AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 2512 times:
There are conflicting reports that tanks have surrounded Thailand's main national government building and its Prime Minister has declared a "severe state of emergency". A coup in progress is suspected.
The Prime Minister, currently in New York attending a session of the United Nations, has warned the military "not to act illegally".
CPH-R From Denmark, joined May 2001, 5581 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2485 times:
Small update via Berlingske Tidende (a Danish newspaper): A TV station controlled by the army has begun showing pictures of the Royal Family and playing music like the ones played during the previous military coups (ie. Patriotic music etc.).
Slider From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6219 posts, RR: 42 Reply 4, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2430 times:
Quoting AerospaceFan (Thread starter): The Prime Minister, currently in New York attending a session of the United Nations, has warned the military "not to act illegally".
Smart guy- I'd be in NYC too if there was a coup in Bangkok!
Can someone knowledgeable please give a condensed version of the background and dynamics of this? I'm not up to speed much on Thai politics, admittedly and would like to learn what is behind all of it. Grazi.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2417 times:
Quoting Slider (Reply 4): Can someone knowledgeable please give a condensed version of the background and dynamics of this? I'm not up to speed much on Thai politics, admittedly and would like to learn what is behind all of it. Grazi.
I don't know a lot about it, but there have been recent corruption scandals involving the Thai Prime Minister, and recently an election was cancelled - there are issues, anyway.
F9Animal From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4440 posts, RR: 33 Reply 6, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2417 times:
What would they do to the PM if he was there? Sorry if I sound dumb about this, but what the heck involves a coup? I mean, can you tell me in dummy terms instead of political?
This sounds kind of scary, hope nobody gets hurt in it.
9V From China, joined Aug 2008, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2411 times:
I don't think it will make any difference to tourists staying in resorts like Phuket or Pattaya. Not sure how it will affect the many backpackers in Bangkok. It isn't having any effect on flights from her yet as far as BA are concerned. There are 4 747's lined up at Heathrow due out to Bangkok tonight waiting to go. One is due to leave LHR about 10 o'clock tonight.
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2392 times:
Quoting Slider (Reply 4): Can someone knowledgeable please give a condensed version of the background and dynamics of this? I'm not up to speed much on Thai politics, admittedly and would like to learn what is behind all of it. Grazi.
Quoting F9Animal (Reply 6): What would they do to the PM if he was there? Sorry if I sound dumb about this, but what the heck involves a coup? I mean, can you tell me in dummy terms instead of political?
9V From China, joined Aug 2008, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2368 times:
There is also a Thai Airways flight at 9.30 tonight at Heathrow leaving for Bangkok and the airline is asking people to turn up as normal but if anyone wants to change their flight they can at no extra cost.
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 16475 posts, RR: 62 Reply 10, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2321 times:
It appears the military is pledging their allegiance to the King, so it doesn't seem like there will be a junta installed or anything.
Exarmywarrant From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 267 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2274 times:
Quoting Slider (Reply 4): Can someone knowledgeable please give a condensed version of the background and dynamics of this? I'm not up to speed much on Thai politics, admittedly and would like to learn what is behind all of it. Grazi.
What I heard this morning is that the PM has admitted that he won the election fraudulently, but has refused to resign.
Imagine those silly people getting upset over something like that!!
Windshear From Denmark, joined Mar 2000, 2301 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2274 times:
Talked to many Thais about their government, and all feel that the king is loyal and supports them, while their government os corrupt and does nothing for the country... So it all seems under control, lets just hope for the best.
Boaz.
"If you believe breaking is possible, believe in fixing also"-Rebbe Nachman
GSM763 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2264 times:
Quoting Exarmywarrant (Reply 11):
What I heard this morning is that the PM has admitted that he won the election fraudulently, but has refused to resign.
Not sure that he said that. You could be mixing it up with events in Hungary.
Usnseallt82 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 4890 posts, RR: 57 Reply 16, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2221 times:
Usnseallt82 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 4890 posts, RR: 57 Reply 17, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2221 times:
Now it seems as though the Thai constitution has been rejected and the country is now under martial law.
Exarmywarrant From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 267 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2208 times:
Quoting GSM763 (Reply 13): Not sure that he said that. You could be mixing it up with events in Hungary
You may be absolutely correct...if so, my mistake, sorry.
Trekster From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2191 times:
Top news story on Channel4.
This ain't good. Major roads blocked by tanks, all media sources seized/frozen.
Government dismissed. PM is in New York at the UN
Military took over.
This will be fun for the airlines, wonder what is going on out there
All international media is disrupted, no international stations available in the area
ME AVN FAN From Switzerland, joined May 2002, 13756 posts, RR: 32 Reply 20, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2165 times:
the Army Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, had used the military to take over power from the prime minister.
source: http://english.eljazeera.net
Lnglive1011yyz From Canada, joined Oct 2003, 1586 posts, RR: 20 Reply 21, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2140 times:
Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 5): I don't know a lot about it, but there have been recent corruption scandals involving the Thai Prime Minister, and recently an election was cancelled - there are issues, anyway.
There have been issues, yes -- but that still doesn't give the Military the right to take over the country..
All this stuff just makes me even more prouder to live in a Country that yes, we may not always believe what our Government does is right, but at least we're civilized about it.
Quoting 9V (Reply 7): don't think it will make any difference to tourists staying in resorts like Phuket or Pattaya. Not sure how it will affect the many backpackers in Bangkok. It isn't having any effect on flights from her yet as far as BA are concerned. There are 4 747's lined up at Heathrow due out to Bangkok tonight waiting to go. One is due to leave LHR about 10 o'clock tonight.
If *I* were a tourist in Thailand, I'd be finding the fastest route out. I'd be gone so fast, they wouldn't know what hit 'em.
This just bolsters my own self-imposed rule of not travelling to places that seem to be unstable in some kind of fashion..
My heart and thoughts are for the real people who will suffer from this.. the Thai people.
Exarmywarrant From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 267 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2111 times:
Quoting Lnglive1011yyz (Reply 22): All this stuff just makes me even more prouder to live in a Country that yes, we may not always believe what our Government does is right, but at least we're
I agree...when you look at how things go in so many places, I find it amazing that in the US, in a couple of years, "the Leader of the Free World" will, without any fuss, hand over the keys to the next guy and simply go home!
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2097 times:
Not to inject a note of cynicism into this, but the importance of civilian leadership is always to be kept in mind, and in regard to this story, I find it a bit troubling that a news report yesterday on one of the cable news channels cited the open disagreement of several former top-ranking U.S. military officers with the President's position on reform of U.S. law pertaining to the Geneva Convention. These included Generals Powell and Shalikashvili.
Civilian leadership is the sine qua non of democracy. According even former military leaders much say in policy matters of current import and suggesting that their input indicates civilian error as to those matters is an invitation to confusion, or worse.
The events in Thailand today show what could happen if the principle of civilian leadership is violated.
Lnglive1011yyz From Canada, joined Oct 2003, 1586 posts, RR: 20 Reply 24, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2089 times:
Quoting Exarmywarrant (Reply 23): I agree...when you look at how things go in so many places, I find it amazing that in the US, in a couple of years, "the Leader of the Free World" will, without any fuss, hand over the keys to the next guy and simply go home!
It's quite an honorable thing to witness, isn't it?
Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 24): The events in Thailand today show what could happen if the principle of civilian leadership is violated.
Granted, and agreed. The only thing that amazes me, is that I don't think you'd ever see something like this happen here.. we're too civilized.
We understand what it means to have a disagreement, and to work together to fix the problem.
1011yyz
Pack your bags, we're going on a sympathy trip!
25 JGPH1A: Unlike some people who shall remain nameless *coughBushcough* Absolutely not - no call for a coup at all, the military should stay out of politics, i
26 Mir: Are you saying that current or former military officials can't have and voice an opinion on what the government is doing? I find that to be ridiculou
27 Ken777: Being successful in the military does not mean you are either an expert or a fool when you retire. It simply means you have a different level of expe
28 Solnabo: Got my brother in Hua Hin 200 km south of BKK, couldn´t reach him by mobilephone or e-mail or anything else........ Hope he´s okey. Micke//
29 Mandala499: I hope the king will address the nation and call for democracy to return... then the coup will loose its support. The military could do a coup as a me
30 FRAspotter: You got is all wrong, it's supposed to be *coughRumsfeldcough*. or *coughCheneycough*
31 VTBDflyer: LONG LIVE THE KING THAKSIN GET OUT I believe in The King and have been waiting for this day. The only news sources I trust are The Bangkok Post and Th
32 VTBDflyer: They should be ok if they keep their heads about it. Well, he didn't leave because of the coup, he had left to speak at the UN in the US. Most Thais
33 9V: One thing I discovered while there - the Thai's love their Royal Family!
34 Superfly: VTBDflyer: Thanks for the update! I would hate to hear about chaos in Thailand. I had a wonderful time in your country this summer.
35 BMIFlyer: Same as I discoverd while out there back in Feb Lee
36 Superfly: Perhaps this guy can go down to Thailand and restore some ORDER!
37 AirCop: Isn't this the 12th coup in Thailand since the mid 50's? Should like Fox overdid it once again with Ïn severe State of Emergency. Wondering if the Th
38 Piercey: Good for you and the country of Thailand. I was shocked that they didn't kick him even after the mess in April. Has there been any bloodshed in relat
39 AerospaceFan: It was the PM's statement that used that phrase. See, e.g.: http://news.ert.gr/en/9/20809.asp (Excerpt)
40 VTBDflyer: Not that I have heard. There have been coups before, and most go with out bloodshed. VTBDflyer
41 Gilligan: Man it's a good thing we got capt highpants out of there on a BF ticket before all this broke out. Heaven forbid there might have been a curfew and he
42 ANCFlyer: Damn Frenchie . . . I was sure this thread would say something about Bush in a negative light - they always do - but I'm disgusted it was you that br
43 Aaron747: It's ridiculous for anyone to say "it's not right" for the military to take over the government in the case of Thailand. Just another example of an ab
44 Speedbird747BA: Its never good when things like this happen, but if no one gets hurt and the corrupt government is ousted, then the result will be nice for the Thai p
45 DLPMMM: I have no dog in this fight, but I travel to Thailand several times per year and have friends there. Your opnion of Thaksin is the same as a minority
46 Aaron747: I travel to Thailand often as well and my father is in a lofty position with a large US multinational there...so I'm not sure what axe I would have to
47 Levent: We just heard of the coup when we woke up. Where we live, apart from closed schools there doesn't seem anything unusual going on. The BBC and CNN are
48 Superfly: Piercey: Yes I did. I called several of my friends that I made on my visit and they talk as if it's no big deal.
50 JGPH1A: Democracy, like justice, not only has to be done, but has to be SEEN to be done. I along with several hundred million others, have doubts about the l
51 Slovacek747: It's funny that everyone blames George W Bush on everyone else's problems.. get a life everyone.. hes just trying to do what is right. It's not his fa
52 Ammunition: Not far from bangkok here, and life just seems to be going on like usual, hard to find any accurate info regarding flights but nothing has been report
53 Ryanb741: The majority of Thais will support this as Thaksin was a corrupt leader who lined his own pockets. the military have pledged to restore the country to
54 Exarmywarrant: You guys need to get over this. Several major news organizations, including a couple that have very Democratic leaning editorial slants, have investi
55 VTBDflyer: Yep, I've been out of the country for a while now and my uncle who just arrived back in Bangkok from a scuba trip says all is mostly the same. He saw
56 F9Animal: Thanks for the link! Glad it was peaceful. I have always wanted to visit BKK. I won tickets a few years ago to visit, but could not visit because I w
57 AirCop: I would have to agreed with your self assessment. Free trip to BKK, what were you thinking...
58 DLPMMM: The military will appoint a civilian caretaker PM in 2 weeks (possibly a retired general named Julanon from what I hear). A new constitution will be
59 BMIFlyer: US imposes sanctions on Thailand..... The United States has imposed sanctions against Thailand in response to the military coup which ousted civilian
60 Superfly: WTF?!?!?!?!?!?! My hatred of Bush & Co. has been elevated even more! I love Thailand and all of my friends in Thailand are happy with the new governm
61 ME AVN FAN: well, a few options : A) in future buying Russian fighter planes B) buying warships from France C) get into talks with Messrs Chavez, Castro and Ahme
62 Superfly: LOL! Thailand is too involved with other western nations such as Aulstralia, United Kingdom, Germany, Holland, Canada and a few others. I am so asham
63 Aaron747: This process will benefit the Thai people to no end. The US has no business placing sanctions on a country in this kind of situation. Yet another exam
64 AerospaceFan: The principle of civilian rule is paramount in American foreign policy. I seem to recall that most critics of U.S. policy find America's past support
65 AerospaceFan: Sad news for democracy: (Excerpt) Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/01/news/thai.php So is this the salvation of Thailand that the defenders
66 Piercey: We no longer hold value to our own constitution or declaration of independence. How sad. Uhh... did you by any chance catch the all important key wor
67 AerospaceFan: Yes, but the "interim" will last, apparently, an entire year. And how long might it be before an extension of that period is considered?
68 ME AVN FAN: A) much is a matter of style and timing. Had the USA told the Thai leadership that such sanctions would come into force at year-end, unless a definit
69 AirCop: Yea, right..Saudi is a prime example of that civilian rule, along with Iraq and Iran when we needed them as allies. Wasn't Chavez elected fair and sq
70 AerospaceFan: Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, not a military dictatorship, and its government did not overthrow a civilian administration. While Thailand is also a mon
71 AirCop: Ask our President.. And who controls the military, the House of Saud..
72 AerospaceFan: No kidding. Who, theoretically, controls the military under any monarchy? We're not talking about whether monarchies are good for democracy, but whet
73 ME AVN FAN: A) "a civilian government" sounds nice. But it is a civilian government in office a year after elections, and openly admitting only having "won" by c
74 AerospaceFan: I'd like to see where it is stated that the civilian administration "openly admitted" to having won only by cheating. There was another country where
75 Derico: Is this the same government that provides millions in aid to the democratic government of Pakistan? And then you wonder why those nuts out there in t
76 AerospaceFan: Pakistan was made subject to sanctions when the current regime overthrew the previous administration. See: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/08/01/stori
77 Derico: That might be so AerospaceFan, but you are not going to suggest now that this was nothing but a facade, and that in reality the US backs Musharaf alm
78 AerospaceFan: A couple of reactions: Yes, it is true that the U.S. is more lenient with regimes that support our interests. However, it is untrue that the Pakistan
79 ME AVN FAN: the military leadership in many countries bears a lot of responsibility, or even is part of the elected government. In Switzerland, about half of the
80 AerospaceFan: Here in the United States, no one can be both an active and serving member of the military and an elected political official.
81 ME AVN FAN: quite in contrast to other countries. Where high-ranking colonels can join the political leadership on the top echelons, and usually are heavily repr
82 Piercey: The people have the right to "alter or abolish" a government. So what if the military was acting on behalf of the people?
83 AerospaceFan: This is an excuse that is often used by many tyrannical regimes, I'll grant you that. Nevertheless, it's not an excuse, used by any regime, that is a
84 Superfly: Yep, that's what it's all about. What's acceptable to the United States.
85 AerospaceFan: When it's American policy that's concerned, yes, it's quite a significant factor.[Edited 2006-10-03 07:49:59]
86 Superfly: Good thing Thailand is not at the mercy of the United States.
87 ME AVN FAN: I just do NOT understand why a regime anywhere needs to be acceptable to the USA . Many regimes are not "acceptable" in a way, but I do NOT see the U
88 DLPMMM: Bingo! According to my good friend in Thailand, this is exactly what the situation is. With respect to the "sanctions", if you look a little closer a
89 ME AVN FAN: - a kind of "Potemkinesque village facades" erected to cheat the gullible ?
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