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Thailand calls state of emergency »
Posted by: Mintyfunk 3 years, 3 months agoThai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok amid rumours of a state coup.
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Mintyfunk
I love pop culture and politics, the former offsets the stress created by the latter.
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Comments: 105
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:33 p.m.PM has been under pressure to step down.
Thai police appeal for calm in Bankok.
No reports of violence in Bankok.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:34 p.m.Troops arrive at key sites in Bankok.
Hundreds of soldiers deployed in Bankok.
Thaksin plans early return.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:36 p.m.Military encircles PM's office.
Thai armed forces say they control Bankok.
Thai PM declares state of emergency.
Soldiers inside Government House in Bankok.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:43 p.m.Thailand is dealing with an infant democracy. Thaksin never had political support within the capital. He relied heavily on the provinces, promising improvements, cash in hand, and so on. Since Feb last year, there has been growing resentment, because of 'secret deals' PM and his family may have made.
The opposition has been gaining fire. Government is too pro-business, out of touch with the average Thai, PM and family are making money for themselves, and not enough improvements for the average person.
Thai PM will be speaking later tonight, to the UN Assembly.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:46 p.m.Thai populace increasingly skeptical.
Coup may not necessarily be considered a good thing by the people.
Regionally, it will without doubt harm the psyche of the neighbors and their ties with Thailand. May have negative economic consequences for the region.
For the people of Thailand, this is a flashback to the past. A time of uncertainty and virtual anarchy.
Until now, Thailand was the model of a stable democracy, and a strong economy. Depending on how the situation evolves, this may harm Thailand's image.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:48 p.m.This is the first coup attempt in 15 years.
So far it is a bloodless coup. Things are calm. There is a crowd outside the Government House. The royal palace is keen to protect the king, who is revered and respected.
There is press and photographers on the scene, wondering what will happen next.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:50 p.m.May squash hopes that Thailand becomes a beacon of democracy in central Asia.
Ordinary Thai people might consider the army intervention to be illegitimate, even though Thaksin is increasingly unpopular, and is thought to have 'stolen' the last election.
No one wants a military coup.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:51 p.m.Thaksin is the first PM to ever serve a full term since Thailand was made a constitutional democracy.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:52 p.m.Thaksin's speech moved up 7 hours, so he can return to Thailand as soon as possible.
Images of the king being flashed all over Thai TV.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 12:59 p.m.Sky News.
750,000 Britons head to Thailand every year for holidays.
There are two factions of the army. Military and police claim they have taken control to maintain law and order.
King is extremely popular in the country.
Bush talks to the UN of liberty, peace, democracy, as Thailand faces coup.
Army commanders loyal to the Thai PM are holding crisis talks.
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Alf74
Sept. 19, 2006, 1:02 p.m.I am no expert in Thai politics, but I do know that Prime Minister Thaksin has been a controversial leader who has caused much political unrest in his country for the past few years. He heads the populist Thai Rak Thai party and most of his support comes unsurprisingly from the less educated and less wealthy. Despite his appeal among the lower classes, the more educated middle and upper classes despise him for his SUBTLE abuses of power that include nepotism, conflict of interest, securities fraud, and other "white collar" crimes that the lower classes do not fully understand. Thai monarchists also hate him because of his alleged insult of the crown and attempts to usurp royal powers. Anti-Thaksin protests have been met by pro-Thaksin rallies. Many special interest groups, including Thailand's lawyers, had asked the king to step in and dismiss the controversial PM. Because Rama IX had refused to intervene, I am not surprised that someone wants to stage a coup.
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msaleem
Sept. 19, 2006, 1:03 p.m.Thai coup spokesmen have just issued a statement saying that the coup is only temporary. Vow to 'return power to people' soon.
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Alf74
Sept. 19, 2006, 1:26 p.m.Compared to Canada, the USA, Australia, and the western European countries, Thailand's seems to be another "backward democracy" where you have a democratic framework in place but the electorate are still uneducated peasants who don't fully understand what democracy is really about. Democracy is not simply about going to the polls to choose a leader every few years. It is also about concepts such as RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, BALANCE OF POWER, PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, and other abstract political science concepts which I doubt the average Thai voter understands. Thailand has a democracy but it is weak because it lacks these other components of democracy. Here in Canada, we had voted out a Prime Minister for the corrupt actions of his bureaucrats even though Paul Martin himself did not commit abuse of government procurement contracts. Canadians are educated enough to understand that "Ad Scam" is an example of corruption and a violation of responsible government.
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farmerman
Sept. 19, 2006, 1:36 p.m.I believe there is also a growing insurgency of Muslims in the southern part of Thailand.
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farmerman
Sept. 19, 2006, 1:48 p.m.Imaknowbody
Some remote places would still be perfectly safe, but there are not many places where there are many people that is completely safe from the terrorists.
Again, we are in the early stages of WW3.
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dr-tom
Sept. 19, 2006, 2:05 p.m.Who gives a ******? Don't we have enough problems at home? The USA can't be the Texas Rangers to the entire world. Bring our children home from the Hell of Iraq and Afghanistan.
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abntv
Sept. 19, 2006, 2:11 p.m.When there is a tank parked in front of the PM office I would think you could refer to the movement as more than just a rumor..The fact that you "only" have a coup every 15 years does not make this a totally stable country.
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farmerman
Sept. 19, 2006, 2:22 p.m.Dr.Tom
They'll come home when the mission is accomplished. Not before, irregardless of who the next President is. If you want to withdraw to our own borders, that is you right. But it is not going to stop the war and sure isn't go to give us peace.
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dr-tom
Sept. 19, 2006, 2:25 p.m.Ever heard of the [U.S.] Revolution? Rise up people, and throw down your oppressors. Die for it you have to. Don't count on the U.S.A. to do your homework...
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abntv
Sept. 19, 2006, 2:30 p.m.David...as of all the reading I have been doing the Islamic insurgents have been quiet..I think they are just sitting back and waiting..they will strike when they have an advantage
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abntv
Sept. 19, 2006, 2:31 p.m.Dr. Tom..
Not sure where you live but as for me...I am not oppressed. Not even close.
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