Military Coup In Thailand

[CreepingDave]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 361512.stm

"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.

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

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

The so-called "Council of Political Reform" they announced is apparently loyal to sacked military commander Lt Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin and has declared its 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.

An army-owned TV station is showing images of the royal family and songs linked in the past with military coups.

BBC World, CNN and other international news channels have been taken off the air, readers in Thailand told the BBC News website by email.

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

Political impasse

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.

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

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.

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Interesting developments, especially since my mother is on a train to Bangkok right at this moment...

[King_Nothing]

Thats scarry stuff, Govt's are failing all over the world these days.
I hope that your Mother is alright!

[superman321]

Mate, I echo King Nothing's sentinments about your mother.

This is a very interesting development. The big question I am wondering however, is given that the PM is at the UN, is it possible she could retake the country when she returns. Also, are theplans for a monarchy or military dictatorship, or is it merely a way of removing her from power to have another round of elections. Either way, a situation to be watched closely.

[Snow]

Man I hope everything goes ok there, I know that they say its a bloodless coup at the moment, but the british foreign office is saying to avoid large crowds and demonstrations there.
I think I speak for everyone on the board when I say that our prayers are with you and you family at this difficult time.

[CreepingDave]

I don't think theres much to worry about on my end, except for the fact that I think they severed all international telecommunications and some of the internet.

The aim of the coup was to remove Thaksin, and it will probably be successful, most people in Bangkok don't like him anyway and most of his supporters are in the north of the country.

[OutlawTorn81]

I'm never a fan of democracy backsliding, so hopefully the legitimate government will be able to re-take control from this coup.

[dmegametal#1]

everything should be ok!!!

NOT like other coup where hundreds of civilians killed