19 September 2006
Coup topples Thaksin
The government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a bloodless coup, marking the culmination of months of political tension and instability, characterised by massive street protests, the dissolution of parliament, a nullified election and increasingly acerbic sparring between the Thaksin camp and its vociferous critics.
The coup was launched as Thaksin was in New York to deliver a speech to the UN. As tanks rolled through the streets of Bangkok, a desperate call from Thaksin in New York was broadcast on state television, announcing a state of emergency in the capital. Thaksin ordered troops not to move ‘illegally’ and announced coup leader army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin had been removed. But his attempts to counter the coup were futile. The military easily secured control of key locations in the capital and interned senior cabinet members, and Thaksin’s broadcast was abruptly cut off the air. The ousted premier remained in exile following the putsch.
Led by Gen Sonthi, the coup leaders set up a junta under the name of the Council for National Security and threw out the 1997 Constitution. The leaders of the armed forces justified the coup, which broke 14 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, by saying it was necessary to end corruption and defend the monarchy.
Plenty of people in the capital welcomed the troops—many with yellow ribbons tied to their guns or tank turrets, symbolising their loyalty to the monarchy.
The junta nominated Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont, a retired general, to be interim prime minister on October 1, after creating a temporary constitution that granted amnesty to the junta and their collaborators.
19 September 2006
Coup topples Thaksin
The government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a bloodless coup, marking the culmination of months of political tension and instability, characterised by massive street protests, the dissolution of parliament, a nullified election and increasingly acerbic sparring between the Thaksin camp and its vociferous critics.
The coup was launched as Thaksin was in New York to deliver a speech to the UN. As tanks rolled through the streets of Bangkok, a desperate call from Thaksin in New York was broadcast on state television, announcing a state of emergency in the capital. Thaksin ordered troops not to move ‘illegally’ and announced coup leader army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin had been removed. But his attempts to counter the coup were futile. The military easily secured control of key locations in the capital and interned senior cabinet members, and Thaksin’s broadcast was abruptly cut off the air. The ousted premier remained in exile following the putsch.
Led by Gen Sonthi, the coup leaders set up a junta under the name of the Council for National Security and threw out the 1997 Constitution. The leaders of the armed forces justified the coup, which broke 14 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, by saying it was necessary to end corruption and defend the monarchy.
Plenty of people in the capital welcomed the troops—many with yellow ribbons tied to their guns or tank turrets, symbolising their loyalty to the monarchy.
The junta nominated Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont, a retired general, to be interim prime minister on October 1, after creating a temporary constitution that granted amnesty to the junta and their collaborators.