Tanks in Bangkok,coup attempt?

[lee]

Thai general sets 'PM deadline'

Gen Sonthi tried to reassure Thais he was not seizing power for good
The leader of the military coup in Thailand has said a new prime minister would be named within two weeks.


Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin

Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin told a news conference that new elections would take place in a year's time, once a new constitution had been written.

Tanks rolled into Bangkok late on Tuesday, and martial law was declared, with large gatherings of people banned.

The UK's foreign office confirmed that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was expected in London later on Wednesday.

The coup followed months of growing tension in Thailand, with protests against Mr Thaksin and a general election which was annulled due to concerns about its legitimacy.

So far, reporters in Thailand say the atmosphere remains calm and no outbreaks of violence have been reported.

New constitution

In the news conference on Wednesday evening, Gen Sonthi claimed he was acting in line with the wishes of the Thai people, blaming government mismanagement for forcing coup leaders to act.

But he denied the military wanted a permanent hold on power, attempting to reassure his audience by putting a deadline on how long he would remain in power.

"We have two weeks. After two weeks, we will step out," he said.

He said coup leaders were considering candidates to appoint as the new prime minister, who would rule until fresh elections in a year's time.

In the interim, he said, a new national assembly would be appointed to draft a new, permanent constitution.

And he denied Thailand's revered an individual Adulyadej had anything to do with the coup.

Mr Thaksin - who was in New York when the military made their move - was a "fellow countryman" who would be welcome to return to his homeland, Gen Sonthi said.

But he warned that Mr Thaksin, who has been accused of corruption, could face criminal charges "under the law, and depend[ing] on the evidence".

Mr Thaksin has a home in London, where he is expected to arrive later on Wednesday.

[BKKSTAN]

border with laos and myanmar sealed

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,, ... 94,00.html

Flight to Singapore,bus to Cambodia?

[valentine]

A few photos of overnight developements culminating in grateful Bangkok residents presenting flowers to the troops.
All photos courtesy of Thai Daily News.











And of course , one whose not so grateful

[beer monkey]

More pic's....

[beer monkey]

[beer monkey]

[FrazeeDK]

Checks at the bridge early 20 Sept and later in the afternoon show that it is open for operation. Slightly higher "Security" is encountered on the Thai side..

[farang]

[beer monkey]

[beer monkey]

Smiles.....




And tanks.....

[farang]

coup video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKYF_ztcFt0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLiiIFQuWgI

[beer monkey]

From BBC.

Q&A: Thailand's coup impact

Gen Sonthi says he plans a return to democracy
A military coup in Thailand has seen the ousting of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.


* Why did the coup happen now? *



Mr Thaksin, who came to power in 2001, has proved a controversial and divisive leader.

Although he was extremely popular with Thailand's rural poor, his abrasive style and huge wealth won him many enemies and appeared to split the nation.

Mounting protests earlier this year undermined his position.

But it was his easy victory in April's general election - subsequently declared invalid - that may have prompted the generals to act.

Their assessment may have been that since Mr Thaksin's wealth and politically dominant Thai Rak Thai party made him electorally unbeatable, a coup was the only way to get rid of him.

All that remained was to choose a date. With new elections set for later this year, they seem to have decided to act swiftly, taking advantage of the fact he was out of the country at the UN's General Assembly.


. * What does it mean for Thailand? *



That depends on how long the military holds on to power.

The coup's leader, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, said he wanted to restore democracy after a year, once a new constitution had been written.

If that timetable is achieved, many Thais will probably give a sigh of relief.

But there will be real worries that Gen Sonthi, like previous coup leaders, may find it hard to give up power - or rebuild democracy to the military's liking - so quickly.

The longer he stays, the greater the risk that the same groups who protested in their thousands against the "autocratic" Mr Thaksin will turn their frustration on the high-minded military.

. * What does the coup mean for the region? *





It is a severe setback.

Thailand had not suffered a coup in 15 years, and had started to boast about being a stable democracy at the heart of South East Asia.

Now, as pictures flash around the world of tanks in central Bangkok, the country's institutions have again been proved to be flimsy, and its military shown up to be still untrusting of democracy and its conflicts.

The coup is also bad news for Western hopes of change in Thailand's neighbour, Burma.

Thailand is one of the few countries with real influence over Burma's repressive military junta.

But Gen Sonthi is hardly likely to press Burma's leaders to introduce democracy, and they will see his coup as a justification for inaction.

* What about Thailand's economy? *



As well as being hit by the 2004 tsunami, Thailand's economic growth was already being pegged back by political uncertainty as this year's protests against Mr Thaksin rumbled on.

The problem is now likely to get worse as nervy companies delay investment and the former government's spending programmes come under scrutiny.

While tourists may keep coming, foreign investors will be watching extremely closely to see what happens to Shin Corp, the mobile phone group which Mr Thaksin's family sold to Singaporean investors in January.

The sale of such an important Thai business was seen by many Thais as unpatriotic and triggered the anti-Thaksin protests.

Any moves to regain control of the company would send shock waves through Thai business.

[JimboPSM]

From Bloomberg:

Thai individual Confirms Coup Leader as Head of Interim Government

By Beth Jinks and Lee J. Miller

Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Thai an individual Adulyadej confirmed Thailand's military coup leader Sondhi Boonyarataklin as the head of a new interim government after the armed forces ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night.

an individual in a royal order confirmed Sondhi as leader of the Thai Political Reform Council, the armed forces group that ousted Thaksin, according to a statement read by an anchor on the Army- controlled Channel 5.

The world's longest-serving monarch has kept the veneration of the Thais through 18 military coups in his 60-year reign. Sondhi was granted an audience with an individual after the coup.

``The prime minister is the jockey, but the horse is owned by an individual,'' said Craig Scholl, senior portfolio manager at State Street Global Advisors in Boston, who manages more than $40 billion, including Thai shares.

The Thai Political Reform Council said it now controls the Southeast Asian nation of 65 million people. The council declared its allegiance to an individual who is the world's longest reigning monarch.

The military had to ``take control and rectify this situation to enable the country to quickly return to normal and to restore solidarity among the people,'' Sondhi, who is army chief, said in a live television broadcast today.

The coup took place as Thaksin, 57, was in New York preparing to address the United Nations General Assembly. He had faced mounting calls for his resignation since January, when his family sold a stake in its telecommunications business for $1.9 billion without paying taxes, fanning concern about corruption among the urban middle classes.

Canceled Speech

As the coup unfolded, Thaksin canceled his speech at the UN. After staying in his New York hotel overnight, Thaksin left the the city's JFK Airport at 5:35 a.m. local time today and is due in London soon, the U.K. Foreign Office said. The Thai Embassy in London, which said it hadn't any knowledge of his plans, said Thaksin's daughter is studying in London, where the ousted prime minister has a home.

Thaksin, who is popular in rural areas for easing farmers' debts, has headed a caretaker government since he dissolved Parliament in February.

Thai military leaders may appoint a non-military prime minister and draft a new constitution in two weeks, and may hold general elections in October 2007, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Sondhi. He said the decision to mount a coup was taken in the last two days, AFP said.

No action will be taken against Thaksin or his family, Sondhi was quoted by military-run television as telling diplomats. ``All of them still have full rights as normal Thai citizens,'' he said.

Bomb Plot

Thai police on Aug. 24 defused a bomb that they said was intended to kill Thaksin in a car abandoned near the premier's house. At least five military officials were arrested over the alleged plot. Officers denied involvement in the incident.

``We hope that the reform council will promptly implement its pledge to return power to the people and to reform politics,'' Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, the largest opposition group in the parliament that was dissolved in February, told reporters in Bangkok today.

Sondhi, 59, gave his address flanked by the other military leaders, including Supreme Commander Ruangroj Mahasaranon, Royal Thai Navy Chief Sathiraphan Keyanont, and Royal Thai Air Force Chief Chalit Pukbhasuk and the country's police chief. His comments were broadcast on all Thai television stations.

Political Gatherings

Political gatherings of five or more people and the stockpiling of goods is banned, the leaders said in statements broadcast on Thai television.

Thailand's stock exchange, banks, government offices and schools will open tomorrow after being required to be closed today, military leaders said in their statement. Thai bonds in Bangkok were also suspended today, according to the Thai Bond Market Association.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said the effect of Thailand's military coup on capital markets in that country has been muted and is unlikely to spread to other nations.

Military leaders took the view that rule by the caretaker government ``created extreme divisions in the Thai society as never seen before,'' Sondhi said. The government ``was widely tainted with corruption'' and benefited cronies.

Sondhi's Accusations

Sondhi accused Thaksin's government of going against the 78- year-old individual. The reform council late yesterday pledged allegiance to an individual and met with him at midnight to inform the monarch of its actions. Soldiers adorned machine guns and tanks with yellow ribbons, a symbolic color of the monarch.

``People should not be scared,'' said Lieutenant Viruch, 48, a soldier from the Royal Guard First Division in Bangkok, who wouldn't give his second name. ``We won't be here long. We come to make the country better and restore democracy. I am very happy because people here are friendly,'' he said, waving a pink rose and a water bottle given to him by passersby.

The coup leaders broadcast that they have suspended the constitution and dissolved the Cabinet, Senate and the constitutional court. In most ministries, permanent secretaries will take over temporarily, they said.

The Thai baht dropped 1.2 percent, the most since May 15. Standard & Poor's warned it might lower Thailand's eighth-ranking BBB+ debt rating, reflecting ``the possibility of sustained deterioration in Thailand's political situation.''

Before last night's coup, the Thai military had engineered 17 coups since the country changed to a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

Thai Coups

``Thailand has had coups for a long, long time so we're pretty used to it,'' said Mechai Viravaidya, chairman of Lam Soon Thailand and a former Thai senator. ``We believe that politics should return to normal fairly quickly because they (the coup's leaders) clearly stipulated that we need some good, solid, quick political reforms and then return to democracy.''

Coup leaders want to return ``power to the people'' and don't seek power for themselves, the military said earlier.

Thailand has had a caretaker government unable to enact new policies since Thaksin dissolved parliament. He called for an April vote in an attempt to end street protests in Bangkok and silence critics. The snap election was boycotted by the country's three biggest opposition parties and later annulled by a court.

New Elections

New elections had been planned in November. Thaksin had pledged to lead his Thai Rak Thai party through the vote and insisted he hadn't decided whether he would return as premier should his party win.

The Thai army has been trying to control insurgents in three mainly Muslim southern provinces fighting to establish an independent Islamic state. More than 1,200 civilians and government officials have been killed in attacks in the region since January 2004. About 90 percent of Thailand's population is Buddhist. Sondhi is a Muslim.

The political uncertainty has taken a toll on Thailand's $188 billion economy, the second-largest in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. The Asian Development Bank this month cut its forecast for Thailand's growth this year to 4.2 percent from 4.7 percent, citing political turmoil.

``One positive thing is that the political situation will be better from now on so our business can move on without worrying about daily protests,'' said Wichian Sri-ong, 43, a fruit vendor at a market near government house.

Thaksin was first elected premier in 2001 after founding Thai Rak Thai, or Thais Love Thais, and was returned with a record majority in February 2005. The self-described ``CEO prime minister'' won favor with Thailand's rural voters after declaring a moratorium on debt owed by many farmers and giving money to every village.

To contact the reporters on this story: Beth Jinks in Bangkok at bjinks1@bloomberg.net ; To contact the reporter on this story: Lee J. Miller in Bangkok at lmiller@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: September 20, 2006 11:58 EDT

[PopsIcafe]

Received this in email from the US Embassy today.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT - THAILAND

1. This Public Announcement is being issued to alert U.S. Citizens traveling to and residing in Thailand to the recent military coup in Thailand. This Public Announcement expires December 19.

2. On September 19 a military group calling itself the Council for Democratic Reform Under the Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) seized control of the Thai government and declared martial law. The CDRM banned any political gathering of more than five persons. The CDRM also banned the hoarding of goods or the increasing of the price of goods of any kind. The CDRM announced it will appoint a civilian government within two weeks as the first step to returning the country to democratic government.

3. The military deployed troops around key government facilities and other strategic locations, but there is little visible military presence elsewhere. There have been no indications or reports of any violence at this time.

4. Road traffic throughout the country continues to flow normally, although at reduced volumes. Public transportation is in service and all airports and most border crossings appear to be operating as normal. There have been reports of difficulty crossing the border with Burma at Mae Sot and Ranong. Americans who are scheduled to fly into or out of Thailand in the coming days are encouraged to contact their airline to ensure that the flight schedule has not been changed.

5. Given the fluidity of the current situation, the Department of State advises all American Citizens in Thailand to continue to monitor events closely, to avoid government installations and any large public gatherings and to exercise discretion when moving about.

6. The Department of State and the Embassy in Bangkok are continuing to follow developments closely. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements can be found. Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

7. American citizens traveling or residing in Thailand are encouraged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General. American citizens may also register at https://travelregistration.state.gov. The Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok. The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at ACSBKK@STATE.GOV. The Consulate General is located at 387 Wichayanond Road, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand. The telephone number is 66-53-252-629.

I am sure other countries are sending out the same to their citizens.

Pop's

[yannick]

Translated from a Belgian newspaper...
Tourism as usual in Thailand

[BKKSTAN]

Translated from a Belgian newspaper...
Tourism as usual in Thailand

''Mai Mee''

[beer monkey]

All smiles.

BANGKOK -- Thailand's coup plotters were feted as conquering heroes yesterday as Bangkok happily surrendered its freedoms to the camouflage-uniformed troops of the military junta that toppled their controversial leader.

The soldiers, idling in their tanks and jeeps on the streets of Bangkok, were mobbed by well-wishers who showered them with bouquets of carnations and daisies, gifts of fruit and bottles of water.

Parents brought their toddlers to admire the troops and pose for triumphant photos with the armoured vehicles. Crowds cheered for every jeep that drove out of military headquarters. The military vehicles were soon filled with flowers.

For months, the same crowds had been bitterly protesting against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing him of undemocratic actions. Now, they welcomed his demise at the hands of military leaders, oblivious to the irony that their enemy had been overthrown by the most undemocratic means possible.
The swift success of the coup, and the surprisingly warm response from the Thai people, was another sign of the fragility of Asia's democratic facade. After months of street protests and political clashes, most Thais eagerly accepted the loss of their freedoms. And this is a country that, until the coup Tuesday night, ranked as one of the freest in the region.

"Look, everyone is happy," said Pattraporn, a 41-year-old government administrator, who was snapping photos of the soldiers after driving across the city to visit them.

"On CNN, everything looked so bad, so I wanted to take photos to show my friends that the people are smiling and happy. We have to accept what the military commands. The military is controlling everything, and nobody is hurt, nobody died. People don't feel any fear."

Because of the widespread public support for the coup, the military leaders were able to control Bangkok with relatively few soldiers. All across the city, life was operating as normal yesterday, with troops hardly visible anywhere. Only at a few key intersections and government buildings were soldiers present.

At the royal plaza in the heart of the city, Wila Udom had been planning to organize an anti-government protest today. Instead, he cheerfully accepted the military's decision to ban all public gatherings. He helped collect crates of water and fruit in a pickup truck to deliver to the soldiers.

"This is very good," he said. "You can see how the people are giving food and everything to the military."

Many of Bangkok's intellectuals and politicians seemed equally pleased by the coup. At a panel discussion last night at the city's Foreign Correspondents Club, three of the four panelists sought to justify the coup. A senator, Kraisak Chonhavan, said he was "almost overjoyed" by the military intervention. He described the junta as a "reform committee." And he praised the coup leaders for agreeing to lift their ban on CNN and BBC broadcasts, which had been blocked for several hours after the start of the coup.

For the intellectuals and other opponents of the government, the coup was justified because it got rid of a prime minister who had abused his power, committed human-rights violations and enriched himself at the public expense. "I've had to attend so many funerals and so many human-rights cases," Mr. Kraisak said. "I've never felt so much hatred for a government as I felt for this government."

But while Mr. Thaksin was unpopular in Bangkok, he still had strong support in northern Thailand and in many rural regions. He won landslide election victories in 2001 and 2005, and another in 2006 that was overturned by the courts. Most analysts agreed that he would win a fair election if it were held today.

The opposition, however, had refused to accept this reality. Opposition parties boycotted the 2006 election, refused to accept the result, and then boycotted parliament, leaving the political system paralyzed and unworkable. That paralysis was one of the main reasons for the coup.

Thitinan Pongsudhiarak, a political scientist in Bangkok, said the Thaksin government had allowed only a "very crooked, twisted form of democracy." But the military junta has thrown the country back into a cycle that it often suffered in the past, when coups were common, he said. "The constitution has been abolished. We have been set back to square one."

He warned that bitter infighting could flare up again. "There is a potential counter-coup in the making. Thaksin's support runs deep. He has made himself very popular. This is not a man who likes to lose. He will plot a comeback."

[Bump]

Now folks this would be the one to worry about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He warned that bitter infighting could flare up again. "There is a potential counter-coup in the making. Thaksin's support runs deep. He has made himself very popular. This is not a man who likes to lose. He will plot a comeback."

[BKKSTAN]

Now folks this would be the one to worry about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He warned that bitter infighting could flare up again. "There is a potential counter-coup in the making. Thaksin's support runs deep. He has made himself very popular. This is not a man who likes to lose. He will plot a comeback."

Plotting,yes!In two days,its hard to find anyone that is angry about him be kicked out.In fact many of thodse that supported him,thought that the change was best for the country even though they say they would still vote for him if he was to run.That seems to me ,to not sound like people that are worried enough to go out and fight for him.He is dead in the water.His position puts him in opposition to an individual,case closed!

[Bump]

Well that would certianly be a nice ending to this hope it goes that way and it probably will.