there r tanks everywhere
2006-09-19 07:59:45 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Thailand
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Martial law is now in effect across Thailand, where the commander of the army managed to overthrow the prime minister while he's in the US.
All soldiers are being ordered to report for duty on orders of the Thai army's leader, who has also revoked the country's constitution.
Announcements on TV in Thailand also say the military is pledging loyalty to the king -- who was born in Massachusetts and has been on the throne 60 years.
The coup comes as the prime minister is in New York for the U-N General Assembly. He was supposed to speak tomorrow, but that's being changed to tonight. Opponents had been calling on him to step down, citing corruption.
And while tanks surround his Bangkok office, few noticed in the city's tourist district about two miles away, where bars and cabarets remain open.
2006-09-19 15:32:21 · answer #1 · answered by angel_eyes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To get rid of the corrupt prime minister, Taxin Shinawatra.
Here's aletter from Thailand today
When my wife finally stopped singing and dancing around with our son at 7.45am this morning, she shouted out "Damn good!"
a) few people outside Thailand really know how Taksin has so cleverly usurped, benefitted from financial corruption instead of tackling it, bought up enormous tracts of his own country in areas of future development, bought foreign homes while barring foreigners from doing the same here, sued every major media outlet that criticised him and done NOTHING for the poor, and especially the hilltribes. Smiled at foreigners while restricting visas even further and pursuing policies which may ultimately be seen to be xenophobic. Full of promises and no delivery. Even his home city Chiangmai has waited a year in vain for his promised 53m baht to tackle flooding.
b) yes, he was democratically elected. The second time. Like another western premier we could name. At the first one he bought his way in with the "million baht per village" offer. That turned out to be a loan, not a gift of course, but it did the trick. Literally!
c) In my personal view this bloodless coup would not have taken place so smoothly, if at all, without the tacit consent of His Majesty. Maybe the writing was on the wall days ago? It is reported that Taksin took his whole family to the UN conference - unprecedented.
d) Dancing in the streets? Well there should be wherever thinking people are to be found (ie mainly in Bangkok). What we have in the streets here are lots of armoured personnel carriers and soldiers with rifles slung, looking a little bored and confused. But they don't mind having their photos taken as I proved on the way into the office this morning. Not allowed to talk, though, and many don't know what is happening.
e) Next? One of many responsible comments by General Sonthi was that the army would not hang on to power for very long. A coalition government, maybe with the promising young Democrat Abhisit to the fore, could be great!
f) We live in quite exciting times, but feel totally safe and very curious about the spin-off effects. Prayerfully this can only be good for Thailand!
2006-09-20 09:07:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and since Taksin is in New York all is well. They arrested the Deputy Prime Minister and sworn allegiance to the King. Why? Cause without and assembly and the postponed elections it looked like Taksin was going to rule longer than expected. They got tired of the B.S. that was going on. Which included blaming a military leader of plotting an assasination.
2006-09-19 16:08:02 · answer #3 · answered by gbdelta1954 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Situation is normal in BKK, fitness just closed a bit earlier
2006-09-19 15:09:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
to get thaksin to step down.
2006-09-19 16:08:40 · answer #5 · answered by EL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋