Thai government fears coup plan in the works

[tingtongteesood]

The Minister of Defense and Prime Minister is concerned about a potential coup in the making. That's laughable inasmuch as if it did happen, it would theoretically be treason and sedition since she is the army's Commander in Chief as Minister of Defense and PM. It's a laughable state Thailand is. Who would want to do business with a country like this or travel there to spend hard earned vacation money?

And that my friend is exactly why Thaksin made her Minister Of Defense, because he thinks it will allow some measure of control over the army. Don't think it will work that way though. None of the troops will follow her orders, only the generals, and she has no control over them.

[beautifulthailand99]

If the government is too weak and ineffectual to deal with the protestors then for sure a coup is the only way to fix that problem. Pro-Shinawatras can blame Suthep all they want but it was Poo's useless and corrupt government that allowed the situation to become so bad in the first place.

Now they can't disperse the crowds because the Shinawatra police are just as useless as their masters and they refuse to resign because they want to cling onto power. The army won't help them either. Right now, the only way this problem is going to be solved is with a coup with a military junta in charge for a couple of years while they try to force the Dems and the PTP to work together without Shinwatra interference.

So this is what happens to people's political views when they live in Thailand for too long.....first time I have ever actually witnessed someone in support of a military junta.

Where have you been there are a veritable UN of bar stool philosphers and keyboard warriors in the LOS. The army are as corrupt an institution as any here. My Brother-In-Law is in a mid-level army position and doesnt like the extensive graft that goes on but has no choice no-one likes or tolerates a goody-too-shoes who doesn't take their share and it is a big share. The army loves unrest as it gives them a chance to step in an appear the honest broker when they are the biggest snouts at the troughs with guns,tanks and jets and all the rest of their hardware at their disposal. There are absolutely no clean skins in this game.

[Smokemachine]

Sunisa Letphakkawat, a spokeswoman for the government, has raised suspicions about a “secret” plan by anti-government leaders to organise a small violent attack on protesters during the shutdown, which would set a coup in motion.

Fortunately for us, kuhn Sunisa was able to ferret out this important story just in time. In the event of an attack we may have believed that it was black shirts or red shirts, or just plain hooligans attacking the protesters. But, now we know the rest of the story, they are going to attack them selves, what a nefarious plot.

They satrt a rumor saying the protestors will attack themselves

so when they do the attacking like the last time they can say

We told you so

this is called reverse propoganda

And heard that the 5000 reds are coming down to town to counter the anti-govt.

I hope they will not act reckless as the army chief have warned actions against party who incited violence.

[deepcell]

My view:

LOL

[fasteddie]

It is too bad that in overseas coverage of the situation here, the reporters feel compelled to print a " secret " rumour spread by the administration, particularly when it serves their talking points. Indeed, the Yingluck administration is indeed concerned about a coup. But they need not base that on a rumour they would wish to be true. They need only look at the army, and its increasing distaste for how the administration is handling itself, to realize that that possibility exists. And it will become even more of a possibility if the administration violently tries to quell the protest. I don't think anyone truly believes the army wishes to get involved. Having said that, if the army felt at any point a need to intervene, it would be for one reason and one reason only - to protect the people. But certainly not the administration. It is the administration that will have unfettered access to 80,000 armed policemen now been trained in the north in riot prevention. The people of the streets will be armed with the clothes on their back and the whistles around their necks.

And guns and slingshots etc. c'mon get real!

[Bazw57]

They have not had a coup for a while so its probably overdue for one.

Check Thailand's history on military intervention in government matters and coups and you will see its happened more times than I have had hot dinners.

Its a disgrace really and the Thai people need to oull thier heads in a let the democratic process take its course and interfering every time a minority doesn't like what the government is doing.

Some shonky shit hole little African nations have more stable government than Thailand has had in recent years and its about time it all stopped as they are just a joke at the moment.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[fasteddie]

If the government is too weak and ineffectual to deal with the protestors then for sure a coup is the only way to fix that problem. Pro-Shinawatras can blame Suthep all they want but it was Poo's useless and corrupt government that allowed the situation to become so bad in the first place.

Now they can't disperse the crowds because the Shinawatra police are just as useless as their masters and they refuse to resign because they want to cling onto power. The army won't help them either. Right now, the only way this problem is going to be solved is with a coup with a military junta in charge for a couple of years while they try to force the Dems and the PTP to work together without Shinwatra interference.

So this is what happens to people's political views when they live in Thailand for too long.....first time I have ever actually witnessed someone in support of a military junta.

Really? "the first time"? there's loads of them on here, quite worrying really.

[metisdead]

Inflammatory posts have been removed.

[tezzainoz]

QUOTE(Holger Grafen):

"WHERE ARE THE RED SHIRTS!!!!!!!!!!! Don't they get it? If Suthep wins they will lose everything! Even the right to vote! Even their fundamental rights. If their leaders are not able to leave Thailand in time, they will spend the rest of their lives in prison. Yingluck will be exiled for the rest of her life. And after the election reform Thai-democracy will become similar to Singapore: 50% of the parliamentarians will be appointed by the government before the voting even starts. And therefore the ruling party will stay in power no matter the outcome of the elections."

Are you a Sci Fi writer

you predictions of the future (Not Facts) have me rolling on the floor with laughter

[kimamey]

2006, 2010, 2014........Most countries have an election every four years, here the goons with guns have gotten it into their head that they should have a coup every four years. Mark your calendar now for 2018.

Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome. Given that 18 coups in 80 years have not ended corruption, maybe it's time to try the alternative.....Not Having A Coup. As long as losers like Suthep and Abhisit think they can run crying to the military they will never get off their a**ses and try their hands at winning elections the democratic way. Take the coup option away....permanently.....and watch real democracy take hold.

Who says Abhisit has run to the military? He opposed the last coup. Neither he nor Suthep have run away from their murder charges which the PTP have pushed for through the DSI whilst protecting the army. Sounds more like it's them running to the military to me?

As for Suthep's demands now, I've no idea as most of what he says seems mad to me.

[smedly]

Why would they fear a coup? If they are as clean as they say, then they have nothing to worry about.

IMO Post of the year so far, short to the point and exactly bang on "money"

and to a previous post - it doesn't matter how many people voted this government into power - they have proven to be unfit for the job and 100% of the blame for this current debacle lies firmly with them and no one else, lets not get into all the money they have stolen from the Thai people - that will be uncovered soon enough

[belg]

argggggggggggg

exchange one puppet for another

any difference ???

[pkspeaker]

Oh really? What exactly has the Yingluck administration done in the last 2 years that is 'corrupt' or illegal, if she has done something illegal then an independent prosecutor would prosecute her..that's how it would be done in 'your country'

The rice scheme-aka a farm subsidy, you might call farm subsidies bad policy, but they do not represent 'corruption' or something illegal-'you country' has farm subsidies.

Voting to make the senate a fully elected body-in 'your country' the senate is fully elected, it is not corruption to vote for a change to the charter, the constitution court rejected the move as unconstitutional, so it has not been changed..Yingluck did not 'reject the constitution courts' ruling, she simply criticize it..nothing illegal..

The fact is the Yingluck administratio has not done anything illegal, your charge that it is 'incompetent' can be leveled at any government and is vague, if she's so incompetent then let the people unelect her.. but I forgot the PAD/PDRC facists think 'that the people are too stupid and unsophesticated' to choose their own government.

All the posters from western democracies when they get to Thailand chuck it out the window in support of coups, forgetting about their own roots. They are the worst kind of hypocrits!

My country has never had a government as corrupt and incompetent as this one. If it did, I'd want a coup there too.

[JetsetBkk]

argggggggggggg

exchange one puppet for another

any difference ???

I think the little boy would prefer a kiss from Yingluck:

[JenksB]

why are there so many armchair experts propounding their expat theories , this country is Thailand and you have no say in what goes on here, you all, from both sides of the divide, make inflamatory statements about Thai polititions that the vast majority of people on this FORUM do not want to see, the biased opininion of those who appear to know what is best for the poor ( by that I mean the population of Thailand) Thais is just unbelievable, if all the commentators are such political geniuses why are they expats here in Thailand not in government in their home countries, perhaps because no-one at home will give them a forum for their rants & raves so the have to insult the people of a country who are prepared to put up with idiocy, probably looking at them as poor demented "has beens" and saying "let them have another beer and let them sleep it off" If they put a lot of what has been said on this forum into print in America, U.K. Australia etc they would end up in court for defamation or even incitement to cause civil unrest! so give it a rest and leave Thai politics to the Thais and even if you do know better just shut up they don't want your opinion.

[MunterHunter]

why are there so many armchair experts propounding their expat theories , this country is Thailand and you have no say in what goes on here, you all, from both sides of the divide, make inflamatory statements about Thai polititions that the vast majority of people on this FORUM do not want to see, the biased opininion of those who appear to know what is best for the poor ( by that I mean the population of Thailand) Thais is just unbelievable, if all the commentators are such political geniuses why are they expats here in Thailand not in government in their home countries, perhaps because no-one at home will give them a forum for their rants & raves so the have to insult the people of a country who are prepared to put up with idiocy, probably looking at them as poor demented "has beens" and saying "let them have another beer and let them sleep it off" If they put a lot of what has been said on this forum into print in America, U.K. Australia etc they would end up in court for defamation or even incitement to cause civil unrest! so give it a rest and leave Thai politics to the Thais and even if you do know better just shut up they don't want your opinion.

Whats the point of a discussion forum then? If we cant debate and discuss our opinions?

If these threads (and their replies) upset you so much, feel free to not read them.

[Rob8891]

Oh really? What exactly has the Yingluck administration done in the last 2 years that is 'corrupt' or illegal, if she has done something illegal then an independent prosecutor would prosecute her..that's how it would be done in 'your country'

The rice scheme-aka a farm subsidy, you might call farm subsidies bad policy, but they do not represent 'corruption' or something illegal-'you country' has farm subsidies.

Voting to make the senate a fully elected body-in 'your country' the senate is fully elected, it is not corruption to vote for a change to the charter, the constitution court rejected the move as unconstitutional, so it has not been changed..Yingluck did not 'reject the constitution courts' ruling, she simply criticize it..nothing illegal..

The fact is the Yingluck administratio has not done anything illegal, your charge that it is 'incompetent' can be leveled at any government and is vague, if she's so incompetent then let the people unelect her.. but I forgot the PAD/PDRC facists think 'that the people are too stupid and unsophesticated' to choose their own government.

I hope you have some SIGNIFICANT free time on your hands.... You obviously need to some catch-up reading if you seriously believe there has been no illegalities (on both sides of the divide). Start with corruption and work on from there.

There are plenty of threads in TV, as long as you sort the wheat from the chaff (to maintain the farming link)

[Rob8891]

@ MunterHunter

You forgot to add the other raison d'etre....so that we can all fight like rats in a sack .........or was that the General Forum....ah! same same

[dukebowling]

The Constitutional Court corruption extends very high. Still trying to find the law against amending the constitution...

Looks like they want to rip up the constitution just like the protest movement.

[dukebowling]

Oh really? What exactly has the Yingluck administration done in the last 2 years that is 'corrupt' or illegal, if she has done something illegal then an independent prosecutor would prosecute her..that's how it would be done in 'your country'

The rice scheme-aka a farm subsidy, you might call farm subsidies bad policy, but they do not represent 'corruption' or something illegal-'you country' has farm subsidies.

Voting to make the senate a fully elected body-in 'your country' the senate is fully elected, it is not corruption to vote for a change to the charter, the constitution court rejected the move as unconstitutional, so it has not been changed..Yingluck did not 'reject the constitution courts' ruling, she simply criticize it..nothing illegal..

The fact is the Yingluck administratio has not done anything illegal, your charge that it is 'incompetent' can be leveled at any government and is vague, if she's so incompetent then let the people unelect her.. but I forgot the PAD/PDRC facists think 'that the people are too stupid and unsophesticated' to choose their own government.

I hope you have some SIGNIFICANT free time on your hands.... You obviously need to some catch-up reading if you seriously believe there has been no illegalities (on both sides of the divide). Start with corruption and work on from there.

There are plenty of threads in TV, as long as you sort the wheat from the chaff (to maintain the farming link)

There has been no illegal acts by the current government policies, at least nothing beyond conjecture. Even though the jury is still out, mismanagement is not a crime. Mistakes are meant to be learned from.

[dukebowling]

The Anti Government Protesters seem to hate democracy.

Thailand had an elected Government and an Opposition with all the necessary checks and balances on abuses of power.

The majority of Thai people are not stupid and do not wish to see their wonderful country self destruct through greed and intolerance.

Its time to stop the nonsense.

"Anti Government" seems to be more like "Anti Thailand"

It is so very sad.

The Anti Government Protesters seem to hate democracy.

As many Thais have freely admitted themselves, what they have here is very far from real democracy. Partly because it was done wrong at the start and partly because the 'government' have perverted things to favour themselves instead of democracy. What we have here is Thaksinocracy

Thailand had an elected Government and an Opposition with all the necessary checks and balances on abuses of power.

There were some of the checks and balances though not all and the 'government' has been trying hard to remove them as best they can to allow Thaksin's return worry free. For example there are courts that have ruled their actions unconstitutional and PT 'don't recognize the authority of the court' and argue they have no right to judge them and they should be able to do what they want. Moreso the 'reds' protested outside the courts, tried to intimidate the judges, threatened to kidnap them and tried to pressure them into quitting their jobs - pretty much like Suthep is doing to Yingluck right now ( minus the kidnap threats ). When this failed PT tried to have them removed through legal means but they too failed. This is NOT democracy. In a democracy, the word of the court is final, you accept your punishment with grace.

The majority of Thai people are not stupid and do not wish to see their wonderful country self destruct through greed and intolerance.

This I agree with absolutely. Many of the reds don't seem to understand that by giving them the rice money they have bankrupted everyone. There needs to be better education. Also the 'rich' can buy what they want through corruption and this needs to be stopped and they need to be educated in the rule of law. Good education and the reduction of corruption would help improve things greatly. We need aan agency like the DSI that will actually do it's job properly like the ICAC in HK or the KPK in Indonesia without being bought and without fear of reprisals.

Its time to stop the nonsense.

Agreed.

"Anti Government" seems to be more like "Anti Thailand"

Nope, it is anti Shinawatra. If the Shin's would leave then the rest would be accepted. Thaksin is the problem and his family by association since he uses them to do his bidding. If they left then the protests would stop. But there is so much more mo9ney to be stolen from the 2.2 trillion baht loan if they are in power and if they can push it through that they refuse to leave till they have bankrupted the next 20 years or so as well as the past 2 1/2.

It is so very sad.

The constitutional court has no legal authority when it comes to amendments to the constitution. This is clearly spelled out in the constitution. They have actually put the PM In a difficult position where if they do not contest the judicial decision, they will not be doing their duty as required by the constitution.

Source of corruption. - The Constitutional Court!

[JRSoul]

There has been no illegal acts by the current government policies, at least nothing beyond conjecture. Even though the jury is still out, mismanagement is not a crime. Mistakes are meant to be learned from.

No illegal acts; by whose judgement? Allowing access to cabinet meetings of non-government businessman (and criminal) aka insider trading. Promoting policies without declaring conflicts of interest aka corruption, issuing a passport illegally and instigating police investigations to intimidate critics aka abuse of office, allowing non-elected criminal to dictate government policy aka vote selling.

Edited January 8, 2014 by JRSoul

[kimamey]

All the posters from western democracies when they get to Thailand chuck it out the window in support of coups, forgetting about their own roots. They are the worst kind of hypocrits!

I could not agree more. Can all the western expats pro-coup/Suthep here answer one question: would you support an '18 month 'break' from democracy in your own country or military intervention in the democratic system of YOUR country?

Btw, I am British, a democrat & support all people's right to self-determination through democratic, free & fair elections. Vote-buying should not happen in any democracy but stock answers that the PTP succeed by buying votes fail because a) all Thai parties buy votes surveys time & time again show that most Thai people take the money & vote how they were going to without the bribe. I am no fan of PTP but research shows they have won every election contested over the last two decades because their policies deliver (or promise to deliver) benefits to large numbers of the electorate. This is exactly what sways the vote in every democracy under the sun. Please be consistent in your views & identify yourself if you are anti-democracy.

Please try reading posts before you agree with them. Jawnie said All the posters from western democracies when they get to Thailand chuck it out the window in support of coups, forgetting about their own roots.

If you don't want a coup then not all posters from western democracies fit this claim so the post you're agreeing with is incorrect. It's a stupid comment because there are a lot who are supporters of PTP, elections or are anti Suthep on this forum. Many of the protesters are anti government but don't support Suthep or his plans. My Thai wife is one of those and so am I. An 18 month break might be OK if it resulted in a better democracy and the running of the country could be done in a fair fashion whilst that happens. Personally I doubt that is possible.

Would you support a UK government run by a criminal from outside the country with their sister who has no experience or interest in politics as PM?

[kimamey]

why are there so many armchair experts propounding their expat theories , this country is Thailand and you have no say in what goes on here, you all, from both sides of the divide, make inflamatory statements about Thai polititions that the vast majority of people on this FORUM do not want to see, the biased opininion of those who appear to know what is best for the poor ( by that I mean the population of Thailand) Thais is just unbelievable, if all the commentators are such political geniuses why are they expats here in Thailand not in government in their home countries, perhaps because no-one at home will give them a forum for their rants & raves so the have to insult the people of a country who are prepared to put up with idiocy, probably looking at them as poor demented "has beens" and saying "let them have another beer and let them sleep it off" If they put a lot of what has been said on this forum into print in America, U.K. Australia etc they would end up in court for defamation or even incitement to cause civil unrest! so give it a rest and leave Thai politics to the Thais and even if you do know better just shut up they don't want your opinion.

Firstly try looking up the word forum so you know what one is since you're posting on one.

Assuming you're not Thai why have you read all the posts on here to see if they fit with your view of what we should be doing?

How do you know all Thais don't want our opinion?

I try not to make my posts biased. I'm generally anti this government but I try to give valid reasons for it and I criticise either side if I think they are wrong.

If you don't think non Thais should have an opinion (some of us live here and have families) why do you come on here. Just choose another forum.

This isn't Thailand it's the internet.

[dukebowling]

There has been no illegal acts by the current government policies, at least nothing beyond conjecture. Even though the jury is still out, mismanagement is not a crime. Mistakes are meant to be learned from.

No illegal acts; by whose judgement? Allowing access to cabinet meetings of non-government businessman (and criminal) aka insider trading. Promoting policies without declaring conflicts of interest aka corruption, issuing a passport illegally and instigating police investigations to intimidate critics aka abuse of office, allowing non-elected criminal to dictate government policy aka vote selling.

Al conjecture. Where is the evidence?

[62strat]

I would tend to agree that almost all Thais feel that non-Thais opinions are unwanted .Sad to say we still have them and sometimes feel the need to express them.My ex-pat brothers and sisters, who have chosen to call Thailand home must know they can neither vote or own land and live from extension of visa until the next. If some future Government choices the path of Thai purity for this Nation (after routing out the other wrong and uneducated thinkers) it will be a simple matter for them to change rules and requiirements until only a select few will remain.Maybe your whistle will save you, but I suspect not. Be careful what you wish for.. IMHO...

[fish fingers]

Yingluck etc made the fatal mistake of saying the army wd be accountable etc.

typical shinawatra arrogance

[Ozymandias]

ok a coup ..... new election and the Red will still be elected as it has been for the last 20 years .... Democrats never won any election for a long time ... so what next ? coup after coup ....

On the same topic

The thaskinites have never won an election where the educated people are the majority

If your a chess players thats

STALEMATE

"educated people"???? How patronising can you get! Next thing you'll be saying the current whistle blowing mob are "educated" and therefore somehow more legitimate!

well my Thai wife and her friends all have Master degrees

so are you now rubbishing the Thai education system

and yes she is out there protesting again people like you and corrupt polotocian while you sit in safty behind your computer

how about you go to the 13th demonstrations and tell all the thais they are uneducated idiots

There are many here who will donate 100 baht for you funeral and mine will be the fist to donate

You reveal yourself with your final sentence. Posts such as this drag the tone of this forum down and - if you have any degree of self-awareness - you will hang your head in shame. Being civil will win you respect for your opinions and arguments. Being offensive will make the decent people on this forum (and there are lots) think very poorly of you and your ideas.