Thai coup leaders ban political meetings

The Daily Telegraph ^ | September 21, 2006 | Staff

[MadIvan]

The ruling Thai army has banned all "political activities" two days after ousting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup.

The coup leaders banned political parties from meeting indefinitely and prohibited the creation of new political parties, according to a statement read on national television.

"To ensure the constitutional monarchy is functioning after reforms have been completed, the Political Reform Council has ordered political parties to halt all meetings and political activities," the statement said.

The leaders of the coup have repeatedly vowed to return democracy to Thailand.

Since taking power two days ago while the country's elected leader was in New York to address a UN meeting, the coup leaders have ruled by martial law.

[MadIvan]

This doesn't sound too good to me.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[BipolarBob]

They vowed a return to democracy . . . . while under martial law. Oh I think I see what you mean.

[ASA Vet]

Thai Ping

[Red Badger]

Myanmar (Burma) II?..........

[Red Badger]

I'll believe it when I see it..............

[MadIvan]

Let's hope not, Myanmar is a basket case. If the Thai generals think that's a model to follow, hopefully the people will rise up and slaughter them.

Regards, Ivan

[wtc911]

But you called us idiots and swore that you knew that the leader of the coup would step down in just two weeks.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1705154/posts

Former graduate of SHSU, Thaksin Shinawatra was prime minister of Thailand until a military coup overthrew him Tuesday. Shinawatra received a doctorate in 1978 in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University.

I was very surprised that he went to SHSU (Sam Houston State University) here in Huntsville, Texas.

[Red Badger]

We may have to take Vietnam up on their offer of re-opening the bases at DaNang........

[MadIvan]

Shinawatra is now here in Britain; he has a home in London. He's setting up a "government in exile" at the moment.

Good luck to him - I understand that there is a great deal of faith in the King, but coups tend to be ugly things, no matter how well behaved.

Regards, Ivan

[ko_kyi]

MadIvan, very glad to see you back here - I thought we'd lost you. I appreciate your input from "across the pond."

I don't think they are falling toward the Myanmar model. I think they want things to stabilize until they have a plan to hand power back to a civilian authority. It has been only 2 days, after all.

[Post-Neolithic]

Just my opinion, but I would never trust the word of a Muslim no matter how much they insisted they were telling the truth.

[MadIvan]

I hope that you're correct. The problem with coups in other countries is that once in power, many leaders tend to forget why they did it, and become enamoured with being in control.

Regards, Ivan

[ko_kyi]

Good luck to him - I understand that there is a great deal of faith in the King, but coups tend to be ugly things, no matter how well behaved.

I can't wish him luck - he was too dirty, to skilled at wedging relatives and cronies into positions of authority, too quick to rip off US investors before he was a politician, too good at manipulating the poor with bike giveaways, etc., and too skilled at voter fraud.

Many, if not most educated people in Thailand hated him and support this coup.

[ASA Vet]

More proof you were correct.

[MadIvan]

Well he's untrustworthy anyway; Thailand is an established democracy, yet he decided to overturn its verdict.

How principled can one be in that instance?

Regards, Ivan

[Wolfie]

The leaders of the coup have repeatedly vowed to return democracy to Thailand.

Now that's funny!

[MadIvan]

I can't wish him luck - he was too dirty, to skilled at wedging relatives and cronies into positions of authority, too quick to rip off US investors before he was a politician, too good at manipulating the poor with bike giveaways, etc., and too skilled at voter fraud.

So in American terms, he was a Clintonite. ;)

Many, if not most educated people in Thailand hated him and support this coup.

It's a big risk, for the reasons I've described. I wouldn't like to see the generals overstay their welcome.

Regards, Ivan

[airborne]

We are idiots.

We dare not question.(sarcasm)