Might interest someone at least.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Ah, crap. I have a hard time believing that there'd be another coup in Thailand before King Bhumibol dies. I wonder if he has? Thanks for linking to this, Rake--I'm going to be paying close attention to this as the story unfolds.
[ September 19, 2006, 12:13 PM: Message edited by: Noemon ]
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
Woah. I was just in Bangkok two months ago! That would have been freaky seeing tanks on the streets. I had no idea they were having political trouble. The king of Thailand is extremely loved, and is the longest reigning king in the world right now. I don't know anything about this prime minister guy, though.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Looks like the Bangkok Post's site is down.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
The king is loved, to a degree that is kind of hard for a westerner to wrap their mind around. This won't be a coup to force him to step down.
Thaksin, the PM, has been embroiled in scandal for quite a while now. Here is a little background on him.
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
Thanks for the background, Noemon. I'm always a little uninformed in political matters. Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
No problem. Thai politics can be dizzyingly byzantine--I don't pretend to have a thorough grasp of it.
Posted by Rake (Member # 9195) on :
look at the sources to
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Thanks for the link, Rake--looks like it'll be a good central point to go to in following this as it develops. The BBC News article (which is also linked to on that wikipage, I see) on the story is starting to flesh out just a bit, although it still doesn't have much more information than was in the original link.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
The BBC News article is continuing to flesh out, just FYI.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Been keeping up with this, its very interesting.
Still trying to figure out if the Prime Minister started elections 3 years early as a way to demonstrate fairness, or as a way to try and win relection rather then waiting 3 years when his popularity even lower.
I'm going to stick with this story and follow it to its conclusion
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Holy crap.
Is this as big a deal as I think it is?
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
An analyst on NPR is linking this to the PM's recent business dealings which netted him almost $2 billion tax free. The PM is well liked in some sections of the country because he found ways to provide medical care and invest in villages. But in the power-center in Bangkok he is widely viewed as corrupt.
The analyst said the timing of the coup in advance of the elections is because there was fear that he WOULD get re-elected.
Supposedly, at present, the king's official reaction has been "coup? what coup?"
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
The Prime Minister needed to be removed from power. This was not the way to do it.
We can only hope that King Bhumibol will keep order.
The good news is that the King, a very wise man, has enormous power and even greater surport and any showdown would end in his favor. The bad news is that the King is Seventy-nine.
Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :
The king is in bed with the coup leader. That's how/why it's happening. They're good friends.
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
Just because the coup leaders are claiming that it's in the King's name, doesn't mean that it is.
I rather doubt that it is in the King's name. It's just not how he does things. He has never supported a coup before. Even if he were, he would be on national television announcing it.
If the King really felt that action had to be taken by him, he would call in Thaksin on national TV and politely, regally, tear him a new one.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I'd guess the King chooses not to for the sake of avoiding civil war. If half the troops who profess loyalty the King really do, and the other half don't, then his country gets torn apart.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
The Bangkok Post's site is back up. Here is their ongoing timeline of new developments in the coup.
Here is the BBC News' profile of the coup's leader, Sonthi Boonyaratglin.
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
I take back my statement. Looks like the King does support it. Fascinating.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by Phanto: Holy crap.
Is this as big a deal as I think it is?
It has happened quite a few times since WW2, but ANY Cue is a big deal to be honest.
Posted by jebus202 (Member # 2524) on :
Snookers cues aren't that big a deal.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by jebus202: Snookers cues aren't that big a deal.
gah! typed too fast "coup"
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
quote: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."
Gee, I hope somebody in Thailand doesn't read this and say to themselves, 'Russell Miles has been taking unauthorized photographs. Somebody get me the address of Russell Miles, immediately!'
Just sayin'
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
The King's comments echo those of Christian X.
Whether or not he is "close" to the coup leader, he had as little choice as Christian.
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Woah. I was just in Bangkok two months ago! That would have been freaky seeing tanks on the streets. I had no idea they were having political trouble. The king of Thailand is extremely loved, and is the longest reigning king in the world right now. I don't know anything about this prime minister guy, though.
![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)