The role of strike-slip faults in the displacement of the Palaeotethys suture zone in Southeast Thailand

► This is the first attempt at a coherent account of Southeast Thailand. ► Six N-S tectono-stratigraphic belts can be recognized. ► Palaeotethyan suture zone rocks are apparently absent. ► This absence resulted from their displacement by later strike-slip faulting. ► Thailand's major strike-slip faults are thought to be ancient terrane boundaries.