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| Southeast Asia | |
| Military, police seize Bangkok: TV | |
| 2006-09-19 | |
| Military and police seized control of the Thai capital Bangkok late Tuesday in an apparent coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, local television reported. An announcement flashed on national television said the forces, loyal to the king, had taken control of Bangkok "to maintain law and order". ADDITIONAL: FORCES loyal to Thailand's sacked military commander Lieutenant General Sonthi Boonyaratglin have seized the prime minister's office. Witnesses said troops had seized Government House with soldiers ordering police inside the Government House building to lay down their arms. At least 20 soldiers had entered the building, according to reporters inside. Armoured units of the Thai military blocked the area around Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra offices with tanks, witnesses said today. Rumours of a military coup swept the Thai capital after an army-owned television station suspended regular programming and played patriotic songs. On a government-owned TV station, Mr Thaksin - now on a visit to New York - declared a state of emergency. “The Prime Minister with the approval of the Cabinet declares serious emergency law in Bangkok from now on” Mr Thaksin said. He said he was ordering the transfer of the nation's army chief to work in the prime minister's office, effectively suspending him from his military duties.
Army-owned TV channel 5 interrupted regular broadcasts with patriotic music and showed pictures of the king. At least some radio and television stations monitored in Bangkok suspended programming. The cable television station of the Nation newspaper reported that tanks were parked at the Rachadamnoen Road and royal plaza close to the royal palace and government offices. Local radio station Ruam Duay Chuay Kan interrupted its programming just as a reporter was about to give information from Government House, where Mr Thaksin has his office. The White House said it was aware of breaking news reports about the political situation in Thailand and was seeking additional information. “We've seen the reports, and we are seeking additional information,” national security spokesman Frederick Jones said as US President George W. Bush prepared to address the United Nations General Assembly. The British foreign ministry said it was trying to find out more about what was happening in Thailand. “We are aware of reports of tanks on the street of Bangkok, and the Thai prime minister calling a state of emergency,” a Foreign Office spokesman said. “We are trying to establish details of what has happened,” he added, giving no further details. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #28 Billy, thanks for the on-scene reporting. Stay safe. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-09-19 17:11 |
| #27 Thanks D. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-09-19 16:08 |
| #26 Use Firefox with the Adblock extension and you can make it go away. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-09-19 15:41 |
| #25 Fred, I hope they pay tou well for this annoying add for that kid friendly war movie. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-09-19 15:32 |
| #24 The situation is a bit more complex than these Rantburg comments reflect: EFL "The Thai military launched a coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday night, circling his offices with tanks, seizing control of TV stations and declaring a provisional authority pledging loyalty to the king. Massive rallies earlier this year forced Thaksin to dissolve Parliament and call an election in April, three years ahead of schedule. The poll was boycotted by opposition parties and later annulled by Thailand's top courts, leaving the country without a working legislature. Thaksin's critics want to jettison his policies promoting privatization, free trade agreements and CEO-style administration. Opposition to Thaksin gained momentum in January when his family announced it had sold its controlling stake in telecommunications company Shin Corp. to Singapore's state-owned Temasek Holdings for a tax-free $1.9 billion. Critics allege the sale involved insider trading and complain a key national asset is now in foreign hands. Thaksin also has been accused of stifling the media and mishandling a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand that flared under his rule. In Thailand's mostly Muslim south, separatist insurgents have waged a bloody campaign that has left at least 1,700 dead, mostly civilians, since 2004." http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/09/19/D8K821J80.html |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-09-19 15:32 |
| #23 Yes, thanks Bangkok Billy. Nice to hear from someone on the scene rather than a talking head who has to have Thailand spelled phonetically. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-09-19 15:08 |
| #22 The Thais problem is that they go from zero to 150 mph very fast - one minute they're hugging you but if you cross them... well they just kill you. Sounds like a well-honed survival reflex installed by regularly dealing with Muslims. I think the military wants to restore a functional gov't so they can address the South in a more effecetive manner. I certainly hope so, but this does not quite jibe with how they've appointed Sonthi, a Muslim, as Prime Minister. I can only imagine he must be some sort of moderate who wants to eliminate the extremist threat. If so, this would be a huge boost for other Muslims to begin realigning themselves away from jihadist Islam. Just speculating. Again, thank you very much, Bangkok Billy. It's really dynamite to have first hand coverage like this. It eliminates a whole boatload of media spin and their usual trowling of male bovine fecal matter. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-19 15:06 |
| #21 I blame Bush. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2006-09-19 15:03 |
| #20 They're having a tough time in the South as the muzzzies are a diverse group, entrenched at the very local level and a have a very flat C3 structure - tough to infil and gain info. Hint: The local mosque is probably a combination recruiting center, fundraising center, and armory. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-09-19 14:48 |
| #19 Update # 4 from Coup TV - Gen. Sonthi installed with PM powers. Poltical appointees at cabinet level sacked with career civil servants taking day to day op con. Queue the Fat Lady in 4, 3, 2, ... |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2006-09-19 14:33 |
| #18 If a muzzie military commander is installed as PM, as suggested by B. Billy in post #16, would the mods please strike the entire post in #13 and send it to the sink trap? Thanks! |
| Posted by: Mark Z 2006-09-19 14:30 |
| #17 Cyber Sarge - VERY well placed source say King gave the green light. Coup seized Thaksin's building which is a hub for cable and satellite TV transmissions hence CNN/BBC off the air. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2006-09-19 14:16 |
| #16 Zen - sorry for not addressing your point. From my view, this coup had little to do with the South or the military feeling they were restrained. They've tried the "glove off" approach and that hasn't worked. The military takes casualties on regular basis down there and they do have a high degree of freedom of action. The South is a 100 plus year old problem and the Thais have experience dealing with an insurgency (commies). The Thais problem is that they go from zero to 150 mph very fast - one minute they're hugging you but if you cross them... well they just kill you. They're having a tough time in the South as the muzzzies are a diverse group, entrenched at the very local level and a have a very flat C3 structure - tough to infil and gain info. This coup was more about power politics and the military seeing itself as a protector of the monarchy and by extension the people. I think the military wants to restore a functional gov't so they can address the South in a more effecetive manner. RUMINT has Gen. Sonthi (like our CJCS) being installed as PM - oh by the way- he's Muslim. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2006-09-19 14:13 |
| #15 Billy, am I wrong to think that if the King ok's the coup it's pretty much a done deal? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-09-19 14:06 |
| #14 If you have been scoring Thailand, or are interested in scoring Thailand, new score cards will be received from the printer Thursday, 9/28. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-09-19 13:58 |
| #13 I have no idea what is going on in Thailand. More importantly I don't know why. I do not know the people of Thailand except those I've met here in the USA. My favorite restaurant is Thai. The men and women I've met from Thailand (all Buddhists) have caused me to think of visiting there someday. Imagine...just imagine a tipping point has been reached in one of the most peaceful countries on earth. IIRC, some 1800 souls have been slaughtered by muzzis in southern Thailand in the past two years. Christians and Buddhists. Slaughtered. By muzzies. Why? Because the muzzies want to rule unto themselves. No more gov't by the infidel. Infidel get out. Infiedel convert or die. Now imagine a military coup supported by the people taking down an elected gov't that is seen as not aggressively addressing muzzie terror in it's midst. An elected gov't that gives the muzzies a virtual free pass to practise jihad. An elected gov't that doesn't protect the freedom of it's people to live their lives in peace, free of muzzie terror and jihad. Europe....you may be watching your future. |
| Posted by: Mark Z 2006-09-19 13:52 |
| #12 Soory Scooter - open as of an hour ago. Recent closing time was 0200 - as of Friday night :). Wouldn't be surprised if they close early tonight. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2006-09-19 13:48 |
| #11 Thanks Zen - report # 3 from coup spokesman: Martial law declared, CNN/BBC out nation-wide, troops ordered to report to their bases, cabinet sacked, Privy Coucil still in effect, and constitution suspended. No info on the South but bombings in Hat Yai were big news. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2006-09-19 13:46 |
| #10 But the real question is, what about Nana Plaza -- is it still open? (Inquiring minds want to know). |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2006-09-19 13:40 |
| #9 Bangkok Billy, your on-the-spot coverage is deeply appreciated. Any speculation as to whether army factions were dissatisfied with the relative inaction against southern Muslim incursions? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-19 13:34 |
| #8 It was NOT Gen Sonthi' driver - it was Gen. Ponlop's driver. Thai TV still down and CNN and BBC taken down about 15 min. ago. Trafiic and sky train still flowing. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2006-09-19 13:13 |
| #7 Apparently the King is supporting the Army coup. It's a done deal. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-09-19 13:02 |
| #6 Didn't they bag some big shot general a few weeks back for trying to take Thaksin out with a car bomb? I believe that was Lieutenant General Sonthi Boonyaratglin's driver they arrested with the car bomb. Thaksin had the general relieved and moved to his office, but didn't jug him. Bet he's regretting that now. |
| Posted by: Steve 2006-09-19 13:00 |
| #5 Didn't they bag some big shot general a few weeks back for trying to take Thaksin out with a car bomb? As I remember it had to do with dissatisfaction in the ranks with stuff like Thaksin's origami offensive when dealing with the Muzzie cousins in the south. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-09-19 12:44 |
| #4 Bangkok, Sep 19 (Xinhua) The Thai military has declared launch of a coup, Thai military TV Five reported Tuesday night. |
| Posted by: Steve 2006-09-19 12:42 |
| #3 I was wondering how long muzzies could kill openly, indiscriminately without any reaction from Thai authorities. Denial now out of style there, eh ? |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-09-19 12:38 |
| #2 I guess hopping that the military wants to do something about the Muzzi onslaught is too much? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-09-19 12:35 |
| #1 All Thai TV taken down, streets seem normal, public trains running, but traffic very light. Rumors of lockdown at 2400 local and PM's bro (Army 4 star) saying PM will not stand down. A Thai-Mexican (ThaiMex trademark) standoff. Could get ugly but unlikely from my viewpoint. 2335 Bangkok time - BB out for now. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2006-09-19 12:33 |