Could you eke out a bit more condescension in this post? Thaksin is seen by many as a crook, a monopolist of Berlusconi proportions, and a cheater. Perhaps this coup isn't about need for babysitters but for reform.
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Thailand Coup: While the PM's Away, the Generals Will Play
On 19 September 2006, it was reported that around 14 tanks had taken up position around the Government House building in Bangkok, and that around 50 soldiers had entered the building. Thaksin, who was at the United Nations building in New York, was reported to have dismissed the chief of the army Gen Sondhi Boonyaratkalin. He declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and ordered the supreme commander of the armed forces, Ruangroj Mahasaranond to implement the emergency order. Thailand's constitution has been suspended .
Thai national television announced that military forces had taken control of Bangkok "to maintain law and order" and broadcast patriotic music and footage of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Foreign news channels, such as BBC World, CNN, CNBC and Bloomberg Television were reported to have been taken off the air, although foreign broadcasters were still able to broadcast relatively freely from the Thai capital. Television footage showed heavily armed troops in US-made M113 armoured personnel carriers and M998 HMMWV vehicles on the streets of the city. All local stations then aired a military speech loop stating everything would be over shortly.
A broadcast on Thai army television declared that a "Council of Administrative Reform", previously unknown as a political entity, had seized power and stated:
The armed forces commander and the national police commander have successfully taken over Bangkok and the surrounding area in order to maintain peace and order. There has been no struggle. We ask for the cooperation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience.
Well at least they are polite about it. It's those rude military coups that just rub me the wrong way. A bit of background from CNN:
There have been 17 coups in Thailand since World War II, and rumors of an 18th have been circulating around Bangkok in recent weeks as Thaksin battled considerable pressure to step down. This is the first coup since 1992, AP reported.
[...]
Elections in Thailand are scheduled for November after the country's constitutional court ruled that a vote in April was unconstitutional.
Thaksin had called for the April elections, 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.
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