Thailand Premier Thaksin Declares State of Emergency (Update2)
By Laurent Malespine
Sept. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra declared a state of emergency before demonstrations intended to oust him were due to take place and fired the country's army chief.
Thaksin spoke on state television in a broadcast from New York, where he was attending a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
Ten tanks blocked traffic outside Government House in the capital, Bangkok, the British Broadcasting Corp. said, citing Reuters. Thai forces seized government house after the army chief was fired, Agence France-Presse reported.
Bangkok police had been bracing for prolonged political protests as Thais seeking to oust Thaksin planned to resume mass rallies tomorrow, after more than six months on the sidelines.
The army chief, Sondhi Boonyarataklin, had earlier dismissed rumors of a possible coup and a defense spokesman said Thai military leaders had pledged not to interfere in politics, the Bangkok Post reported on Sept. 14.
The Thai baht fell the most in a month. Against the dollar, the baht fell 0.4 percent to 37.45 at 11:32 a.m. in New York, from 37.29 late yesterday.
``The baht will come under more pressure'' after Asian financial markets open, said Marios Maratheftis, a currency strategist at Standard Chartered Plc in London. Even if any attempted takeover of the government ``doesn't go through it will be negative for the baht. The political uncertainty is there and the impact'' will continue, he said.
Shares of Thai Fund Inc., managed by Morgan Stanley, fell as much as 6.6 percent in New York Stock Exchange composite trading at 11:35 a.m.
Thailand, which hasn't had an elected parliament since February, has had 19 coups in the past 60 years.
Tanks in Bangkok,coup attempt?
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beer monkey
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update
,, if so the sh.it will hit the fan
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arjay
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From what I can make out from the TV, Thaksin has declared a State of Emergency and sacked the Head of the Army. Then one minute the TV says that troops loyal to Thaksin have taken over Govt House etc. as a precaution.
Then a few minutes later the telescript says that troops loyal to the sacked Army commander have taken over Gov't House.
So I don't know which way round it it.
Then a few minutes later the telescript says that troops loyal to the sacked Army commander have taken over Gov't House.
So I don't know which way round it it.
This from the Yahoo News site:
BANGKOK, Thailand - The Thai military launched a coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday night, circling his offices with tanks, seizing control of TV stations and declaring a provisional authority pledging loyalty to an individual.
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An announcement on Thai television declared that a "Council of Administrative Reform" with an individual Adulyadej as head of state had seized power in Bangkok and nearby provinces without any resistance.
Thaksin, who has faced calls to step down amid allegations of corruption and abuse of power, was in New York at the U.N. General Assembly, and he declared a state of emergency via a government-owned TV station.
At least 14 tanks surrounded Government House, Thaksin's office.
A convoy of four tanks rigged with loudspeakers and sirens rolled through a busy commercial district of Bangkok, warning people to get off the street for their own safety.
A senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin had used the military to take over power from the prime minister.
Massive rallies earlier this year forced Thaksin to dissolve Parliament and call an election in April, three years ahead of schedule. The poll was boycotted by opposition parties and later annulled by Thailand's top courts, leaving the country without a working legislature.
Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party twice won landslide election victories, in 2001 and 2005 and had been expected to win the next vote on Oct. 15, bolstered by its widespread support in the country's rural areas.
In March, Boonyaratkalin, sought to ease speculation that the military might join the political fray, as it last did in 1992 and more than a dozen other times during earlier crises.
"The army will not get involved in the political conflict. Political troubles should be resolved by politicians," Boonyaratkalin said at the time, echoing comments of other top military officials. "Military coups are a thing of the past."
Thaksin, who had been scheduled to address the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday night, switched his speech to Tuesday at 7 p.m. EDT.
On Monday, Thaksin had said he may step down as leader of Thailand after the upcoming elections but would remain at the helm of his party, despite calls for him to give up the post.
In Bangkok, several hundred soldiers were deployed at government installations and major intersections, according to an Associated Press reporter.
Army-owned TV channel 5 interrupted regular broadcasts with patriotic music and showed pictures of an individual. At least some radio and television stations monitored in Bangkok suspended programming.
The cable television station of the Nation newspaper reported that tanks were parked at the Rachadamnoen Road and royal plaza close to the royal palace and government offices.
"The prime minister with the approval of the cabinet declares serious emergency law in Bangkok from now on" Thaksin said by television from New York. He said he was ordering the transfer of the nation's army chief to work in the prime minister's office, effectively suspending him from his military duties.
Thaksin's critics want to jettison his policies promoting privatization, free trade agreements and CEO-style administration.
Opposition to Thaksin gained momentum in January when his family announced it had sold its controlling stake in telecommunications company Shin Corp. to Singapore's state-owned Temasek Holdings for a tax-free $1.9 billion. Critics allege the sale involved insider trading and complain a key national asset is now in foreign hands.
Thaksin also has been accused of stifling the media and mishandling a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand that flared under his rule.
In Thailand's mostly Muslim south, separatist insurgents have waged a bloody campaign that has left at least 1,700 dead, mostly civilians, since 2004. Citizens there have complained of rights abuses by soldiers and discrimination by the country's Buddhist majority.
Bhumibol, a 78-year-old constitutional monarch with limited powers, has used his high prestige to pressure opposing parties to compromise during political crises. He is credited with helping keep Thailand more stable than many of its Southeast Asian neighbors.
He is the world's longest-serving monarch, celebrated his 60th year on the throne with lavish festivities in mid-June that were attended by royalty from around the world.
Many Thais are counting on him to pull the country through its current political crisis, which has left it with no functioning legislature and only a caretaker government after a divisive, inconclusive election.
Bhumibol was born in Cambridge, Mass. He became the ninth an individual's Chakri dynasty on June 9, 1946, succeeding his older brother, Ananda, killed by an unexplained shooting.
Since then, the beloved individual has reigned through a score of governments, democratic and dictatorial. He has taken an especially active role in rural development.
In 1992, demonstrators against a military strongman were gunned down before an individual stepped in to end the fighting and usher in a period of stability.
We were wartching CNN and BBC with news breakking until 2345 iours when ther wa a mysterous sun outage, everything but theinternational news channels were up and running. at last notice everything is peaceful at this juncture. I can tell you guys that people who lived here, that I have spoken to didn't even realize that it had happened until wa over. At one time here this happened every fwe years so people are nnot unaccostumed to it adn pretty much know how to handle themselves, so hope fully this will be a peacful action.
The only unkown factor that I have seen mentioned was if Taksin military buddies would try to back him, lets hope not that could be the one aspect that could really turn things bad. At last report ther was no real indication that was going to ahppen. I'm sure an individual is fully aware of what is goingon. He will control things, to avoid violence.
Well it's night night time now since we can't watch the news should be an interesting day tomorrow.
The only unkown factor that I have seen mentioned was if Taksin military buddies would try to back him, lets hope not that could be the one aspect that could really turn things bad. At last report ther was no real indication that was going to ahppen. I'm sure an individual is fully aware of what is goingon. He will control things, to avoid violence.
Well it's night night time now since we can't watch the news should be an interesting day tomorrow.
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hxjohn
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marthial law nationwide
army and police on streets iam watching tv here in uk at the moment and the reporters on the ground paint the same picture at the moment a bloodless coup is in place
army spokesman as just annouced marthial law nationwide
i expect tomorrow will bring protests all over thailand maybe udon thani
taksin will be speaking this evening in new york at the united nation.s
in place of the president if iran
army spokesman as just annouced marthial law nationwide
i expect tomorrow will bring protests all over thailand maybe udon thani
taksin will be speaking this evening in new york at the united nation.s
in place of the president if iran
yes lots of sites seem to be closed or blockedray23 wrote:Thi is intersting we may have fell under the radar, I checked the Bangkok Post, didn't come up, checked the Nation same thing went to Thai visa same thing.
CNN News does come up, but nothing new on it. maybe we can watch the news tomorrrow. Wonder if they will let Thaksin land when he arrives
or maybe they are just very busy? mai roo Thai visa was up for a bit, I manged to check out the thread not to much there that isn't on this site. The only thing I saw was one guy saying he called some generals daughter that he knew and she said the Thai Military and Thai police acted together. anybody who was remotely associated with Thaksin, military or Police have been removed fron power.
Now I have no idea if any of this is true it was an indvidual I couldn't copy it a the site went down again.
Now I have no idea if any of this is true it was an indvidual I couldn't copy it a the site went down again.
Statement from the military reformist
The following is the statement from the miliary reformist.
There has been social division like never before. Each side has been trying to conquer another with all possible means and the situation tends to intensify with growing doubts on the administration amid widespread reported corruption.
State units and independent organisations have been politically meddled, not able to deliver their services as specified in the Constitution.
The administration is also usually bordering on "lest majest" actions against the revered individual. Despite attempts from social units for compromises, there is no way to end the conflicts.
The revolution body thus needs to seize power. We have no intention to rule but to return the power to the people as soon as possible, to preserve peace and honour an individual who is the most revered to all Thais.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09 ... 014072.php
The following is the statement from the miliary reformist.
There has been social division like never before. Each side has been trying to conquer another with all possible means and the situation tends to intensify with growing doubts on the administration amid widespread reported corruption.
State units and independent organisations have been politically meddled, not able to deliver their services as specified in the Constitution.
The administration is also usually bordering on "lest majest" actions against the revered individual. Despite attempts from social units for compromises, there is no way to end the conflicts.
The revolution body thus needs to seize power. We have no intention to rule but to return the power to the people as soon as possible, to preserve peace and honour an individual who is the most revered to all Thais.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09 ... 014072.php
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laphanphon
why couldn't this happen first week of october, i could be there to watch, pint in hand, tank cruising by, what up fellas 
as long as nobody is shooting, that could be an interesting night, or just stroll back to NEP.
Notice on TV - 23:13, September 19, 2006
All Thai TV stations are showing a notice. A rough translation is:
At present the government reforms the democratic regime with an individual as chief .
The army commander and national police commander have controled the situation in Bangkok and boundary areas already.
There is no opposition.
To maintain the peace of the nation we ask people's cooperation and forgive the inconvenience.
(The notice did not state a curfew was in effect.)
http://2bangkok.com/highemer.shtml
the plot thickens:
New Prime Minister? - 00:42, September 20, 2006
Some sources claim that Akrathorn Jurarat has been named Prime Minister. He is "chairperson of the Administrative Court."
as long as nobody is shooting, that could be an interesting night, or just stroll back to NEP.
Notice on TV - 23:13, September 19, 2006
All Thai TV stations are showing a notice. A rough translation is:
At present the government reforms the democratic regime with an individual as chief .
The army commander and national police commander have controled the situation in Bangkok and boundary areas already.
There is no opposition.
To maintain the peace of the nation we ask people's cooperation and forgive the inconvenience.
(The notice did not state a curfew was in effect.)
http://2bangkok.com/highemer.shtml
the plot thickens:
New Prime Minister? - 00:42, September 20, 2006
Some sources claim that Akrathorn Jurarat has been named Prime Minister. He is "chairperson of the Administrative Court."
