Military launches a coup in Thailand (Muslim General ousts Prime Minister)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 9/19/06 | Grant Peck - ap

[NormsRevenge]

BANGKOK, Thailand - 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.

An announcement on Thai television declared that a "Council of Administrative Reform" with King Bhumibol Adulyadej as head of state had seized power in Bangkok and nearby provinces without any resistance.

At least 14 tanks surrounded Government House, Thaksin's office. Thaksin was in New York at the U.N. General Assembly and declared a state of emergency.

[MarMema]

Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, who is known to be close to Thailand's revered monarch and is a Muslim in this Buddhist-dominated nation, took power without a shot being fired. He will serve as acting prime minister, said army spokesman Col. Akara Chitroj.

[Brian Allen]

<< Someone just came into my office and said their son is in Thailand on a movie shoot. She wanted to know what was going on...the production is trying to arrange a jet to fly the crew out. >>

That would be a somewhat asinine overreaction. I am in Thailand and during the past 45 years have spent an aggregate ten or twelve years years here. I've been through more coups here than I can count and have yet to be even seriously inconvenienced by one.

The Royal Thai Army is neither against shopping - nor the making of movies.

[MarMema]

The general is a Muslim, I believe.

Scary, don't you think? And is now announcing himself to be the new prime minister as well.

[Larry Lucido]

as an army-owned television station suspended regular programming and played patriotic songs

Note to self: If I ever take over a country, bring some decent music.

[MarMema]

General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin is Thailand's first Muslim Army Commander-In-Chief and was appointed to his position on September 8th, 2005. The Commander was 59 at the time and from the time of his appointment, will have two years in office before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60. He was chosen, in the view of many, specifically in the hopes he would understand the situation better than any predecessor and resolve things.

Reuters report from Sept. 2005: Analysts believe that the appointment of the Muslim chief to head the Thai army would help win over Muslims in the south, Reuters said. "His understanding of Islam can help the Army to customize their operations to win hearts and minds of Muslims in the south," said Panitan Wattanayagorn of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. He maintained that Sonthi, Vietnam War veteran general, was promoted to his post because of his battlefield experience and expertise rather than his religion. "He is the most qualified of the candidates," Panitan said.

His military background is impressive and unsurpassed by any other Army personnel. He's attended the best schools and academies the Army has and had been in charge of numerous positions. He's the best the Army has and is considered by many to be Thailand's best hope for resolution of hostilities. Problem is, he's been hamstrung by having to implement Bangkok's decisions and policies which aren't necessarily his own desires and these policies continue to flame the discontent so prevalent there. If Bangkok continues to hold the reins of power... and absolute control of the situation, then he is restricted in just how HE would handle things.

[Brian Allen]

<< .... The coup went largely unnoticed in Bangkok's popular tourist districts, where foreigners packed bars and cabarets, oblivious to the activity about two miles away ....

.... Hundreds of people gathered at Government House, taking pictures of themselves with the tanks. >>

I love Thailand - and the Beautiful Thais!

[MarMema]

"In March, Sondhi sought to ease speculation the military might join the political fray, as it last did in 1992 and more than a dozen other times during earlier crises.

"The army will not get involved in the political conflict. Political troubles should be resolved by politicians," Sondhi said at the time, echoing comments of other top military officials. "Military coups are a thing of the past."

He doesn't seem to be highly consistent. :-)

[Republican Party Reptile]

Oh, just back to the old ways in Thailand, it wasn't that long ago that seemed Thailand was having monthly coups with one faction overthrowing another and back and forth ...

[Brian Allen]

<< He doesn't seem to be highly consistent. :-) >>

Sounds like a politician?

[BurbankKarl]

Its Hollywood...what can I tell ya?

[kiriath_jearim]

One Night In Bangkok

By: Murray Head

Bangkok, oriental setting
And the city don't know that the city is getting
The creme de la creme of the chess world
In a show with everything but Yul Brynner
Time flies, doesn't seem a minute
Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it
All change, don't you know
That when you play at this level there's no ordinary venue
It's Iceland or the Philippines or Hastings
Or, or this place

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a God in every golden cloister
And if you're lucky then the God's a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

One town's very like another
When your head's down over your pieces, brother
(It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity)
(To be looking at the board, not looking at the city)
What d'ya mean
You seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town
(Tea, girls, warm and sweet, sweet)
(Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite)
Get Thai'd! You're talking to a tourist
Whose every move's among the purest
I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me

Siam's gonna be the witness
To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
This grips me more than would
A muddy old river or reclining Buddha
Thank God I'm only watching the game, controlling it
I don't see you guys rating
The kind of mate I'm contemplating
I'd let you watch, I would invite you
But the queens we use would not excite you
So you better go back to your bars, your temples
Your massage parlors

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
You'll find a God in every golden cloister
A little flesh, a little history
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me

[brytlea]

I saw a quick something on the news when I got home about this, and am wondering what is going on. I knew if I came to FR I would get the straight skinny!
susie

[brytlea]

ROFL! I didn't think there would be any humor in this thread, and I was wrong! BTW, stay safe anyway.
susie

[brytlea]

Bhumibol was born in Cambridge, Mass. He became the ninth king of Thailand's Chakri dynasty on June 9, 1946, succeeding his older brother, Ananda, killed by an unexplained shooting.

Stupid question, but is this the same line as the King in The King and I? (I think that was a truish story, but I could be wrong).

susie

[interrogatorgirl]

THANK GOD! Amazing that is the first thought that went through many minds on FR.

[Jack Black]

No. I believe this is his grandson.

[colorado tanker]

Yes, Mongkut was the King's name, and Thais still take offense at his depiction in the play and movie. In fact, he was a great king who built the foundation of modern Thailand. His son, Chulalongkorn the Great, ruled 43 years and is still revered. He was a modernizer and wise ruler who pursued the diplomacy that kept Thailand free while the rest of S.E. Asia was being colonized.

[Liberal Classic]

The armed forces commander and the national police commander have successfully taken over Bangkok ... pardon for the inconvenience.

[brytlea]

That's what I meant, was he related. So, he would be the son of Prince Chulalongsomething? (sorry, I cannot exactly remember his name). I never thought about them still holding the throne there. Thanks for the info.
susie

[brytlea]

Thanks for the spelling on the Prince's name. Why would they not like the play/movie? I guess it didn't depict him as they saw him? ( would be interesting to read a real biography of him, he seemed like a very interesting and intelligent guy just from the movie--and Yule Brenner made a pretty cute king! ;))
susie