The year 2019 is the 238th year of the Rattanakosin Kingdom of Thailand. It is the fourth year in the reign of King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), and is reckoned as year 2562 in the Buddhist Era.

2019
in
Thailand

Decades:
See also:

A general election, the first since the ruling military junta took power by coup in 2014, took place on 24 February. The coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn happened on 4–6 May. The year also saw the continuation of the South Thailand Insurgency, as well as poor air quality around Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and the northern provinces.

Incumbents

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King
Vajiralongkorn
Prime-minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha

Events

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New Year firworks in Bangkok

January

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Aerial view of wildfires in Thailand's north

February

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  • February 2 - American bitcoin investor Chad Elwartowski and his Thai wife Supranee Thepdet began erecting a seastead 22 km off Phuket's coast.[16]
  • February 3 - All AOT operated airports are declared no-smoking zones.[17] A fire on Phang Nga's Surin island destroys a Moken village.[18]
  • February 5 - Australia calls on Hakeem al-Araibi (who had been detained in Thailand since November 2018 and pending deportation to Bahrain) to be released and returned to Thailand.[19]
  • February 8 - Ubol Ratana, former princess and sister of the current King, is nominated by the Thai Raksa Chart party as a candidate for the election.[20]
  • February 9 - The King issues a statement prohibiting his sister from running as a candidate, and calling her move 'unconstitutional'.[21][22] Famous Bangkok stray cat "Maew Askoe" dies.[23]
  • February 11 - Hakeem al-Araibi leaves Thailand for Australia after being released and escaping extradition to Bahrain.[24]
  • February 13 - Chiang Mai is ranked as having the third worst air pollution in the world after major fires over the last two weeks.[25] Thai Election Commission votes to ask the Constitutional Court to disband the Thai Raksa Chart party after their nomination of Ubol.[26]
  • February 14 - South Thailand Insurgency: a bomb detonates in Narathiwat province, injuring no one.[27]
  • February 16 - 107 out of 2,810 candidates for the Thai election are disqualified for varying factors.[28]
  • February 18 - South Thailand Insurgency: a ranger in Songkhla province is shot dead.[29]
  • February 20 - Cannabis can now be legally cultivated under strict conditions for medical and scientific purposes.[30] A 4.9 magnitude earthquake occurs in the country's north, around Lampang province.[31]
  • February 21 - PM Prayut visits Eemi Nikula, 5 year old Finnish boy who was attacked by dogs in Krabi yesterday at Krabi Nakharin International Hospital.[32][33] The King also gifts the boy a vase of flowers.[34]
  •  
    Thai Airways Boeing 777-200
    February 24 - The King sent gifts to Chat Ubonjinda, a Krabi fisherman who saved two Norwegian tourists in 2015 and gained widespread online praise.[35]
  • February 26 - South Thailand Insurgency: a bomb kills one ranger whilst injuring two others in Yala province.Eemi Nikula is released from hospital in Krabi.[36]
  • February 27 - National Geographic begins to secure rights to film a documentary about the Tham Luang cave rescue.[37]
  • February 28 - Thai airways flights from Thailand to Europe, Oman and Pakistan were cancelled due to the closure of Pakistani airspace due to rising tensions with India, leaving thousands stranded at airports. Flights to Europe, however, were resumed just over Chinese airspace. All flights to Pakistan remained cancelled.[38]
 
List of candidates at a polling station in Koh Samui for the elections

March

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April

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  • April 3 - Two hours of sudden heavy rain caused flooding in Pattaya.[56]
  • April 4 - Two polling station are ordered to recount their ballots, whilst six others are ordered to rehold their votes.[57]
  • April 6 - Future Forward party leader Thanathorn surrendered to police to face sedition charges over violating Article 116 of Criminal Code in 2015 by providing a vehicle to student protesters. This event is attended by foreign diplomats.[58]
  • April 7 - All provinces (apart from Bangkok) draw sacred water to be used in the coronation of King Vajiralongkorn.[59]
  • April 9 - Don Pramudwinai, foreign minister, criticized diplomats from Australia, Belgium, Canada, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States and United Nations for attending Thanathorn's surrender to police.[60] Surachate Hakparn is sacked from his job as immigration chief by PM Prayut.
  • April 10 - A fire in the Central World shopping mall in Bangkok kills 2 people, and injures 20.[61]
  • April 11 - South Thailand Insurgency: a clash occurs between police and insurgents in Songkhla province.[62]
  • April 12 - The first day of the seven day Songkran celebrations begin, as 46 people die and 482 are injured from road incidents.[63]
  • April 13 - A ceremony occurs inside the Grand Palace to draw out water to be used in the coronation is led by the governor of Bangkok, Aswin Kwanmuang.[64]
  • April 17 - South Thailand Insurgency: Two insurgents kill a village leader in Yala using a M16 rifile and shotgun.[65]
  • April 19 - The Meteorological Department of Thailand issued a warning advising people in the north and central provinces to advoid out-door activities due to high temperatures.[66] Due to their part in the Tham Luang cave rescue, Richard Harris and Craig Challen were awarded the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn.[67] The Royal Thai Navy is ordered to take action against Andrew Elwartowski and his Thai wife for erecting a 'seastead' off Phuket.[68]
  • April 21 - The Cabinet of Thailand approves a 21.7 billion baht project to construct a third runway at Suvarnabhumi airport.[69]
  • April 22 - The seastead off Phuket is dismantled by the navy.[70]
  • April 23 - Phuket's water supply enters a 'critical situation', with the city experiencing a water shortage after no monsonal rain, causing all three of the city's water catchments to last until the end of May if no rain occurs.[71]
  • April 25 - Don Mueang and Pathum Thani are stuck are strong winds: delaying flights, leaving 3,000 passengers stranded for 2 hours; whilst tearing sections of Pathum Thani's western wall.[72]
  • April 29 - Phuket experiences a rainstorm for the first time this year, whilst Maha Sarakham experiences a drought.[73] HMAS Canberra, an Australian navy ship, arrived in Phuket for the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019.[74]
  • 30 April - Director named for the Netflix story of the Thai cave rescue [75]
 
Celebration event during the coronation
  • May 1 - South Thailand Insurgency: A ranger is killed by a roadside bomb.[76] King Vijiralongkorn married his bodyguard Suthida Tidjai, with Suthida becoming the Queen of Thailand.[77]
  • May 3 - Laws designed to prevent begging on streets were passed.[78] The King pardons thousands of prisoners, including former leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy.[79]
  • May 4 - The coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn takes place.[80] This is the first day of the three day celebrations.
  • May 7 - 60 members of the National Legislative Assembly resign in order to become senators.[81]
  •  
    The King on May 5
    May 9 - Wat Bote district in Phitsanulok province is declared a drought disaster zone.[82] 27 political parties are awarded seats in parliament by the Election Commission.[83]
  • May 13 - Eleven parties, with 11 votes all together with seats in parliament, declare their support for current PM Prayut to become the next Prime-minister.[84]
  • May 14 - An order for 37 1126 Stryker armoured vehicles from the United States is placed by the Royal Thai Army.[85]
  • May 16 - South Thailand Insurgency: Pipebomb explosions in Yala province injures 5 people.[86] The Nation announces that they will end their printing of physical newspaper.[87]
  • May 18 - Visakha Bucha day is celebrated by Buddhists in Thailand.[88]
  • May 20 - The pro-Junta coalition claimed to have the support of Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties. Both the Democrats and Bhumjaithai parties hold 52 and 51 MPs respectively.[89]
  • May 26 - Former Democrat-PM Chuan Leekpai won 258 from the pro-Junta coalition against the pro-Pheu Thai candidate Sompong Amornvivat with 235 votes to become the new speaker of the lower house.[90]
  • May 30 - Leather back turtles, whale sharks, Omura's whales and Bryde's whales are registered onto Thailand's list of reserved animals.[91]
  • May 31 - King Power won its bid to retain its contract at Suvarnabhumi airport for duty free and shopping management.[92]

June

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  • June 1 - Thai AirAsia begins flights between Phuket and Phnom Penh.[93]
  • 11 June - Thai women's soccer team play the U.S. team in the World Cup and lost 13–0. Even though it was the biggest loss to date in World Cup history, Thai supporters were still happy to be there and participating in the event.[94]

August

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November

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  • 6 November - Gunmen killed 15 people, mostly Village Defence Volunteers, in Yala Province.[95]

Deaths

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References

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