Settle down, Master Cedric. One coup per 24 hours is enough, thankyouverymuch. ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Cedric
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Settle down, Master Cedric. One coup per 24 hours is enough, thankyouverymuch. ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Cedric
BKK post seems to have lost all coup news?
Boygeenyus..
Congratulations for being free of a corrupt dictator was has already set the country back 15 years, who should have booted out of Bangkok a long time ago.Quote:
CONGRATULATIONS? For what?
I believe the Thai economy will survive this transition to freedom just fine.
As far as the international community is concerned...we're all fucked up anyway.
Daily Telegraph, By Damien McElroy, (Filed: 20/09/2006)
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King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest serving monarch, is a near-sacred figure in Thailand, renowned for his delicate handling of internal turmoil. In his 60-year reign, he has seen 17 military coups, 20 different prime ministers, and 15 constitutions. The Thai constitution grants very little formal power to the monarch but King Bhumibol exercises enormous moral authority based on the devotion he inspires in his subjects.
Rumours of a coup have circulated in Bangkok for months. All discussion about its chances of success have revolved around the attitude of the monarch.
King Bhumipol sealed his place in his people's affections in 1992 when he called the leaders of a military junta and the pro-democracy movement to his Bangkok palace. The meeting, in which both sides paid homage to the monarch, took place at a critical moment as middle-class protests filled Bangkok's streets. Grainy pictures of the audience became the defining image of an Asian ''tiger nation" joining the modern world. A caretaker government in civilian hands was established and democracy restored within months.
Cracks in the facade of democracy have been apparent all year. Junior members of the royal family, possibly even Queen Sirikit, are known to be hostile to the populist prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. He transcended humble roots to build a media empire and then the country's most powerful political base.
An attempted putsch against Mr Thaksin's administration in April fell apart after King Bhumibol indicated it did not have his support. Thailand has been in political crisis since January when Mr Thaksin sold his family business and avoided paying taxes on the deal.
The 78-year-old Bhumibol became the ninth king of Thailand's Chakri dynasty on June 9, 1946, succeeding his older brother, Ananda, killed in an unexplained shooting. After the absolute monarchy of Siam was deposed in 1932, the King grew up in semi-exile in Switzerland, a fun-loving young man with a taste for fast cars and jazz. He still retains an enthusiasm for playing the saxophone.
His relentless travel throughout Thailand and a strong personal interest in rural development increased his public profile and won him lasting admiration. Photographs of the king hang in most Thai homes and businesses.
King Bhumibol has supported and thwarted coups during his reign. One of his honorific titles is Great Strength of the Land. It is an appellation he has had to earn in each decade of his reign.
His first major test came in 1957 when he tacitly supported army chief Sarit Thanarat's takeover. Gen Sarit worked closely with the monarch to launch economic reforms. For five years, a government propaganda campaign portrayed the monarch as the symbol of the nation.
A border dispute with Cambodia in which Gen Sarit refused to yield a temple, provided an excuse to depose the junta leader, who was so corrupt he was said to support a harem of 100 wives.
The king chose a government of technocrats to succeed the general. The period was dominated by Thailand's alliance with the US, which granted enormous amounts of military aid in return for maintaining bases there during the Vietnam war. A period of further instability in the late 1970s gave way to relative stability in the 1980s, when a favourite of the monarch was prime minister for eight years.
His defeat in 1988 led to a new military regime that was toppled in 1992 when the king responded to the street protests. Once again, the nation's democratic future hangs on a subtle signal from he palace.
9:50 am A source in New York tells a radio programme that Thaksin is considering whether to go to England or not.
The Nation
Sonthi
"We have seized power. The constitution, the senate, the house of representatives, the cabinet and the constitutional court have all been terminated," he said.
"We agreed that the caretaker prime minister has caused an unprecedented rift in society, widespread corruption, nepotism, and interfered in independent agencies, crippling them so they cannot function.
"If the caretaker government is allowed to govern it will hurt the country.
"They have also repeatedly insulted the king. Thus the council needed to seize power to control the situation, to restore normality and to create unity as soon as possible."
BBC
10:40 am A spokesman of the AMC announces on TV pool that AMC invites students to take part in political reform. The spokesman says Gen Sonthi invites students to send suggestions on political reform to the AMC.
10:42 am A spokesman announces on TV pool that the AMC realises the problem of farmers and is considering how to help them so they should not demonstrate now.
10:45 am An AMC spokeswoman announces on TV pool that the AMC will take drastic action against any trader who hoard goods.
The spokeswoman also announces that the political gathering of more than five people is banned.
10:52 am An AMC spokesman reads an order of AMC leader Gen Sonthi for the Information and Communication Technology Ministry to check and censor any type of information dissemination that could affect the works of the AMC.
I am having real problems accessing the board and have only managed to get here by the most circuitous route. It's also, for some reason taking an age to load. However, as I probably only have one chance to post I wanted to send my best wishes to all board members currently residing or visiting Thailand during the coup. I have not been able to read anything but one page of one topic so I don't know how you are bearing up. I just wish all members of the board the very best and I hope over the next few weeks everyone stays safe and well. Kindest regards Bob.
Congratulations, Thailand. You are lucky to have such well meaning people watching out for you. Hopefully a path back to normalcy can be found very quickly.
My sentiments exactly Bob. It is unclear if this board will live out the coup, here's hoping. But so far no sites have been affected, more than is usual anyway.
Cedric
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Anti Taksin demonstrators celebrate