"Coup" sparks emergency in Thailand

Debate (or Argue) About Anything and Everything
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22166
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 17:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

"Coup" sparks emergency in Thailand

Post by grim_tales »

From BBC.co.uk -
'Coup' sparks Thailand emergency
A tank on the streets of Bangkok amid reports of a coup
Tanks took up positions outside Government House
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok amid reports of a coup attempt.

Soldiers have entered Government House and tanks have moved into position around the building.

Mr Thaksin, who is at the UN in New York, said he had removed the chief of the army.

National television announced that forces had taken control of Bangkok "to maintain law and order", and that they were declaring loyalty to the king.

However, the BBC's Kate McGeown in Bangkok says King Bhumibol is held in high esteem by all Thais, and the declaration of loyalty does not necessarily imply that he backs the takeover attempt.

Thailand map

An army-owned TV station is showing images of the royal family and songs linked in the past with military coups.

The announcement said the troops belonged to the "Council of Political Reform".

Our correspondent says low-level rumours of a possible coup have been circulating for weeks.

Thai media say that two army factions appear to be heading for a clash, with one side backing the prime minister and the other side backing military commander Lieutenant General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

The general was sacked by the prime minister earlier in the day.

Political impasse

Our correspondent Jonathan Head said it was not clear which faction had taken the initiative and moved into Government House.

He said there has been pressure growing on the prime minister to resign, including groups close to King Bhumibol, following a political impasse in which April's general election was declared invalid.

But it was thought that Thailand was making progress towards holding another election later in the year, our correspondent says.

Witnesses said several hundred troops were posted at key points around Bangkok, including at government installations and major intersections.

At the United Nations, where the annual General Assembly is under way, it was announced that the agenda had been changed to allow Mr Thaksin to address it in the coming hours.
Not sure what to make of this.. what does it mean for Thailand/Asia, the world even? :o
Yi-Long
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 8616
Joined: 26 Oct 2004, 12:46
Location: Alkmaar, Holland

Post by Yi-Long »

Ow yeah, just saw this on CNN(before I went into the shower). I believe they (the coup-ers) have said the coup is meant to be temporary, so that could mean either elections, or that they'll install a new prime minister or whatever by themselfs...
Image
I was there, the big BNB blackout of november, 2008. We lost many that day...
bradavon
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 24430
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:30

Post by bradavon »

I watched this avidly last night to see it unfold. I knew the PM was unpopular but didn't expect this.

Sure if you don't like him vote him out but this really is not the way. It would be like the British public getting Blair out by force, that's wrong in so many ways.

The fact from what I can gather is "most" Thais are for the PM, it's the Bangkians (who're better educated) are against him. That's only 1/6th of the population (10 of about 60m).

I sent a text to my friend in Thailand and she said everything is calm. Funnily enough she said the government was corrupt when I visited last October. It's a good job I'm no longer going to Thailand in November now (it's been delayed to January).

I heard today a new PM will be in in 2 weeks and a year later a proper PM will be elected in.
grim_tales wrote:Not sure what to make of this.. what does it mean for Thailand/Asia, the world even? :o
How do you mean?

Thailand = A new government
Asia = Nothing much
The World = A bit over top
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22166
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 17:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Post by grim_tales »

Oh right, sorry Brad :D I didn't know what it meant.
bradavon
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 24430
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:30

Post by bradavon »

You do now :wink:
bradavon
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 24430
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:30

Post by bradavon »

Views from around Asia, it's interesting honest:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 366578.stm

I also came across this classic photo on the BBC website:

Image

Buddhists are supposed to have no interest in material gain.

1. A monk standing in front of a tank, cool
2. A monk who owns a digital camera

:D
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22166
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 17:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Post by grim_tales »

:D
ReconFive
King of Beggars
Posts: 519
Joined: 26 Dec 2004, 05:56
Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Post by ReconFive »

I was right in the middle of this.
Pretty crazy, it took me a little while to figure out what exatly was going on, since the friend i was with at the time spoke limited english and all news brodcasts were in Thai language.

It seems to me that the majority of Thai people in the city are not doing much crying over Thaksin's departure. I'm not sure what General Boonyaratglin plans to do in reguards to a new PM though..
bradavon
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 24430
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:30

Post by bradavon »

Wow it must've been nuts. Did you take any photos? I hear they're appointed an ex-army general as the PM. Surprise, Surprise.

Are the tanks still present? I hope it's all back to normal.