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 Thailand but disputes remain over
several areas along Mekong River and Thai squatters; despite
continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain
with Burma over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic
rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and
Thailand dispute sections of 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; ethnic Karens from Burma flee into Thailand
- to escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese troops -
resulting in Thailand sheltering about 120,000 Burmese refugees in
2005; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese hydroelectric
dam construction on the Salween River near the border;
environmentalists in Burma and Thailand remain concerned about
China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the
Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 120,814 (Burma)
IDPs: 6,000 (26 December 2004 tsunami) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicit transit
point for 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
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Togo
Introduction Togo
Background:
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,
installed as military ruler in 1967, continued to rule well into the
21st century. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted
in the early 1990s, the government continued to be dominated by
President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party
has maintained power almost continually since 1967. Togo has come
under fire from international organizations for human rights abuses
and is plagued by political unrest. While most bilateral and
multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen, the EU initiated a partial
resumption of cooperation and development aid to Togo in late 2004
based upon commitments by Togo to expand opportunities for political
opposition and liberalize portions of the economy. Upon his death in
February 2005, President EYADEMA was succeeded by his son Faure
GNASSINGBE. The succession, supported by the military and in
contravention of the nation's constitution, was challenged by
popular protest and a threat of sanctions from regional leaders.
GNASSINGBE succumbed to pressure and in April 2005 held elections
that legitimized his succession.
Geography Togo