Protests and political unrest in Thailand
In 2010, a series of anti-government protests were organised by the "Red Shirts" (National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship). After several weeks, a military crackdown ended the demonstrations. 80 civilians and 6 soldiers lost their lives.
In 2011, the Pheu Thai Party led by Yingluck Shinawatra, won a landslide victory in a general election.
In 2013, a proposed amnesty bill which would have pardoned several convicted politicians, including former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (brother to Yingluck) triggered widespread protests which built into mass rallies in a campaign to "Shutdown Bangkok", lasting several months.
An election in February 2014 was disrupted and results were annulled. Sporadic violence resulted in 28 deaths and 800 injuries. On the 20th May, martial law was declared and the military took control of the government.
