I think we have a coup.

[Guest Boxer]

As of 1000 a.m. Thai time the on-line versions of both the Bangkok Post and The Nation are unavailable in the UK and appear to be blocked.

From CNN news

The coup plotters declared martial law and suspended the constitution of the Southeast Asian nation. They also declared Wednesday a holiday, with schools, banks and the country's stock market closed.

 

 

[PattayaMale]

As of 1000 a.m. Thai time the on-line versions of both the Bangkok Post and The Nation are unavailable in the UK and appear to be blocked.

 

The same appears to be the case in USA right now. I am in the US for 3 more weeks and feel confident travel to Thailand will be normal by then...I hope

[Guest wowpow]

Daily Telegraph, By Damien McElroy, (Filed: 20/09/2006)

 

 

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest serving monarch, is a near-sacred figure in Thailand, renowned for his delicate handling of internal turmoil. In his 60-year reign, he has seen 17 military coups, 20 different prime ministers, and 15 constitutions. The Thai constitution grants very little formal power to the monarch but King Bhumibol exercises enormous moral authority based on the devotion he inspires in his subjects.

 

Rumours of a coup have circulated in Bangkok for months. All discussion about its chances of success have revolved around the attitude of the monarch.

 

King Bhumipol sealed his place in his people's affections in 1992 when he called the leaders of a military junta and the pro-democracy movement to his Bangkok palace. The meeting, in which both sides paid homage to the monarch, took place at a critical moment as middle-class protests filled Bangkok's streets. Grainy pictures of the audience became the defining image of an Asian ''tiger nation" joining the modern world. A caretaker government in civilian hands was established and democracy restored within months.

 

Cracks in the facade of democracy have been apparent all year. Junior members of the royal family, possibly even Queen Sirikit, are known to be hostile to the populist prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. He transcended humble roots to build a media empire and then the country's most powerful political base.

 

An attempted putsch against Mr Thaksin's administration in April fell apart after King Bhumibol indicated it did not have his support. Thailand has been in political crisis since January when Mr Thaksin sold his family business and avoided paying taxes on the deal.

 

The 78-year-old Bhumibol became the ninth king of Thailand's Chakri dynasty on June 9, 1946, succeeding his older brother, Ananda, killed in an unexplained shooting. After the absolute monarchy of Siam was deposed in 1932, the King grew up in semi-exile in Switzerland, a fun-loving young man with a taste for fast cars and jazz. He still retains an enthusiasm for playing the saxophone.

 

His relentless travel throughout Thailand and a strong personal interest in rural development increased his public profile and won him lasting admiration. Photographs of the king hang in most Thai homes and businesses.

 

King Bhumibol has supported and thwarted coups during his reign. One of his honorific titles is Great Strength of the Land. It is an appellation he has had to earn in each decade of his reign.

 

His first major test came in 1957 when he tacitly supported army chief Sarit Thanarat's takeover. Gen Sarit worked closely with the monarch to launch economic reforms. For five years, a government propaganda campaign portrayed the monarch as the symbol of the nation.

 

A border dispute with Cambodia in which Gen Sarit refused to yield a temple, provided an excuse to depose the junta leader, who was so corrupt he was said to support a harem of 100 wives.

 

The king chose a government of technocrats to succeed the general. The period was dominated by Thailand's alliance with the US, which granted enormous amounts of military aid in return for maintaining bases there during the Vietnam war. A period of further instability in the late 1970s gave way to relative stability in the 1980s, when a favourite of the monarch was prime minister for eight years.

 

His defeat in 1988 led to a new military regime that was toppled in 1992 when the king responded to the street protests. Once again, the nation's democratic future hangs on a subtle signal from he palace.

 

 

[Guest wowpow]

Coup as it unfolds

The Nation monitors the events that led to the coup as well as events after it as following:

 

Sept 19

 

 

 

8.00 am Thaksin Shinawatra calls an urgent teleconference with all armed forces' commanders at Government House, but none attends.

 

 

 

Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkarin, the army chief, later says the meeting is hastily called. Rumor then spread around the capital and the stock market that a coup de tat is under way.

 

 

 

12.00 am After finishing the webcamera teleconference with Thaksin, who is New York, several Cabinet members check with reporters if there would really be a coup.

 

 

 

6.30 pm The Army's special forces from Lopburi move into Bangkok. Gen Prem Tinnasulalonda, president of Privy Council, has an audience with HM the King, reportedly on a meritmaking ceremony for ML Bau Kittiyakala.

 

 

 

6.55 pm Thai News Agency reports that Thaksin will return to Bangkok on Thursday, instead of Friday.

 

 

 

8.00 pm 191 police receive M16 rifles to prepare for an antiriot assignment.

 

 

 

9.00 pm The Army'[s special forces from Lopburi arrive at the Army's Bangkok headquarters.

 

 

 

Web surfers post messages on Pantip.com asking if there is a coup de tat.

 

 

 

9.10 pm The armyowned TV Channel 5's mobile TV broadcast unit arrives at the Army's Bangkok headquarters.

 

 

 

9.30 pm TV channel 5 cancels regular programming and puts on air royallyauthored songs.

 

 

 

Reporters at Government House say situation is normal, but rumour was rife that deputy premier Pol Gen Chidchai Vanasatit and defence minister Gen Thammarak Isarangkun have been under custody.

 

 

 

Panthongthae, Thaksin's son, reportedly has left Thailand for the UK.

 

 

 

9.40 pm Police commandos arrive Baan Chansongra, Thaksin's residence.

 

 

 

10.00 pm Army tanks take position at Bangkok Makkawan Rangsan Bridge and Rajdamnern Avenue.

 

 

 

10.10 pm CNN reports Bangkok situation

 

 

 

10.20pm Thaksin declares a state of emergency via the phone from New York. He also issues two orders, transferring en Sondhi from the post of army chief to the PM's Office, and naming Gen Rungroj Mahasaranond as the officer in charge of the crisis.

 

 

 

11pm "The Administrative Reform Council" (ARC) issues a first statement on TV network, saying the armed forces and national police have peacefully seized control of Bangkok and surrounding areas. Soldier seize the Shinawatra Building, iTV television stationand Thaksin's residence.

 

 

 

11.15pm Soldiers put steel barricades at Sri Ayudha and Rajdamnoen Roads

 

 

 

11.50pm ARC issues the second statement explaining the reasons for the coup d'etat, citing national disunity and rampant corruption. ARC says it plans to return power quickly to the people

 

 

 

12.39am ARC issues third statement, nullifying the constitution, the caretaker Cabinet and the Constitutional Court.

 

8:00 am ARC spokesman announces Gen Sonthi will make announcement on TVs at 9 am. The spokesman also announces that TV stations can resume their normal programmes but most continue to relay signals from Channel 5 except iTV, which briefly airs its morning news programme.

 

8:50 am: Permanent officials and rectors of universities start arriving at the Army headquarters to report themselves to the ARC. Khunying Jaruvan Mainthaka, the auditor-general, flashes a thumb-up to reporters.

 

9:16 am Sonthi holds a press conference. The first part of his statement is similar to the first statement of the ARC. He says the ARC has to seize power to solve the country's problems caused by the Thaksin admnistration.

 

Sonthi appears on TV along with the police chief and commanders of other armed forces in the four-minute announcement.

 

After Sonthi finishes reading the statement, a spokeswoman announces that the TV pool is disbanded and TV stations resume normal programmes.

 

9:50 am A source in New York tells a radio programme that Thaksin is considering whether to go to England or not.

 

10:00 am Sondhi Limthongkul, a decision maker of the People's Alliance for Democracy, announces that the planned rally in the evening is cancelled. Sondhi also praises the army chief for staging the coup.

 

 

There is no mention of the midnight audience with the junta and The King. I think this has more significance than it looks.

 

 

 

[Guest wowpow]

Some photos courtesy BBC News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of Thailand Governor reportedly accepted to become the Prime Minister

Bank of Thailand Governor MR Pridayadhorn Devakula cut short his trip to attend the International Monetary Fund/World Bank meeting in Singapore and he will arrive Bangkok at noontime.

 

He said he agreed to accept to become Prime Minister. Nonetheless, it was expected that there would be a press conference at the Arm Force auditorium today.

 

 

 

 

 

The Nation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a General - a good sign.

 

 

 

[Guest wowpow]

Coup leaders moved to censor media, ban public gatherings

 

 

Coup leaders Wednesday moved to censor the media and banned public gatherings as part of measures meant to ensure public order.

 

Strict controls were slapped on foreign and domestic media, state television announced, that allowed the communications ministry to block" disinformation" deemed harmful to a provisional military council now in control of the country.

 

Security forces reportedly seized media transmission facilities.

 

Public gatherings of more than five people is banned, violators could be jailed for six months.

 

The council also outlawed stockpiling of goods by vendors, and said anyone caught raising the costs of their goods could be jailed for two years, according to the announcement.

 

Coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said earlier Wednesday the military had to seize power in order to unite the nation after months of political turmoil.

 

The Nation

 

[Guest freeyourmind]

Unconfirmed but I believe I heard one of the newscasts mention that the new P/M is of the Muslim faith.

 

Very Interesting if true. Perhaps HRH with this appointment will (as they say) kill 2 birds with one stone.

 

Lets hope so.

[Gaybutton]

It is now 2:55 PM, Wednesday. All of the cable and satellite television channels have been restored, including CNN and BBC. There are no changes in the exchange rates since 10:30 AM this morning, although the banks are all closed today, so perhaps there will be no further changes in exchange rates reported until tomorrow.

 

Meanwhile, as I said in another thread, if it wasn't for the fact that the coup is all over the news, you wouldn't know that anything is going on at all. There is no military presence in Pattaya. Today I haven't even seen the police stopping helmetless mototcycle drivers. Perhaps the police have taken a holiday because I have spotted not police at all today.

 

Other than the banks, everything is open and operating normally . . . restaurants, shopping centers, gas stations, small businesses . . . everything. The Thai people are all going about their business as if nothing unusual has happened.

 

I can certainly understand why the embassies are issuing travel warnings. They kind of have to in a situation like this, but rest assured there is absolutely nothing unusual going on at all now. Even the tour buses are running as usual.

 

You have to make your own decisions, of course, but based on what I'm seeing here, and I'll bet others will concur, I see absolutely no reason for fear, travel plan cancellations, or anything else. We're all just fine and Thailand is just fine.

 

There apparently is no resistance whatsoever to the coup and there are not even rumors floating around that there will be any resistance. Not a single person has been hurt in any way, other than a few arrests, and even those arrests are not confirmed. The coup leaders have met with His Majesty, the King and pledged their loyalty. His Majesty, the King has not made any public staement about the coup. Thaksin is still in New York, thus rendering him rather impotent if he intends to try to establish resistance. He has not confirmed, at this point, whether he will even return to Thailand under the circumstances.

 

The coup leaders have stated that they do not have intentions of trying to hold the power themselves and form some sort of a junta. They have said they intend to hold elections normally and on schedule.

 

In other words, everything is just fine, as if this never happened. In my opinion there is no reason to cancel travel plans to come to Thailand. As a matter of fact, since this coup has been brewing for several weeks now and people have been apprehensive about it, I think everyone actually feels relieved now that it has finally happened. The whole thing has been totally bloodless and looks like it will remain so.

 

If my father was still alive today, his comment would be, "It's all a big nuthin'." Dad, I agree with you.

[fedssocr]

Last night was supposed to be one of the highlights of my trip...a concert by ModernDog in a very nice venue in outer Bangkok. Unfortunately after they were able to play half a song the plug got pulled on the show. It was a bit surreal. While we were waiting after the opening act finished and MD got set up the big screen TVs in the club switched to CNN with the news of the coup shortly before midnight. The band came out and started but then the club manager stopped them. Very disappointing personally, but even more importantly I hope that everything works out OK for Thailand and the Thai people. Luckily we were able to get a taxi back to the city fairly easily.

 

I had BBC World here at my hotel no problem last night when I got back here around 1 AM and it has been working all day today. They don't have CNN here. ESPN was out last night for some reason.

 

The only effects I have seen here in BKK is much lighter than usual traffic. Suriwong Rd. is eerily quiet. Other than banks being closed and a few more police here and there though things seem to be operating fairly normally. I went shopping at Paragon and Central World and while it was very quiet in both places most stores were open except the higher end jewelry stores.

[Guest JD]

BBC reporting that Thaksin is now in London.

[Guest wowpow]

BBC World TV is reporting that the military council have stated that a new Prime Minister will be appointed within 2 weeks.

 

Confidence in the Thai economy and the baht remain high

 

Yahoo finance - The last 5 days exchange rates US$ - THB

 

Also they announced again that they had reports of ex- Prime Minister Taksin being in London. I did hear reports that he bought a mansion there ?

[Guest wowpow]

The 'Other Board' have NINE trails on the Coup. This board has only SIX! I think it's a good topic to be pinned/sticky'd to the top of the page and all posts to go there.

 

Long trails can be tolerated. The Thorntree forum has 201 posts in their pinned one.

 

[Guest wowpow]

onthi outsmarted Thaksin at the eleventh hour

by: Thanong Khanthong - The Nation

 

Had Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin not moved as fast as he did to stage a coup on Tuesday, Thaksin Shinawatra would have launched his own coup a day later. Don't be fooled by Thaksin's claim that he stands for democracy.

 

As the political crisis developed to the point of no return concerning whether Thaksin should stay or be booted out, General Sonthi had no choice but to swallow his words about the days of military coups being over. He had been very reluctant to resort to a coup, as he was known not to have any political ambitions. Moreover, he was not known to be an enemy of Thaksin. Although General Sonthi has a good relationship with both Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda and Privy Council member General Surayuth Chulanont, he came to power partly due to a political compromise struck with Thaksin.

 

However, an intelligence report reached General Sonthi's camp stating that there would be bloodshed on Wednesday. The People's Alliance for Democracy had planned to hold a political rally that day at the Royal Plaza in order to force Thaksin out of politics. Had that rally taken place, there would have been clashes between the People's Alliance for Democracy and Thaksin's supporters and blood would have been spilt on Rajdamnoen Avenue. If only Thaksin had promised that he would take a break from politics and allow a period of political reforms to take place, the PAD and other branches of the anti-Thaksin movement would have declared victory. All political confrontations would have subsided. Thaksin could have run for office once the Constitution was amended, and he would have been returned to the premier's post, probably in the latter part of next year.

 

However, Thaksin never considered taking a break from power. Again, don't be fooled by his "taking a break" story - the idea never crossed his mind.

 

The General Sonthi camp learned that during the PAD rally, Yongyuth Tiyapairat and Newin Chidchob were planning to rally their supporters to create an ugly scene at the Royal Plaza. During the ensuing commotion, there would be human casualties. Thaksin would then have stepped in and declared a state of emergency, placing the country under martial law.

 

Now you can understand why he had time to prepare his state of emergency statement and read it at 9.20pm on Channel 9 from his New York hotel room. You can also understand why Yongyuth and Newin are now at the top of this country's most-wanted list and have surrendered themselves to the CDRM for interrogation.

 

Once the situation was under his complete control, Thaksin had planned to fly back yesterday in order to declare victory over anti-democratic elements in society. He had a military reshuffle list in hand that would have further consolidated his control over the military. With that accomplished, everything would have been easy. Virtually all institutions in the country would have been under his directive.

 

From his New York hotel, Thaksin was preparing to deliver an address at the UN Assembly. The room instead turned out to be the headquarters from which he attempted to launch a counter-coup and negotiate a political settlement. In New York, he planned to recruit top-notch American political consultants to advise him on his political campaign for the next election, which would have been pushed back from October 15 to some time in November.

 

Thaksin's talk of taking a break from politics was simply lip service. He told the Thai public he would decide whether to take a break from politics only after his Thai Rak Thai went to the Election Commission to register as candidates. This means Thaksin would have liked His Majesty the King to endorse a new election date before he made his decision.

 

Members of the Thai elite and the PAD, however, would not allow this to happen. If Thaksin were to run in the next election, he would have won. With 12 million votes or so, he would have claimed a democratic majority and he also would have stayed on as prime minister. After that he could rewrite Thai history by turning Thailand into his own regime.

 

General Sonthi had to act fast to head off Thaksin's coup. He staged a military coup on Tuesday, a day before the bloodshed was set to take place. He and Thaksin did have a telephone conversation on Tuesday evening, with Thaksin trying to buy time and negotiate a settlement.

 

He told General Sonthi that if he kept his cool, Thaksin would take a break from politics. He asked Sonthi to wait until he returned from New York so that the two could talk things out and said that he would reschedule his return flight to Bangkok to Wednesday, instead of yesterday as he had planned.

 

General Sonthi was polite, but told him that he had no choice, that he had to stage the coup.

 

In the meantime, Thaksin was checking on his military allies, who had control of Bangkok, for the most part. He remained certain that in a military power play, he could still emerge the victor. Maj-General Prin Suwannathat, commander of the First Infantry Brigade, is a close ally of Thaksin and he holds the most powerful military post in Bangkok. The commanders of the Air Force and the Navy are also good friends of Thaksin.

 

General Sonthi had the support of Lt-General Saphrang Kalayanamit of the Third Army, who had been outspoken in his anti-Thaksin remarks. The Third Army is in charge of all military operations in the North. Another key ally of Gen Sonthi is Lt-General Anupong Phaochinda of the First Infantry Division in Bangkok. Maj-General Sanit Prommas, the commander of the Second Cavalry Brigade, also came to play an important role in the power play to seize the capital.

 

Troops from Prachin Buri and Lop Buri were also mobilised to the capital to assist in the coup, the decisive outcome of which was ironically the victory of thaharn ban nok (upcountry military).

 

As it turned out, all of Thaksin's military allies, most notably Maj-General Prin, had been marked out - they could not move. General Ruengroj Mahasaranont, the supreme commander and a Thaksin ally, was to look after Bangkok once Thaksin had declared martial law. He too was subdued. Chidchai Vanasatidya and Prommin Lertsuridej were unable to launch any sort of counter effort.

 

Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra was supposed to take a 12am flight to Singapore on Tuesday night. She quickly changed her flight to 9pm. Well, Gen Sonthi had to let her off the hook.

 

Twenty-five minutes later, knowing that his wife was safely on an aircraft bound for Singapore, Thaksin read out his state of emergency address from his New York hotel room, effectively sacking General Sonthi .

 

But an hour later, General Sonthi declared a counter-coup to overthrow the Thaksin regime and tear up the Constitution.

 

The rest is history.

 

--The Nation 2006-09-22

 

--------------------

* Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?

* If God had meant us to travel economy class, he would have made us narrower.

 

The Nation

 

[Gaybutton]

That is quite an article, TeePee, and you know something? I believe every word of it. I've been convinced right from the start that the coup leaders are men of honor who acted because they thought it was right, not because they were power hungry. I also believe they are going to do exactly what they have been saying they are going to do.

 

In my opinion, the only ones who have been power and greed hungry have been Thaksin and his cronies. Look what has been taking place: The suppression of the press. The violence in the south and the violent measures Thaksin took to put a stop to it. Worked great, didn't it? The tax free sale of his Shin Corporation. Literally buying votes from poverty stricken, uneducated people. The lawsuits against politicians who opposed him. The puritanical restrictions on entertainment venues, resulting in dramatic losses for the tourism industry. The list goes on and on. I believe if he could eventually have established a dictatorship, that's precisely what he would have done.

[Guest wowpow]

The reaction of many in a nutshell?

 

www.mangosauce.com

 

 

 

 

 

Thaksin's looting spree has finally been brought to an end by the Thai authorities and no one seems sorry to see him go - except foreign heads of state.

 

As vintage tanks rumbled towards Government House, panicking officials at the Finance Ministry were seen removing large piles of documents. With the shredders working overtime, it could take months or even years to track down Thaksin's billions.

 

The unpopular Prime Minister left Thailand last week in a chartered Airbus loaded with all his household goods and personal effects. It's pretty clear that he knew it was a one-way trip.

 

Thaksin should have stood down after his recent election humiliation and it's a testament to the guy's stubbornness that it took tanks on the streets to finally make him go. Perhaps he's trying to court the foreign sympathy vote in a sick-making bid to paint himself as Thailand's answer to Aung San Suu Kyi.

 

Those concerned about the arrogant little shit's welfare will be relieved to learn that he and his family are safe and well in their lavish new London home.