The military has revoked the Thai constitution after staging a coup

[Eckolaker]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/thailand.coup.rumor/index.html

Thai government faces coup attempt POSTED: 1:52 p.m. EDT, September 19, 2006

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Members of Thailand's military are attempting to seize power in Bangkok but the Thai leadership expects everything to return to normal soon, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai told CNN.

var clickExpire = "-1"; Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra -- currently at the U.N. headquarters in New York -- went on a government-owned TV station and declared a state of emergency.

The government has maintained control of the capital and the surrounding areas, according a statement on Thailand's state-controled Army television.

The statement asked for residents to remain calm and await further announcements. (Watch tanks roll through the streets of Bangkok -- 3:53 (javascript:cnnVideo('play','/video/world/2006/09/19/rivers.thai.coup.attempt.reut','2006/09/26');))

Thailand's opposition Party of Democratic Reform seized control of a Thai television station Tuesday and announced it is behind the coup attempt and has the loyalty of Thailand's armed forces.

The statement was read by Prapart Sakultanart, who was identified as a spokesman for the military. He said the coup seekers are loyal to Thailand's long-reigning King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Around the royal palace in Bangkok, four tanks were parked as were a number of armored vehicles and Humvees, CNN's Dan Rivers reported. Soldiers appeared to be setting up roadblocks and what appeared to be members of the royal guard surrounded the palace.

It was unclear if the soldiers were loyal to the government or to those attempting to seize power. There have been no reports of violence in Bangkok.

According to officials at the Thai mission at the United Nations, Thaksin has moved up his speech to the General Assembly to Tuesday night and will return to Bangkok after his address.

He had been scheduled to address the assembly on Wednesday.

Thailand operates as a constitutional monarchy, with the king as head of state and the prime minister leading the government. The country is an ally of the U.S. and contributed troops to the U.S.-led military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thaksin has been under considerable pressure to step down.

Elections in Thailand are scheduled for November after the country's constitutional court ruled April's vote was unconstitutional.

Thaksin had called for the elections in April, three years early, after opponents accused the billionaire leader of abusing the country's system of checks and balances and bending government policy to benefit his family's business.

-- CNN Senior UN Correspondent Richard Roth contributed to this report


(Eckolaker - BWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)

[Cloak & Swagger]

The country is an ally of the U.S. and contributed troops to the U.S.-led military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Maybe I haven't read enough into this, and perhaps I should before I start asking these questions, but does anybody think this move was made in an effort to pull back from the war?
Not so much the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Iran.
Perhaps they were getting orders, like our military is, that it's almost zero hour, and their military simply stood up and said fuck this shit, this is where we draw the line.
In that regard, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing.
Is there any other analysis out there showing their military may have been gearing up for anything just prior to this coup?

[Cloak & Swagger]

Thaksin has been under considerable pressure to step down.
There are a couple other leaders I can think of in the same position.

[PhilosophyGenius]

My understanding is that this was done because the PM does those shady dealings which he benifits off of (as bolded in red). And also the King there is the man, people have his picture in there cars and houses because they love him so much- and the King supports this. Don't think it has anything to do with the war in Iraq.

Intersting fact: There have been 17 coups in Thailand since the 30's.