Well it looks like it is all a done deal. The information we have is that the army and police are united and in control of the country and PM Thaksin and his cabinet are either out of the country, under arrest or in hiding. Borders are closed today, and today is an official holiday for government workers, stock exchange and banks.
The reasons given for the coup were to save the country from:
- Unprecedented national divisons that were getting no better and were going to result in violence.
- Political interference by the administration in all of the check and balance institutions that resulted in them being unable to conduct the work they were intended to do.
- Mass corruption in the administration.
- Statements by the administration bordering on lese majeste.
The Administrative Reform Council comprising 6 top generals and led by army chief General Sonthi have stated that a civilain government will be in place within 2 weeks.
more below
The best English language Thai analysis can be found at: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/index_lite.php
Martial law has been declared and gatherings of more than 5 people for political mmeetings have been banned. The media is facing censorship in the short term. The 1997 Thai Constitution has been suspended, or maybe repealed. The constitutional court has been dissolved as has parliament and the cabinet.
The ARC have promised that elections will be organized where vote buying and intimidation will not be allowed.
In Bangkok, where anti-Thaksin feeling has been high the soldiers have been generally well greeted being given food etc. The popularity of the coup also spreads over Southern and Eastern Thailand where there are many smiling happy people at the moment. That the coup is popular with many Thai pro-democracy activists may surprise people in the west, but is a reflection of how the systematic corruption of democracy can lead to a dictatoship that cannot be dealt with through democratic means, or at least so in the case of the fledgling democracy of Thailand.
The coup appears to have been totally bloodless, and very well organized.
There is some speculation that the head of the Bank of Thailand wil be appointed acting PM soon.
There will no doubt be many more developments over the next few hours.
Update [2006-9-21 0:2:46 by observer393]:
Update 1
Apparently a civilian interim government within 2 weeks and elections in about one year after the drafting of a new constitution. It looks like PM Thaksin is seeking asylum in London. Many government ministers seemingkly fled the country on Tuesday after the military commanders didnt show for a video conference with the PM in the early morning.
Update [2006-9-21 0:2:46 by observer393]:
Update 2
The auditor general Khunying Jaruvan has had her status reaffirmed. This is the woman the government fought tooth and nail to get rid of as she had an independent reputation. No doubt investigations into gvernment corruption will continue to completion.
Update [2006-9-21 0:2:46 by observer393]:
Update 3. It seems the grip on power is complete and that the ARC has been recognized as the government by the King. Speculation will turn to who will be appointed to the main ministries in the transitional government over the coming days. A poll taken yesterday showed 82% support for the coup in Bangkok and more interetingly 86% support in the rural areas where Thaksin was supposedly incredibly popular.
The TV is back to normal with the occaisional cut from a foreign news program when mention is made of the monarchy or sometimes Thaksin.
Two ex ministers Newin and Yongyuth have been ordered to report to the military by noon today although they have probably fled the country. They were noth quite notorious. Newin was supposedly linked to organizing drunken mobs to attack opponents of Thaksin. The most famous cases being the surrounding of the Nation newspaper building by a mob that allegedly threatened to rape any woman who came out. His mobs also managed to beat up a five year old child at one point recently.
Yongyuth better known as Yuth “dooyen” (refrigerator) in Thailand was in charge of the forestry department and his workers were often associated with violent attacks on opponents of Thaksin at gatherings around the country. Supposedly he was also involved in arming and training a large group of them as a kind of militia although the military recently demanded the weapons. His most famous exploit and the one that earned him his nickname occurred during the rather violent government crackdown on drug dealers. He took journalists with him as he led a group of heavily armed police to what he described as a major drug dealers hideout. On arrival the traditional wooden house was sprayed with machine gun fire. As the fire died down an octagenerian couple staggered out through the gunsmoke with their hands held high. They had been saved from death only by hiding in, or behind? a new refrigerator that relatives had given them. Their connection to the drug industry……?
When listening to western criticism of the overthrow of a “democratically elected” government, it is worth bearing in mind stories like these that have a profound effect on local people although I doubt they get mentioned much outside the copuntry they occur in.
Update [2006-9-21 2:14:29 by observer393]:
Update 4
It turned out both Newin and Yongyuth were in the country and have surrendered to the military. On arrival at the army HQ Newin tried to greet reporters but was welcomed with choruses of dictator, and boos.
Update [2006-9-23 4:43:33 by observer393]:
Final Update for this diary: Everything seems to have settled down and The Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy as the new government is known have selected a national counter corruption commision, which has a backlog of 10,000 complaints against the previous government to get working on. The auditor general is also working flat out on corruption cases. A new civilian government will probably be in place by September 30. The new PM will probably be either an economist to satisfy the business community or a lawyer as politcal reform will be the most important task of this one year government.
I hope you will continue to inform us on the situation in Thailand. I have two reasons to be interested: first, the company for whom I do freelance work is dependent upon Thai imports; second, from what I’ve read so far, this seems to be a “good” coup, is it?
Can you give us some background and examples of the corruption the deposed government supposedly committed? In what ways was this “systematic corruption” different from what is currently happening in the US? What parts of the country aren’t smiling today? Will there be violence from those who support the deposed PM? Is the military representing “the people” or some other power block?
These are all very good questions. I’m anxious to see what develops in the next few weeks. We do live in “interesting times” don’t we? Thanks for the on-the-scene report, observer393.
This is seen as a good coup cetainly where I live. How it is viewed in the North and North East of the country may be different. It is hard to know. The impact on business will be minimal. Expect a civilain technocrat government to be installed. The military who supposedly supported the PM are actaully onside with the coup. Having most government ministers seemingly flee the country early Tuesday probably didnt inspire them.
I doubt that set percentages of any deal are actually part of what is going in the US at this time.
Everything seems very normal in Thailand today. In fact people seem happier than they have been for a while.
very interesting. Thanks for the first hand accounts.
Yes, thank you, observer393. Information is certainly the currency of democracy. I am also curious about the parallels to our situation in the US, and frightened at the prospect of what may come.
Your work to keep us all informed is very much appreciated. Please keep yourself safe during these strange events.
It is actually not very frightening here to be honest. It is more like a big relief, at least where I live, and in Bangkok soldiers are being given flowers and food. This is popular there too.
My understanding is that the coup leader is a Muslim and I believe he has a more realistic proposal for handling the “insurgency” in the South – ie dialogue instead of Thaksin’s iron fist method.
Pax
He is to the best of my knowledge the first muslim PM of Thailand. He is also considered very professional and is respected widely.
He recently opposed the government iron fist policy in the south and recommended talks with the rebels. This could be a very positive development in terms of the southern situation.
Opposition of the iron fist policy …. It could also be a very positive development on the world stage but don’t expect to see anything from the chicken-hawks in the USA along these lines.
that in the US talk is seen as weak, and action as strong. Strange considering all the action since world war two by the US has brought it nothing.
regarding the coup. Could we ask General Sonthi Boonyaratglin to do that over here?
A Muslim leader of a military government in the US would be truly interesting.