Thai Government Confirms Attempts Of Military Coup

[brahmburgers]

Caretaker PM should hire me to think of more creative ways for him to garner sympathy. I'm cheap, for just $500 per day and mid-day 3-hour massage break, my scripts would be much more believable and better crafted than the 3 Stooges stuff we're being fed in the media.

[petedk]

Thaksin relaxing in London

Is relaxing in London possible?

Thai Military ,can the generals actualy waddle unsupported far enough to make a coup work?

=================================================================

It's all total rubbish: Thaksin is in London for a very good reason. I read in the Bangkok Post a few days ago, that he has been shipping-out (literally !) tons of assets to a unknown destination. In fact, they wrote that he filled an entire airplane of 747-size, completely full of his assets . . . . . It is obvious to me that he wants to be in London when all of these posessions arrive, because he knows for sure to trust NOBODY with his stuff ! ! ! !

Am I the only guy who actually read about this ???? I am so surprised that nobody else picked-up on this little tidbit of information . . . .

Thaksin obviously realizes that his days here are numbered; so he's preparing his new nest elsewhere and that would probably someplace in the UK

Look forward to more feedback on this one.

JGK

Can you give more details? What day did you read this?

[dotcom]

Next week's Headline:

Taksin Abducted by Aliens in a Space Craft. Plot foiled by Sgt. Wallop !!!!

[animatic]

Same same

and right on cue.

This is not at all surprising,

they have been setting the stage

for this anouncement for a month or more.

They just needed the patsys lined up.

[Johpa]

and decided to take a break in London,

So he got a visa, no problem.

The greater London area has long been a place of refuge for even the highest ranking members of Thai society. I would imagine that even people we dare not name have a copy of London AZ tucked under their bed. The US is far too an egalitarian a society for Bangkok's elite to consider for temporary residence.

[OzMan_Bkk]

For heaven's sake, the place is going down the toilet and our PM is tripping off to London and Cuba. What is he thinking. He has set the government up so that every single decision goes through him and he is off on a junket during one of the most politically unstable times in the past 10 years. We don't need a coup. We just need one right thinking immigration official to stop the bugger getting back into the country. Let's see what happens to the Thaksin Ruk Thaksin party then.

Edited September 12, 2006 by OzMan_Bkk

[Ricardo]

If I had a new £4.5 million (US $ 8.5 million) pad in London, I would certainly check it out occasionally, especially with the furniture & effects perhaps due to arrive soon by air.

The som-tam lady says, since our esteemed acting caretaker PM is, in his own words last April "unemployed", he might just fancy himself as an author along the lines of Jeffrey Archer.

And who can doubt his powers of creative-fiction, looking at his recent plots/assasinations & statements to other global leaders ?

I wonder whether his fortune-teller would advise this career-change ?

[LoveDaBlues]

Hmmmm Yas - Xinhua - that bastion of non-propagandist press reporting

Probably them just returning the favour for Thaksin's statement in Beijing (2001) that China was the only country to have ever helped Thailand since WW2

Smoke and mirrors

--------------

Of more interest is Thaksin attending the meeting of Non-Aligned Nations in Cuba - I thought Thailand was aligned - both to ASEAN and to the USA?

Maybe he's fishing to take over from Fidel, or to learn a few tricks about how to be a beneficial dictotor? I'm sure he'll get short shift from Fidel's son (currently ruling while his father convalesces) considering Thailand's historical stance towards communists.

--------------

Maybe we're all living under the Chinese curse of living in interesting times?

Gaz

.

????? Raul (Fidel's brother) is running the show now.

[Viper]

Thaksin relaxing in London? - - He certainly is, and seems to be finding plenty of spare time to relax at one of Englands most expensive hotels, and buy 3 new cars, 2 Ferrari's, and a Mercedes SLR.

[farang prince]

he (Taksin) decided to take a break in London, Britain before flying to Cuba

How many more entries can he have to Britian before he has to leave for 90 days

That was great!!!

[animatic]

It will be interesting to see if

those three new cars ever come here...

Or not.

Bet he doesn't want to pay 300% import duty either.

He is clearly feathering a new nest,

just dotting the i's at home to see the nest egg doesn't

get eaten by blackbirds or taken over by magpies.

[MyPenRye]

A police source, requiring anonymity, also told Xinhua that some militarymen planned to kidnap a granddaughter of Thaksin, as part of the coup attempt, to bargain with Thaksin once the coup is successfully launched.

And torture her, and cut her into little pieces.

One of the plotter was thinking too about planting a nuclear bomb into the pants of Thaksin's maid (you know the poor farmer girl who on the paper was owning billions THB of shares, ah sorry it was in 2001).

But this very naughty woman was reported to wear G-string. So this plan was dumped.

Thailand is new hub for "show comedy" or "scripts writers".

But actually, they are following perfectly the "confession" that the military guy gave in custody :

-Plan A : bomb

-Plan B : assassination (with a russian RPG)

-Plan C : a coup

I can assure you that the guild of thai writers are working very hard on the famous.... "PLAN Z".

But I can't give you details for now.

Too funny!

CNN - Breaking news:

A government insider has actually demonstrated (pun intended) that the Thai government has some ... "guild"!

Edited September 12, 2006 by MyPenRye

[fanclubcm]

[quote name='I would like to think the Thai military are a little better skilled than what has been presented so far as an asassasination attempt.

Ya'OH WHO DO YOU THINK IS IN/HAS BEEN ELEVATED INTO CONTROL in 'the thai military" Better Skilled, maybe more wealthy obviously. Best place your hopes on the corrupt police or maybe more relief from our 'encroaching' "friends" triad chinese maf' dudes. DUD

[fanclubcm]

3 Stooges stuff we're being fed in the media.

WHAT A CONTINIOUS F//FUNNY GIGGLE & HOAX Well @ maybe He's into shoes like adorable vixed A Marcos to ship to 'his new nest' YA 'OH with billions and billions would you not do the same EAT [ OPPS] DINE (ON/OFF U're Country) and "MAKE THE RIGHT 'MERIT' & Be ever so charming 'cause Brits like eg Russians to mention only one, this SORTA' Tabloidism {but he's not Brit--so OK}

[Tony Clifton]

This ain't no <deleted>' chat window man!

[Choscura]

this is disappointing.

it's disappointing that the level of competence and forethought for staging a coup is this low

it's disappointing that the press is apparantly admitting to things that nobody is supposed to know yet (thaksin's alleged granddaughter)

it's disappointing that nobody seems to know or care who is in power.

<snip>

I'm also disappointed that the best kuay tiaw stand near my house now charges 25 baht a bowl, but I'm still willing to pay because it IS the best.

mediocrity is disappointing. something needs to be done, but everybody is so afraid of insulting somebody else that nobody wants to do anything. maybe that coup de etat was just intended as an insult, but with the competence displayed, I'm not sure who it should be insulted- the prime minister for being not good enough to not assassinate, or the plotters for not being able to assassinate him.

edit: speeling

/Mod Edit - comments about Thai royalty deleted - please see the forum rules.

Edited September 13, 2006 by Jai Dee

[Cool Water Palace]

Thaksin relaxing in London

Is relaxing in London possible?

Thai Military ,can the generals actualy waddle unsupported far enough to make a coup work?

Well, I think I saw Thaksin in Oxford Street this afternoon (1515 BST), outside John Lewis to be precise, with some one who would seem to be his wife, both laden with shopping. He was behaving strangely and seemed to be trying to catch the attention of the driver of the bus I was on, and which had just left the bus stop. So she didn't stop. Further news not available.

Now isn't this an interesting post, but........? Was it him - perhaps? He did not seem to be surrounded by security guards. Maybe they were keeping their distance.

[Scott]

It just keeps getting better and better here!

[Jai Dee]

Brass losing patience over 'plot'

If military men implicated in 'assassination attempt' decide to strike back, it could be the beginning of the end for PM

The alleged car-bomb plot aimed at assassinating caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has poured fuel onto the political fire, accelerating events towards the end-game.

One military strategist said a growing number of top military strongmen were greatly upset with the incident, which they said looked like a set-up aimed at drawing the military into an "assassination plot" against the prime minister.

"I think the situation is getting out of hand. People in the military are not happy with the car-bomb incident because it has led to attempts to draw in the military. The government might collapse as a result of this incident," he said.

So far, police investigators have only been able to arrest junior military officers attached to the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), who are alleged to have been involved in an attempt to kill Thaksin.

The police have yet to arrest any "big fish" but there have been generous leaks to the press on an almost daily basis about the involvement of military brass at the rank of general in the car-bomb incident.

"If police go ahead and link the incident with the military strongmen, who are graduates of the Chulachomklao Military Academy, then that would trigger real trouble.

"These military strongmen all have friends in the same class and now hold different positions in the armed forces. If they decided to strike back, it would be difficult for the government to survive," the military strategist said.

The car-bomb incident looks increasingly like a joke after General Pallop Pinmanee, the former deputy director of Isoc, came out to make fun of Sgt-Major Chakhrit Janthara, a key suspect in the alleged plot.

Pallop said Chakhrit does not have a sound mind and nobody would be crazy enough to assign him to implement a plot of this scale.

Chakhrit has become - or acted as - the centre of the so-called assassination plot, naming three major-generals as conspirators.

But he is reported to be close to one of the military advisers to the prime minister and is well known in the Ratchadaphisek area where he provides protection to entertainment venues.

Although he has confessed to being involved in the alleged plot, his family has not come out to visit him, protect him or even to give him moral support.

The car-bomb incident has further divided the military, which was already upset over the annual reshuffle.

Admiral Bannawit Kengrien, deputy permanent secretary for defence, has come out twice to bitterly criticise Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura for allowing political interference in the military reshuffle.

Bannawit's case could be dismissed as sour grapes, since he did not get a promotion to permanent secretary ahead of his retirement next year.

But it reflects a deep division in the military brought about by political interference aimed at building up a support base for the Thaksin government.

Some observers say the government might be tempted to use the incident as a pretext to stage a "coup" for itself through enforcement of the emergency internal security laws. Then, those who oppose the government would be purged.

But people have doubted the credibility of the assassination plot from the outset.

In the meantime, there have been rumours of a real military coup, which Thaksin discounted while attending the Asia-Europe Summit in Helsinki earlier this week.

Foreign leaders have been asking him when the election is going to be held, to which he does not seem to have a definite answer, save for a delay of around one month.

But with the political barometer rising to new highs, people at home are questioning whether Thaksin will return home after his foreign trip, which will also take him to Cuba and the United States.

The political stakes are high; all seems set for the end-game.

Source: The Nation - 13 September 2006

[loveandlaughter]

How power corrupts......

Just like Tony Blair back home, Taksin doesn't want to move on.

Will this help in the elections? Is he still allowed to head his party there ae the electorate has already voted against him?

How will this not fail to undermine the Thai publics faith in their democratic process?

[Beachedwhale]

How power corrupts......

Just like Tony Blair back home, Taksin doesn't want to move on.

Will this help in the elections? Is he still allowed to head his party there ae the electorate has already voted against him?

How will this not fail to undermine the Thai publics faith in their democratic process?

Is it true that Thaksin is in London now attempting to invoke a 1912 agreement between Britain and Thailand that allowed free transfer of senior ministers. I understand this previously forgotten agreement was based on wealth parameters - still set at 1912 rates. If you could show that your net wealth was higher than the 1912 national wealth in either country then you can intiate the trensfer - around GPB15,000 I believe. It is rumoured that both Thaksin and Blair have recently become aware of this agreement and have been "readying their nests" in preperation for the trigger date - sometime in November, which is why there has been a delay in the elections in Thailand, a change of the visa rules (in order to send the Brits back as they obviously came to Thailand to get away from Mr Blair) etc etc.

Can anyone confirm this rumour>

[AlexLah]

[quote name='I would like to think the Thai military are a little better skilled than what has been presented so far as an asassasination attempt.

Ha ha ha, did you ever tried to get your walls properly painted, your broken TV fixed, your Vespa restored succesfully in Thailand?

It is always haa sip haa sip, so no wonder the attempt failed.

They were waiting for Somchai to bring the detonators. Who would then place them remains the question.

Ok, In the meantime we will drive the car around so they cannot locate us.....

Alex

[John K]

The assassin plot had become so absurd, it almost is not worth posting on it anymore except for the humor in it. Scenario 3 has been reached but Thaksin is still trying to play it out. For some it has become an annoying fly that wont go away. I suspect there is some military strategy to this by Thaksin, perhaps divide and conquer. It would be nice to get Input from a retired x-pat military officer on this.

[BPayette]

This plot is serious, it was hatched on the 4th hole and continued in planning onto the 19th hole.

Most high ranking Thai army officers are more concerned with how many caddies they need and how the handicap is going than staging a take-over.

The pra-thi-wat in Thailand is about exchanging one group of crooks with some uniformed ones while it is decided who is going to rob the country next.

I personally would start with a few warning shots, right into Thaksins square head.

Logbags, suggest you be very careful about things like your last statement. Several of my Thai friends have warned me about internet traffic being monitored for such things...not just porn.

This is especially dangerous if you have a traceable line, like DSL.

[John K]

The fact is a coup makes no sense at all because of timing. If it was just after an election that was viewed as rigged by the public, then would be the time. Any word of coup is simply Thaksin generated. He is deliberately out of town to give the appearance that he is not involved as it is simply his style. Expect more diversions while the real plan is being hatched. I am even wondering if the October 1 visa thing is just another diversion for non Thais as we have been hitting the nail on the head quite often with our “call it as we see it” remarks.

Logbags, Bpayette is right in what he says in post #54. Good thing you used a plural s and not a possessive s.

[John K]

NATIONAL CRISIS

Rumours of military coup refuse to die

Sonthi remains calm, but PM's prolonged absence from country has many wondering

The capital is once again abuzz with rumours of a possible coup as caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be out of the country for quite some time.

However, Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boon-yaratglin was quick to pour cold water over yesterday's rumours in a bid to avoid aggravating the rift between the Army and the government.

"We must not suspect each other but stay firm. Don't believe in rumours that might destroy our unity. Please be assured that we will try to maintain the country's stability. The military will remain patient," he said.

Sonthi said the military would from now on have to be careful with each and every movement. "Last night there was a troop movement of the Fourth Cavalry Battalion following its training and this was look-ed at with suspicion," Sonthi said.

Asked about the motives behind those who are spreading the coup rumour, the general said: "It is disinformation, a signal sent out to say 'I know what you are up to'," he added. Coup rumours have periodically emerged during this time of growing political tension.

Thaksin's opponents would try to prevent an election out of fear that the premier would make a comeback.

Thaksin has also realised that his chances of returning to power are very slim. He is pondering the right time to announce his decision about taking a break from politics. But he is afraid that once he is out of power, the new government might go after him and seize his family's assets.

Meanwhile, there is some indication that Thaksin would likely stay abroad for a while during this time of heightened tension.

After attending the Asia-Europe Summit in Helsinki, he has travelled to London to stay with his daughter. He has written a letter from Helsinki to members of the Thai Rak Thai Party and to the Thai people in general to inform them about his participation in the summit.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said yesterday Thaksin would be writing periodic letters to the Thai people and Thai Rak Thai members in the course of his foreign trips.

"He might write three to four letters a month," Surapong said. Judging from Surapong's comment, it appears that Thaksin is likely to stay abroad for an extended period. The PM is scheduled to travel to Cuba and New York next.

A political source in the Thai Rak Thai camp said Thaksin's decision to stay abroad for an extended period would help deter a military coup at home. Anybody who stages a coup would be branded a traitor against the Constitution, while Thaksin would immediately gain the upper hand, he said.

Once the political mood shifts, Thaksin would announce his decision to take a break. The political source also said there were three candidates for the premiership - Dr Somkid Jatusripitak, Dr Surakiart Sathirathai and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan.

Since Thaksin would like to continue to have a say in Thai politics, Sudarat is seen as the most likely candidate for premier if Thaksin were to take a back seat during the period of political reform which is likely to follow the election, the source added.

A military strategist said it was very difficult to stage a coup, especially with constant rifts among top military leaders.

Thaksin's classmates, who attended the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School, are now in key military positions and are ready to defend Thaksin with counter-attacks.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/14...es_30013593.php

I am not sure about this. Did Thaksin do his military change and put his people back or not? One thing for sure on this is yes the government will go after his money when he steps down. Or should I say the money he thinks is his.

[sriracha john]

Thai government confirms attempts of military coup

It was true, rather than just rumor, that some militarymen were trying to stage a coup d'etat in Bangkok to oust caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thai government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday.

Surapong told a press conference Tuesday morning that a group of militarymen, as reported earlier, were mapping out a plan to stage a military coup while the caretaker Prime Minister was out of home for an overseas business trip.

Thaksin, said in an interview Tuesday that he believed some people are trying to force him out of post. He said that since they had planted a car bomb, which was reportedly foiled as an assassination plot on Thaksin in August, "why not a military coup?"

In direct contradiction to what Thaksin and his mouthpiece are saying... the Army's Chief says differently. He's walking on thin ice with his comments and contradicting what the PM is saying..

and will thus no doubt fuel MORE rumors

Sonthi dismisses coup talk as rumours spread

Army commander Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday dismissed talk of a possible coup d'etat, fuelled by rumours about military moves in Bangkok. Returning from a three-day official visit to Burma, Gen Sonthi said the people who had spread the rumours had intended them as a warning to soldiers not to think about staging a coup. At this sensitive juncture, he had instructed troops to remain patient and unshaken, otherwise the rumours would undermine the army's unity. A source said rumours were circulating that a tank approached the Si Sao Thewes residence of Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda on Tuesday night with a mission of capturing the elder statesman, allegedly seen as one of the driving forces to oust caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/14Sep2006_news11.php

===============================================================

ON AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE SIDENOTE:

From the OP:

A police source, requiring anonymity, also told Xinhua that some militarymen planned to kidnap a granddaughter of Thaksin, as part of the coup attempt, to bargain with Thaksin once the coup is successfully launched.

I wasn't aware Thaksin even HAD grandchildren. None of his children are married. Did his "McDonald's Worker" daughter get knocked up over in England with a non-Thai and it's all been hushed up????

[Ricardo]

The fact is a coup makes no sense at all because of timing. If it was just after an election that was viewed as rigged by the public, then would be the time. Any word of coup is simply Thaksin generated. He is deliberately out of town to give the appearance that he is not involved as it is simply his style. Expect more diversions while the real plan is being hatched. I am even wondering if the October 1 visa thing is just another diversion for non Thais as we have been hitting the nail on the head quite often with our “call it as we see it” remarks.

Logbags, Bpayette is right in what he says in post #54. Good thing you used a plural s and not a possessive s.

I was wondering the same thing.

Both the hoax-bomb and the VOA-frightener have successfully focused attention away from election-related topics, such as the violence against PAD & other critics of DL, or the fact that the army 'lent' the Forestry-Dept workers 400 guns (which they'd like returned now, please), or the moves to put more TRT-men into the Defence chain-of-command.

... the list goes on & on & on ...

[Artisi]

well at least we can have a laugh each morning on the "latest" piece of interesting news, better than a cup of coffee to fire-up the system to the continuing on-going saga as it develops throughout the day.

It is just an absolute joke - but remember TIT.

[Tony Clifton]

This plot is serious, it was hatched on the 4th hole and continued in planning onto the 19th hole.

Most high ranking Thai army officers are more concerned with how many caddies they need and how the handicap is going than staging a take-over.

The pra-thi-wat in Thailand is about exchanging one group of crooks with some uniformed ones while it is decided who is going to rob the country next.

I personally would start with a few warning shots, right into Thaksins square head.

Logbags, suggest you be very careful about things like your last statement. Several of my Thai friends have warned me about internet traffic being monitored for such things...not just porn.

This is especially dangerous if you have a traceable line, like DSL.

It's not North Korea... yet.