State Of Emergency In Thailand

[freno]

Hi all, for you will be problems with the frontiers?

This night (to the 4,50) I have the bus for the camboagia why I must go to renew the visa, for you, I risk that they do not make me to exit or to re-enter?

Thanks for the answer... Hello Alessio

P.S. sorry for my english

[davidjtayler]

Now, 10 Cavalry Battalions from both the 1st Cavalry Division (Phetchabun) and the 3rd Army (Phitsanuloke) are headign to BKK ... Movign sicne 6 PM of Sept 19m, 2006 ... Thsi mobilization of Cavalray has been prepared since Sept 18, 2006

Second wave of Cavalry from the 1st Cavalry Division is mobilizing at 10 PM of Sept 19, 2006.

Well, the commander of the 1st Cavalry Division is Maj Gen Wannathit Wongwai (Aide de Camp of Lt Gen Saphrang Kanlayanamit - Commander fo the 3rd Army) ... whiel the Deputy COmmander of the 1st Cavalry Division is Col. Wichet Sukhaophonphisit (CO officer of Papa prem Line)

Now, gtteh 3rd Army Commander ( Lt Gen Saphrang Kanlayanamit - Commander) is takign a command from the 1st Cavalry Division

(Fort Pho Khun Pha Mueang - Phetchabun)

[Capealava]

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's army commmander ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a military coup Tuesday night while the prime minister was in New York, circling his offices with tanks, declaring martial law and revoking the constitution.

An announcement on national television signed by army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin ordered all troops to report to their duty stations.

As soldiers and armored vehicles moved through Bangkok, an announcement from the military earlier declared a provisional authority loyal to beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The announcement declared that a "Council of Administrative Reform" had seized power in Bangkok and nearby provinces without any resistance. It recognized the king as head of state.

[yorkman]

And all cell phones do not work! Help scaaary!

Not so..I phoned my wife 10 minutes ago. However she is in Udon..perhaps this is the case only in the BKK area...

[rob:pee]

Is all mobile networks closed? I'm online with one-2-call (AIS Thailand) gprs in Vientiane, Laos...dont know if I dare to close the connection maybe I wont be able to get online again. All english spoken news channels are offline here also.

Edited September 19, 2006 by rob:pee

[thohts]

Is it possible the military had something to do with the Hat Yai bombings in order to have a cover story for their deployment and buildup?

It seems too coincidental if you ask me...

[salween]

And all cell phones do not work! Help scaaary!

Not so..I phoned my wife 10 minutes ago. However she is in Udon..perhaps this is the case only in the BKK area...

Both DTAC and AIS doing fine from our BKK house.

[fruittbatt]

Cell phones working fine around Chiang Mai province but TV access intermittent

[kat]

I keep trying to post but lose the connection every few minutes. I didn't mean to make light of this on whatever thread I posted on, but where I am in the North (of Bangkok) things look fairly "normal." More people than usual in the internet shop, playing video games and looking at porn. I still see plenty of taxis whizzing by. When you think about it, a coup must seem fairly normal here.

So, what does this state of emergency mean? Is there anyone out there that has been through the last coups who could tell us what to expect? I'm really afraid about the Thai baht falling. I'm glad I bought my ticket home today.

Is there anything we should do immediately tomorrow when the banks open, or anything else to expect? I can only speculate, and it doesn't look pretty.

Edited September 19, 2006 by kat

[raybkk]

I just heard this on BBC, I know a lot of military guys on my street and they never mentioned this to me (only a few minutes ago). I'm going out for a beer, time someone did something about taksin.

As said before though, lets hope nobody gets hurt in all this.

Peace out people, keep safe.

OliG

Not much luck in getting one. Just got kicked out of the Pub 30 minutes ago. And that pub didn't obey the Police request at the first place. But later they really enforced it and all lights where out within 5 minutes,

[dunez]

maybe they are behind the whole unrest in the south too DOH

[thohts]

here's the Thai baht right now:

http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?...;amt=1&t=5d

[vladaman]

Guys,

who can explain me, why the hel_l News channels have been banned including CNN & BBC ? This is not a comunist state, isn't it? This upsets me most.

Who has the authrority to do so? What do they think Thai people will say?

Vlad

[hhlimhh]

So, do we go to work in the morning or not?

Sad that it has to be this way. Thailand is enjoying dynamic economy....

[CymruAmByth]

BBC World Service...the baht has just taken the biggest drop in the past 4 years. More bad news expected when the markets open.

Personally, I am broke, so dont accuse me of thinking about money! Just that some people have been asking.

Edited September 19, 2006 by CymruAmByth

[Rinrada]

Spoke to K wife a minute ago in Sam Prat on VOIP and good connection..to her mobile/land line...

TV conn erratic....

[VanZam]

If you have savings here, get it out of the country.

The Thai Baht is going down like sinking ship.

Although it will probably recover, in which case you can make a tidy profit.

[taxexile]

i dont think you need worry too much kat.

for most people it should be business as normal within a day or two.

stay away from demonstrations (if there are any ) and government buildings and offices over the next few days and be advised by your local contacts and friends.

[kat]

I just realized, maybe banks won't open tomorrow This coup thing is new for me. Gonna take a while to sink in, at least until morning.

[Capealava]

Baht Falls Most Since 2002 as Premier Declares Emergency

By Aaron Pan

Sept. 19 (Bloomberg) -- The Thai baht slid the most in four years after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra declared a state of emergency as reports said tanks entered the capital.

Thaksin spoke in an address on state television during a visit to New York. Police earlier today were preparing for protests tomorrow against Thaksin, who dissolved parliament and called elections in February. He took the step following demands for his resignation after his family sold a stake in Shin Corp., Thailand's biggest mobile-phone company, for $1.9 billion.

``The baht will come under more pressure'' after Asian financial markets open, said Marios Maratheftis, a currency strategist at Standard Chartered Plc in London. Even if any attempted takeover of the government ``doesn't go through it will be negative for the baht. The political uncertainty is there and the impact'' will continue, he said.

The baht fell 1.5 percent to 37.85 per dollar at 12:10 p.m. in New York, from 37.29 late yesterday, the biggest decline since July 26, 2002, when it plunged 2.3 percent. Maratheftis recommended buying the yen, the most-traded Asian currency, against the baht.

The yield premium on Thailand's 7.75 percent bond due in April 2007 compared with benchmark Treasuries rose 2 basis points to 60 basis points, the biggest in a month, HSBC Holdings Plc prices show.

Thaksin also fired the head of the country's army. Army Chief Sondhi Boonyarataklin had earlier dismissed speculation of a possible coup and a defense spokesman said Thai military leaders had pledged not to interfere in politics, the Bangkok Post reported on Sept. 14.

Ten tanks blocked traffic outside Government House in Bangkok, the British Broadcasting Corp. said, citing Reuters.

``If it does turn out to be a coup attempt and there is going to be disruption then all the Thai asset markets are going to come under pressure,'' said Ian Stannard, a currency strategist in London at BNP Paribas SA. The baht selling so far ``has only been minor,'' he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Pan in London at

[Tornado]

Unfortunately Thaskin has many supporters and military isnt the way to take a political opponent out, elections are. This is very bad. Hopefully this won't end up like Pakistan/Burma and Thaskin sorts this out when he arrives back.

When you have as much money as Thaksin does, elections are a good. Last election was a buy out.

[PhanganIsland]

Hi ... I just wanted to report an interesting fact ... many of the news sites ... like thairath.com are not really down ... you just can't reach them from thailand. But you can access them by a proxy / tunneled connection from outside thailand.

[zhodane]

Wonder what the new exchange rate will be. Hope all expats remain safe, went thru a coup in Turkey as a kid in the early 60's, all was back to normal in a few days

[thohts]

maybe they are behind the whole unrest in the south too DOH

Well, if your statement is implausible, mine must be too!

You're right in your sarcasm, though. The military would never harm innocent civilians. Especially if it related to something so small as this.

[PlanetMan]

It is fairly common knowledge that Thailand has but a single connection to the global internet: expats in Thailand learn that everytime "the Internet gores down". So the plotters can easily shut off outside Internet access.

But what of Internet access *within* Thailand? How long can this coup last when the email networks kick in and people begin organizing opposition to this extra-democratic regime change?

As unpopular as Toxin was/is, I should expect every right-thinking Thai patriot to oppose such a blatant power grab. Wasn't that era passed and far behind us?

[taxexile]

Statement from the military reformist

The following is the statement from the miliary reform council.

There has been social division like never before. Each side has been trying to conquer another with all possible means and the situation tends to intensify with growing doubts on the administration amid widespread reported corruption.

State units and independent organisations have been politically meddled, not able to deliver their services as specified in the Constitution.

The administration is also usually bordering on "lest majest" actions against the revered King. Despite attempts from social units for compromises, there is no way to end the conflicts.

The revolution body thus needs to seize power. We have no intention to rule but to return the power to the people as soon as possible, to preserve peace and honour the King who is the most revered to all Thais.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/20...es_30014072.php

[davidjtayler]

Now we have a female spokesman making a statement on TV. All army and police report for duty. Now we have no PM and Ministers. Civil Servants will take over these responsibilities. Those who don't report for duty will be liable to arrest

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

[davidjtayler]

Troops arrive at CAT - 01:35, September 20, 2006

Sources say troops are at the Communications Authority of Thailand. This means the military can turn off mobile phones and the internet if necessary.

No PM: Fourth degree from the military being read on TV - 01:26, September 20, 2006

The fourth decree by the military has been read. It seems to say there will be no new PM. Power will be in the "leader of the reform" (Commander-in-Chief Sondhi). There will be no ministers. Their power will be in the deputy chief of each ministry (we believe this means the permanent minister). They stress it will still be a democracy under the King.

[nomadspike]

BBC: (Tuesday, 19 September 2006, 17:46 GMT 18:46 UK)

Thai PM 'overthrown in army coup'

A tank on the streets of Bangkok amid reports of a coup

Tanks took up positions outside Government House

A faction of the Thai military led by the army chief says it has overthrown Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Soldiers have entered the prime minister's offices in Government House and tanks have surrounded the building.

Mr Thaksin, who is at the UN in New York, has declared a state of emergency and said he had removed the army chief.

A government spokesman insisted the coup "could not succeed", and told the Reuters news agency that the government was still in control.

HAVE YOUR SAY

The coup is so widely expected and I believe that this is for the best for Thailand

Darunee, Bangkok

Send us your comments

The spokesman said it had not been decided when the prime minister would return home from the UN.

However, in a broadcast on all Thai television channels the leadership of the armed forces said it had taken control of Bangkok, suspended the constitution and parliament, declared nationwide martial law and ordered all troops to return to their bases.

"We ask for the co-operation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience," the announcement said.

Retired Lieutenant-General Prapart Sakuntanak said the seizure would be temporary and power "returned to the people" soon.

Thailand map

Declaring themselves the "Council of Political Reform", the rebels said they were led by sacked military commander General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and declared loyalty to the king.

However, the BBC's Kate McGeown in Bangkok says King Bhumibol is held in high esteem by all Thais, and the declaration of loyalty does not necessarily imply that he backs the takeover attempt.

Our correspondent says low-level rumours of a possible coup have been circulating for weeks.

There has been pressure growing on the prime minister to resign, including from groups close to King Bhumibol, following a political impasse in which April's general election was declared invalid, says the BBC's correspondent Jonathan Head in Bangkok.

But it had been thought that Thailand was making progress towards holding another election later in the year, our correspondent says.

Political impasse

Witnesses said several hundred troops were posted at key points around Bangkok, including at government installations and major intersections.

Troops and guys dressed in Swat-style gear are strolling around

Russell Miles, Bangkok

Witnesses describe turmoil

Britons in Bangkok warned

BBC World, CNN and other international news channels were taken off the air, and Thai stations played out images of the royal family and patriotic songs.

Russell Miles emailed the BBC News website to say there were troops "dressed in Swat-style gear strolling around" near Government House, and "a tense, but fairly controlled atmosphere".

He said: "We saw a group of blokes bundling a cameraman and another chap into a van. We are taking photos, but not out in the open."

At the United Nations, where the annual General Assembly is under way, it was announced that the agenda had been changed to allow Mr Thaksin to address it in the coming hours.

[cclub75]

BBC

The coup leaders meet the King.