Possible Military Coup in Thailand

artist · #1 Postby **artist** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:11 am

http://www.foxnews.com/

Coup Rumors Sweep ThailandMilitary surrounds government offices
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra calls state of emergency as reports of rebellion spread through Bangkok

AP

artist · #2 Postby **artist** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:46 am

BANGKOK, Thailand — The Thai military launched a [url=javascript:siteSearch('coup');]coup[/url] against Prime Minister [url=javascript:siteSearch('Thaksin Shinawatra');]Thaksin Shinawatra[/url] on Tuesday night, circling his offices with tanks, seizing control of TV stations and declaring a provisional authority pledging loyalty to the king.

An announcement on Thai television declared that a "Council of Administrative Reform" with King Bhumibol Adulyadej as head of state had seized power in Bangkok and nearby provinces without any resistance.

At least 14 tanks surrounded Government House, Thaksin's office. Thaksin was in New York at the U.N. General Assembly.

Thaskin had declared a [url=javascript:siteSearch('state of emergency');]state of emergency[/url] from New York via a government-owned TV station.

"The prime minister with the approval of the Cabinet declares serious emergency law in [url=javascript:siteSearch('Bangkok');]Bangkok[/url] from now on," Thaksin said on Channel 9.

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.

CountryWatch: Thailand

Derek Ortt · #3 Postby **Derek Ortt** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:59 pm

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/0 ... index.html

I do not think this was a Coup

Instead, it seems as if the king was fed up with the PM and simply removed him from office. The Monarch in a constitutional monarchy still has the final say, but his power is usually limited (like in the British system... the Queen is not a figurehead, she just usually allows the PM to exercise all authority but he can be removed if necessary)

kevin · #4 Postby **kevin** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:34 pm

It's a military coup. Whether the King speaks against it or remains silent will be the determining factor of its success. The military cannot act outside of the King's authority, as all Thai society is subordinate to the King. While the power of the King is limited in a 'constitutional' sense, it is much more analogous to Hirohito in Japan than Queen Elizabeth.

I know a guy from Thailand who is attending the Citadel. A bit worrisome honestly.

Extremeweatherguy · #5 Postby **Extremeweatherguy** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:36 pm

NBC just said it was a coup.

#6 Postby **alicia-w** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:20 am

what a chicken**** way to do it, waiting until the prime minister is in NY for the opening day of the UN General Assembly?!?!?!

I'm glad i got to see Thailand when I did. Wonder if things will change much there.

Derek Ortt · #7 Postby **Derek Ortt** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:40 am

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/0 ... index.html

The king endorses the takeover on the grounds that the PM was corrupt

#8 Postby **JonathanBelles** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:31 pm

im sorry but what is a coup?

gtalum · #9 Postby **gtalum** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:51 pm

alicia-w wrote:what a chicken**** way to do it, waiting until the prime minister is in NY for the opening day of the UN General Assembly?!?!?!

I'm glad i got to see Thailand when I did. Wonder if things will change much there.

I doub tit. Military coups are a way of life in Thailand. They happen frequently. The recent lack of them is the exception, not the rule.

The Thai Prime Minister was extremely corrupt, this is the king's only method of getting rid of him.

Possible Military Coup in Thailand

Possible Military Coup in Thailand

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