hc.sandbergen

Article quote, "The billionaire tycoon-turned-politician is adored by many of the country's rural and urban working class. But he is reviled by many in the elite and the middle classes, who accuse him of being corrupt and a threat to the monarchy"

Quite funny this should be said... the rural and working guy have no money(or at least have to work very hard for it)...yet they don't accuse this current Gov't... but the ones who "revile" him are the middle class and the Elite(rich)... hmm...someone see something wrong with this picture? seems like someone's complaining because they are not getting their piece of the pie anymore... its like the teachers who have been working in the thai gov't school for 10 years up making just in salary alone, 50-60,000 b per month alone and still exercise their corrupt manners when it comes to extra classes and special programs... so the reviled ones really will only do injustice further to this country and to the working class and rural people who already suffer alot already... so i wish and hope their attempts will fail...reminds me of the idiots who sat at the airport for a long time... i think these guys just like to have a get together once in a while and want to partake of the new things, 'such as the airport' and now monument square or whatever its called... hehe Thai Social'ism" hehe

As far as I know something about the Thai society, I agree with CMUIC, only if the government is doing what you want it is called democracy and otherwise it is corrupt??

Every single Thai I know supports this man - I hope in the weeks and months ahead, he shows everyone a path towards peace, reconciliation and unity.

Same here and yes I hope he does.

I know a lot of Thai people who don't support this man and never will.

He has to step down.

Anyone noticed that all the people being killed are civillians, if the red shirts had weapons as the government keeps stating then why have soldiers not died, or got injured. Strange that, every report states it.

Regardless of the situation now the thai government is creating its own terrorist`s by these actions, the poor people will stay poor, under and educated,so as to aid the rich elite running this country, one sided democracy will never work.

What have the protesters to look forward to, if anyone thinks their lives are worth living they must be mad, hence they will stay and get killed.

Still no yellow shirts charged Wow there`s a shock eh

The outcome will be a bigger divide, then bombings shootings BLAH BLAH BLAH.

I hope the premier is happy with his actions ,those of a coward, they will be repaid as history has always shown.

The land of Smiles with its 3 Tier system Rich Yellow Poor Red Foreign Any.

Shame,

The most of the so called Red terrorists are just poor people with no future.

The elite is running the parliament. The rich will stay rich, the poor will lose everything.

Take for example the new tax-law that everybody with his own house has to pay taxes for it.

Many of the reds don't even have money enough to buy their daily food, how can they pay the taxes?

Abhisit with his English education will never understand them, he isn't even Thai anymore.

His solution will never work, without killing all the reds.

In a true democracy, angry mobs do not get to say when an election should be held. Nor are they in any position to dictate any conditions with the Government. They are dealt with in a severe, harsh and swift manner. These inconsiderate fools are reaping what they have sown. And believe me, they would be getting much worse treatment if they were trying to do such things in the USA, Europe, Australia, Japan, China, etc... So conversely Mr. Kumsamut, you in fact are the brainless one if you don't realize this fact.

Wich country has a true democracy?

In the so called cicilised countries the army did not should at harmeless people, in China they will.

The yellow shirts got what they want by closing down the airports. The army did support them.

The red shirt are trying the same, and they are dictating the government?

"The government has to continue to have a dialogue with the demonstrators and they need to reach an agreement on a path forward," Crowley said. Another idiotic statement from US Embassy. The government had a deal with the "demonstrators" and the "demonstrators" backed out. To call a paramilitary group with an armed redoubt in the middle of Bangkok for 40 days demonstrators is absurd. I applaud the Prime Minister for his patience in trying to resolve the situation but it is now beyond doubt that the red shirts are people who can not be trusted and it is time for the "demonstration" to end.

The PM has to step down, he is the one who cannot be trusted.

The so calles Red shirts are only trying to their rights.

Thank you Oh Great America. What would we do without your guidance?

The USA knows what is good for the rest of the world.

Let them solve their own problems first.

The Thai people don't need their help.

The 'Red shirts' need to clear up what they want!!!!

The wanted parliment dissolution and new elections, the could have had both if they went home when the Priminister annonced his plans!!!!

But they must have been 'told' by the red leader 'we need this (whatever it is they want now) too' - got too greedy!!

RED SHIRTS GO HOME PLEASE!!!!!!!

i know i'm a 'farang' but the people of bangkok think the same!!!!!!

I know a lot of farang and Thai people living in Bangkok and Samut Prakan who agree with the "Shirt see deng".

At first they wanted Thaksin to go, but they have changed their minds.

Suthep will surrender and walk on bail after 30 minutes, with a trial never happening. Just like the yellow shirts surrendered and walked on bail after 30 minutes and 2 years later, a trial is still not visible on the horizon.

However, when the red shirts surrender, they will not be able to walk on bail after 30 minutes. The strictly enforced double standards in Thailand prohibit that.

This is the biggest problem.

Abhisit will not allow Suthep to be prosecuted.

Herman

I am very sorry for a lot of comments on this item.

The westeners seems to understand the Thai people very well.

The only thing Abhisit should do is to step down from his illegal prime ministers post and organize new elections.

Herman

I am very sorry for the people who now are out-of-work because of the desier for power from a few people.

They are paying others to do thier dirty work to get the power.

The police or army have to end this madness.

Herman

Long Live His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyade.

Happy birthday and many years to come.

Just take a trip around Thailand and ask the (70-80%) "bahn nock" villagers who they voted for twice, and who they would have voted for yet again if the rug of democracy hadn't been pulled from under their feet. TRT had no need of illegal electioneering.

Indeed. Though there was a need, namely the stalemate caused by a BOYCOTT instigated by the "Democrat" party. No way is my family voting "Democrat" any longer, assuming we even get the chance to vote anytime soon. They're not even worthy of the name.

I know a lot of Thai people in the Isan who were voting for TRT.

They didn't get any money for it what so else.

The way they saw it that was that TRT did something for the poor people and not for the rich in Bangkok

I hope they will have the wisdom to end this soon.

Herman

COUP D'ETAT IN THAILAND

by Bangkokpost.com

The army commander Gen Sonthi Boonyarataglin staged a coup d'etat Tuesday evening (Thailand time) and ousted the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

A so-called "Democratic Reform Council" declared itself in control and declared martial law nationwide. Terse announcements said it included the commanders of all three armed forces and the police. It said the coup was necessary to correct "unprecedented division in the country."

The Council said there seemed to be widespread corruption, and independent agenies were subverted by politicians, apparently a reference to the Thaksin government. "The national government through the current administration has caused conflicts and undermined the harmony of the people as never before in history."

Public acceptance remained unknown. The coup occurred late Tuesday night, when Bangkok was under a major rainstorm, and few people were seen on the streets.

The opposition had scheduled a major anti-Thaksin rally for Wednesday. The last military coup, in 1991, was extremely unpopular and was overthrown by violent opposition in the streets.

Officers this time promised to hold power for as short a time as possible. An announcement over the name of Gen Sonthi, a Special Forces veteran long seen as apolitical, promised: "The council is steadfast in its objective, which is not to take over the government permanently and it will hand back the power to the people as soon as possible."

The Council repealed the 1997 "people's constitution" and dissolved both houses of parliament, the government and the constitution court. Announcements said the Council was under the King, and confirmed that the Privy Council and all courts except the Constitution Court remained in power.

(NOTE: Texts of the first three official announcements are at the end of this story)

Retired Gen Surayudh Chulanont, a respected former military commander now a member of the royal Privy Council, was announced as prime minister to replace Mr Thaksin. There was no early word how log the generals intended to remain in power, or what their reforms would be.

Mr Thaksin was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, and had earlier tried to dismiss Gen Sonthi and order troops back to their barracks. His order, via a voice broadcast on TV and radio, was cut off halfway as the dramatic coup unfolded.

Tanks and troops of the Fourth Cavalry Battalion moved into strategic points in Bangkok, including the Royal Plaza.

Like most of the previous 19 military coups since 1932, there was no violence. Tanks surrounded Government House and apparently some newspaper offices. All broadcasting on local TV was interrupted, and replaced by a notice which stated the military takeover and apologised "for any inconvenience."

In the early hours of the coup, most other communications continued uninterrupted. But after several hours, all cable-TV broadcasts were cut, apparently because Mr Thaksin and other Thai ministers were giving interviews to CNN and the BBC, which are widely seen in Bangkok.

Thailand airports remained open, including the main international airport at Bangkok.

Thailand websites including the Bangkok Post were operating under very heavy loads as people tried to find out what was happening. The Bangkok Post newspaper was being prepared and printed for Wednesday morning. The front page headline was a huge, black and capitalised statement:

COUP D'ETAT

As always, local broadcast media contained no breaking updates.

Mr Thaksin said he would return to Thailand from New York. The shadowy coup administrators said he would not be allowed to resume his post as prime minister.

Sources told the Bangkok Post that Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulananonda had tried and failed to mediate between the coup forces and another army faction loyal to Mr Thaksin. Gen Prem was summoned to the Royal Palace.

The whereabouts of most of the members the government were unknown. Mr Thaksin, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkol were in New York. Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Wannasathit, the caretaker premier, was reportedly detained by the military.

Text of Official announcements:

Announcements:

The national government through the current administration has caused conflicts and undermined the harmony of the people as never before in history.

Each side is determined to win by any means and the discord has shown a tendency to escalate.

Many people have been suspicious about the actions of the national administration under a constitutional monarchy.

The country has been governed in a way as to suggest widespread corruption. The independent agencies have been dominated by politics. The constitutional intention has been left unserved.

This has led to political activities becoming problem-plagued on many fronts and the situation had worsened to the point where violations against His Majesty the King, whom the people hold in the highest regard, are in danger of occurring. This is despite efforts by many sections of society to resolve the problem on a continued basis. The efforts have not pacified the growing tension, however. For this reason, the Democratic Reform Council with the monarch as its head, which comprises the armed forces leaders and chief of the Royal Thai Police Office, has found it imperative to seize the power of government from this point onward. The council is steadfast in its objective, which is not to take over the government permanently and it will hand back the power to the people as soon as possible.

The council is committed to preserving national peace and security and to upholding the monarchy whom we Thais hold in the highest respect.

First coup announcement:

In reference to the council's announcement of its power seizure earlier, for the sake of peace and order to prevail in the country, the council has imposed nationwide martial law. The council has repealed the state of emergency declared on Sept 19 at 9.05pm. This announcement is made by Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, head of the Democratic Reform Council.

Second coup announcement:

The council has ordered that all mobilisation and movement of military logistics and manpower be prohibited. Military personnel are absolutely not to leave their units without permission from the council.

Third coup announcement:

1. The current constitution, drafted in 1997, is now repealed.

2. The House of Representatives, the Senate, the Cabinet and the Constitution Court are now dissolved along with the abrogation of the constitution.

3. The privy councillors will remain in their duty.

4. The courts of justice, except the Constitution Court, will retain their full power to adjudicate cases according to the law and the announcements of the council.

Update time: 02:20 am Wednesday September 2006 Thailand time.

I was near by when the first CNN and BBC announcements came on the air, so after reading what little info I could on the web, I went and checked it out. From what I could see and talking with a few of the soldiers a bit, little was actually happening. In fact, you'd think seeing a bunch of armed soldiers, tanks and hummers blocking roadways would be a rather exciting spectacle, but for a supposed "coup" it was a very dull sight indeed... though it made for some interesting photos.

My guess is it is merely a stunt to get international media attention spotlighted on Thaksin while he's at the UN, just before he's meant to give his address. The real shame is that this (on top of tightening of visa regulations) really has the potential to hurt tourism - and right as Suvarnabhumi is coming online. With Tourism being so key to Thailand's economy, it would have been nice to have a little positive media about the new airport .... but alas, we have tanks instead. I don't think this spotlight is going to show Thaksin in a very favorable light.

Let's hope this comes to a peaceful close in the next few days.