State Of Emergency In Thailand

[lung]

not only school and bank

it's a sonkran

---

Coup leaders declare a holiday

Wednesday is a national holiday, the military coup leaders announced early this morning.

They said that government offices, the stock exchange and all banks should stay closed "in order to quickly restore law and order."

The declaration was one of four orders read in the wake of last night's coup.

The decree ordered university presidents, state enterprise officials and senior civil servants to a special meeting this morning at 9 a.m. at military headquarters, where they will be read details of new policies.

Foreign diplomats also have been invited, the announcer said.

--bkkpost.com

[bkk_mike]

No ATMS and transfers from other accounts to avoid the 40K max per day limit

It could be worse... - I'm stuck with UK cards, so each only has a £300 limit (20K).

[rainman]

The decree ordered university presidents, state enterprise officials and senior civil servants to a special meeting this morning at 9 a.m. at military headquarters, where they will be read details of new policies.

Foreign diplomats also have been invited, the announcer said.

what about us ordinary farangs? any special new 10-year visas being issued?

[Thai-Spy]

4 am... still no cut...

surprise surprise. they can't find the switch.

That "official" from the new airport must be in NYC with Thaksin...

Was just informed that a member of the Privy Council had appeared on camera and expressed cautious support for the coup. Can anyone confirm this?

[Basil B]

Why isn't the forum showing who is on line and how many? Surely, today will set a record for the number of people on line at one time.

Last time I checked about an hour ago when I was logging on, there were about over 900 members at the same time just for this thread

This site has been very buisy and at times I have had problems logging on so it may have been removed to allow the site to work faster.

BB

[whimsy]

not only school and bank

it's a sonkran

---

Coup leaders declare a holiday

Wednesday is a national holiday, the military coup leaders announced early this morning.

They said that government offices, the stock exchange and all banks should stay closed "in order to quickly restore law and order."

The declaration was one of four orders read in the wake of last night's coup.

The decree ordered university presidents, state enterprise officials and senior civil servants to a special meeting this morning at 9 a.m. at military headquarters, where they will be read details of new policies.

Foreign diplomats also have been invited, the announcer said.

--bkkpost.com

I'm booked for a visa run to Mae Sai this morning. Any idea if the border will be open? Are they usually still open on Government holidays?

[Thai-Spy]

By the way, Fox News just said that the King supports the coup!

... that would be one of my strongest reasons to believe he is actually not,

coming from Fox News I mean...

Fox wasn't able to articulate the difference between the coup leaders voicing their support for the Monarchy versus the converse. Most people outside the Kingdom do not readily understand how important it is for any Thai political actor or group to reitierate their intention to uphold the Royal Tradition even in times of great crisis.

[mskiller]

4 am... still no cut...

surprise surprise. they can't find the switch.

That "official" from the new airport must be in NYC with Thaksin...

Was just informed that a member of the Privy Council had appeared on camera and expressed cautious support for the coup. Can anyone confirm this?

you think they will cut communication ??? i just doubt they will do that making international communitty in bad mood for them, i believe now military will have to face foreign affair with UN and other organisation if they want to officialise they gouv without losing foreign market...

[dougrobinson2024]

By the way, Fox News just said that the King supports the coup!

... that would be one of my strongest reasons to believe he is actually not,

coming from Fox News I mean...

As I recall, CNN confirmed that as well.

[lung]

Was just informed that a member of the Privy Council had appeared on camera and expressed cautious support for the coup. Can anyone confirm this?

you can look the full 5 minutes here

http://w3.manager.co.th/Multimedia/ViewVid...D=9490000118210

viva la ...

[pap]

Hopefully the Thais will sort this out. Hopefully no one gets hurt. So far it is bloodless and with luck will stay that way. It is their issue to solve and their decissions to make.

There are two things going on here. One is the view that Thaksin must go which many Thais will agree with. Even if they view him favorably I think most Thais will realize he can't govern now which means they will probably accept the Coup. The democratic countries that see this occur and many businesses will not view this event as favorable.

Short term as long as no body gets hurt that is irrelevant. Peoples safety is all that matters at the moment. Down the road however the fact that a coup had to occur instead of democracy working as it should will put off governments and business. That will not help Thailand unless the Coup leaders can move quickly and address the fears of its people and businesses.

I am concerned first and foremost that this remain bloodless. I have many Thai friends and hope all works out and they are safe. It looks likely and the ones I have been able to reached are confused but no overly upset. Were this to happen in my country I would be one of many who would pick up arms to defend my government despite the fact that much of what they do I hate. I somehow think Budhism is better.

I am concerned about other issues that are more long term for Thailand as well but those are for another time and are minor in comparison of safety and well being of friends and loved ones. The west views coups from a different perspective because in the past they have always been bloody and violent. Hopefully the Generals are good Budhists and keep to Budhisms tenants.

[bkkandrew]

No ATMS and transfers from other accounts to avoid the 40K max per day limit

It could be worse... - I'm stuck with UK cards, so each only has a £300 limit (20K).

Just dont withdraw sterling. wait till dust settles//

[Rdrokit]

-->

QUOTE(Basil B @ 2006-09-19 14:28:31) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why isn't the forum showing who is on line and how many? Surely, today will set a record for the number of people on line at one time.

Last time I checked about an hour ago when I was logging on, there were about over 900 members at the same time just for this thread

This site has been very buisy and at times I have had problems logging on so it may have been removed to allow the site to work faster.

BB

Yes I had the same problem logging in earlier when the count was 956 on line.

[george]

EU calls for 'democratic order' in Thailand, tourists warned

Paris - European governments, airlines and travel companies expressed concern Tuesday at the military coup in Thailand, with the European Union demanding an immediate return to "democratic order."

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said Thailand needed to "revert to democratic order without delay."

"It is highly regrettable that democratic institutions seem to have been taken over by military force," he said in a statement.

The EU appeal came after Thailand's army chief said he had seized control in a coup and ousted controversial Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now in New York.

France urged some 6,000 French citizens resident in Bangkok to "stay indoors," according to the foreign ministry here.

"We are following the situation closely," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that hotels in Bangkok had been contacted to pass on the information to French guests.

Herman van Gelderen, spokesman for Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot, said the minister was "very worried" but could not comment further for want of information.

The Netherlands main airline, KLM, said it had made no changes to its flights to Bangkok for the moment, as the situation in the Thai capital appeared to be calm.

Britons traveling to Bangkok or who are already there should monitor all available information and avoid large crowds and demonstrations, the British Foreign Office said.

France's national Travel Agents union said it had set up a crisis committee and was in contact with the foreign and tourism ministries in Paris.

Rene-Marc Chikli, chairman of the Association of French Tour Operators said some 5,000 French tourists were currently on package holidays in the southeast Asian country, famous for its hill treks, nightlife and beaches.

"The situation is calm," he stressed. "Tour operators have made contact with hotels to check that tourists are safe."

The Scandinavian airline SAS said it would maintain regular services to Bangkok. "On the basis of the information we have we can do this quite safely," Jens Langergaard of SAS-Denmark told AFP.

He noted that SAS had served Thailand in times of crisis before and had not encountered any problems.

A spokesman for Finnair told the Finnish news agency FNB that the company was "constantly monitoring the situation", adding: "For now everything is operating normally."

Thailand's armed forces said Tuesday they had ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup and imposed martial law to restore order after months of political turmoil.

Troops and tanks surrounded the offices of Thaksin, who was out of the country at the United Nations, while military leaders said they had suspended the constitution and the government.

-- AFP 2006-09-20

[mskiller]

Hopefully the Generals are good Budhists and keep to Budhisms tenants.

mmm i thought he was muslim...anyway with a buddhist support...

[TBWG]

๋ีHi from Uk

Just watched BBC news at ten Thailand Coup 1st item with about 5 mins coverage.

Scenario seems to be all quiet at the moment with Army coup leaders visting Palace to discuss situation with The King. Lots of pics of official looking cars entering palace...looked kosher!

Apparently all schools, govt offices etc closed tomorrow.

Advice to UK citizens just take care, not currently advising against travel to LOS.

Lots of shots of bemused Thais on usual buses plus locals taking camera phone pics of soldiers. seemed more of a carnival atmosphere!.

Suggests that next move will depend on what the King does or says, after all he has been through 15 previous coups during his reign.

Take Care TBWG

[AsiaCheese]

Fate of PM's men unknown ; wife in Singapore

Many politicians and those with links to caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra were spread far and wide on Tuesday night as the news of the coup broke in Bangkok.

First lady Pojaman reportedly flew to Singapore on Monday and it is not known whether Panthongtae, the family's only son, followed his mother on Tuesday night.

The whereabouts of the PM's daughters Paethongtae and Pinthongta were not known.

Thaksin is in New York at a hotel, where he has reportedly been watching the United Nations General Assembly and keeping abreast of developments here.

Many Cabinet members and other people deemed hostile by the "Council of Administrative Reform" have been detained.

Deputy prime minister Chidchai Vanasatidya and Supreme Commander Ruengroj Mahasaranont and proThaksin television host Dusit Siriwan are among them. Head of the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand Mingkwan Saengsuwan was apprehended by anti-Thaksin troops at Channel 9 compound after it aired a statement of Thaksin, from New York, announcing a state of emergency and relieving Army commander Sonthi Boonyaratglin from his post.

Deputy Thai Rak Thai leader and caretaker Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan reportedly flew to Paris with her family.

Defence Minister General Thamarak Isarangura na Ayutthaya reportedly escaped arrest narrowly and has fled upcountry.

PM's secretary general Prommin Lertsuridej reportedly made an unplanned landing in the Phillippines during a trip abroad while Bank of Thailand governor MR Pridiyathorn Devekula was in Singapore.

Deputy Thai Rak Thai Party leader Somsak Thepsuthin said he was shocked by last night's coup and never thought it could really happen. A number of TRT MPs may meet today at the party headquarters.

The Nation

[Johpa]

EU calls for 'democratic order' in Thailand, tourists warned

Paris - European governments, airlines and travel companies expressed concern Tuesday at the military coup in Thailand, with the European Union demanding an immediate return to "democratic order."

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said Thailand needed to "revert to democratic order without delay."

"It is highly regrettable that democratic institutions seem to have been taken over by military force," he said in a statement.

-- AFP 2006-09-20

And where was the regret when democratic institutions of Thailand were taken over and subverted by monopolistic capitalist forces? Oh pardon me, I forgot that in the name of the "free market" such activities are sanctioned.

[pap]

Bloomberg is saying baht is dropping across the board, which is not surprising (doesn't look as bad as it could) and they have been referencing the Asian financial crisis most of the day(completely different criteria caused that). Most American news agencies tend to sensationalize most news so this is not a surprise either.

The ex embassador to Thailand seemed to think the Thais will find a way to work this out but it is what the Thais think that matters not American ex ambassadors.

[sossn]

I pray that no one gets hurt in this incident and believe that his royal highness the King should step in and stop this before it can get nasty

[pap]

Hopefully the Generals are good Budhists and keep to Budhisms tenants.

mmm i thought he was muslim...anyway with a buddhist support...

I hadn't heard that....maybe your yanking my chain... I would think that if he was Muslim that fox news would be making this an Al Quida thing and the US bases in the area would be on high alert.

[siddv]

Anyone from outside of downtown BKK has checked if ATMs are still alive?

Might be right time to go get some cash.

Withdrew all cash from Kasikorn an hour ago.. A big queue + the machine had run out of 500's.Sukhumvit soi 55.

Was not going to take any chances...

Great what are you going to do with it? If it drops iin value against other currency you are not protected. You really think Kasikorn Bank is going to run out of money? Please! I have 3 million baht in there and it aint going anywhere. If I get more baht vs the USD great!!!! I may send more.

[rainman]

anyone find it funny that thaksin and all his family were out of thailand when the coup happened? himself at the UN, his wife in singapore since monday (1 day before), his son reportedly flew out of thailand just a few hours before it happened and his daughters, well...no idea, likely outside thailand too.

[alexth]

Just hope everything will calm down

[womble]

Leave your $ where it is, it'll be alright in a few days.

It's people rushing and worrying that cause all the problems.

[rainman]

Leave your $ where it is, it'll be alright in a few days.

It's people rushing and worrying that cause all the problems.

may want to start selling shincorp stocks

[Bluffer]

it should calm down in a few days - BUT

even so, be safe out there folks!

Front page news in all the papers and 1st item in the tv news in the UK.

[Nam Kao]

Does my Thailand Elite card still work

[Tony Clifton]

Siiii Raaachaaa Jooooooooohn! Where are you? You're missing it all or were you at central command?

[rainman]

Does my Thailand Elite card still work

might be money wasted. but give it a try and go out and come back ...if you can't enter with the thailand elite card you can always make a 30 days visa-on-arrival ...not more than 3 consecutive ones though, or maybe that's history as well.