia. The pact provides for extensive UN presence in Cambodia until
elections are held, as well as for a disarmament of the Cambodian fractions (the Vietnam-installed government and the three guerilla groups, including the Khmer Rouge).
1991, Dec 7 - The National Legislative Assembly passes a new constitution by a vote of 262 to 7. It’s the kingdom’s 14th. The new constitution puts vast powers in the hands of the Senate, to be appointed by the National Peacekeeping Council. Student activists and politicians who had been deposed by the military coup of February 23 and had not aligned themselves with the new powers that be, criticize the new constitution as undemocratic.
