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- Regions: United States , Thailand , Singapore
 | Thailand's Thaksin Had Clashed With King | Associated Press | Wed Sep 20 | 1 |
 | Muslim Coup Leader Sondhi Says Government Corrupt | Bloomberg.com | Wed Sep 20 | 2 |
| Thai Coup Leaders Tighten Controls | Associated Press | Thu Sep 21 | 1 |
| Military Leader: Thai Coup Was Necessary | Associated Press | Tue Sep 19 | 10 |
| Thai Leader Says No Elections for a Year | Associated Press | Wed Sep 20 | 2 |
- Public Discussion (26)
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{"commentId":296967,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
More info: http://www.2bangkok.com/highemer.shtml
{"commentId":296967,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
- 1 vote
#1 - Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:38 PM EDT{"commentId":296999,"authorDomain":"listenup"}
The PM of Thailand is a corrupt man. My dad, who is from Thailand, tells me stories of how he's draining the economy and how he breaks the laws. I hope this turns out okay.
{"commentId":296999,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"listenup"}
- 4 votes
#2 - Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:02 PM EDT{"commentId":297060,"authorDomain":"lankafool"}
Why do those in rural areas support him then? Are they simply misinformed on his policies?
(Note: I'm not asking you as a challenge to your statement, as is often done on Newsvine, I'm asking because I know nothing of the Thai government)
{"commentId":297060,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"lankafool"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":297306,"authorDomain":"vvv"}
First, the rural population is not well educated and second, they tend to vote on whom they are told to vote on. In those places, the village chief receives money from the Thai Rahk Thai party in exchange for votes. Of course, it's put more subtly than that, but that's what it boils down to. To keep his income steady, he orders anyone wanting to loan money to vote TRT.
Furthermore, Thaksin (or Toxin as he's also called) runs a populist campaign by literally handing out cash to his supporters. Unfortunately they don't seem to realize that a 1000-baht bill doesn't go all long way to alleviate their poverty but it looks good at the moment. And, it's more than other parties are doing. The Democratic Party lacks structure and purpose and don't come with sound alternatives. At the end of the day, the people tend to choose "the devil they know."
I live in Bangkok and the streets seem a bit quieter than normal but you wouldn't have guessed that a coup d'etat is happening.
{"commentId":297306,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"vvv"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":297087,"authorDomain":"rimuladas"}
...ask your pardon for the inconvenience
ahahahhahahahhahahahahha Pardon us why we take over your government.
{"commentId":297087,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"rimuladas"}
- 5 votes
#3 - Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:53 PM EDT{"commentId":298485,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}
I think it's more like "pardon us while we save your country."
{"commentId":298485,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":297114,"authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}
I think that the military in Thailand have a keen sense of responsibility towards the people, more so than the politicians. They react to excessive graft from time to time. I was in Ko samet when there was some sort of massive powershift in the Govt. Certain people had been carving up the national parks and developing them and the armed forces came in and booted everyone out. (I hid in the trees)
The people have respect for the military and the military respect the people as far as I could make out, (I was there for months)
I doubt there will be any real effect on tourism. Thai's are too tolerant generally. I know theres been some outbreaks in the south and some pretty heavy military reaction to that but all it took was the King, (who everybody deeply loves) to notice and say 'cool it' and everyone did.
{"commentId":297114,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}
- 3 votes
#4 - Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:09 PM EDT{"commentId":297169,"authorDomain":"tang"}
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is not a career politician, he is a telecommunications mogul-turned politician. Much of his campaign platform was based on the idea that he would govern Thailand as he would manage an efficient company, improving the country's economic position after the Asian financial crisis, etc. Having built the country's largest mobile operator, he is akin to their version of Craig McCaw. To his credit, Thailand's economy has been white hot over the majority of his reign. He has mostly fallen short on his attempts to control the violence in the South of Thailand and other security issues - where his hardball tactics earned him the disdain of the King of Thailand.
I'm no expert, but I did some work in and around Thailand for several years, prior to founding Newsvine.
{"commentId":297169,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"tang"}
- 9 votes
{"commentId":298486,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}
Calvin, thanks for the clarification on Thaksin.
{"commentId":298486,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}
{"commentId":297143,"authorDomain":"200MilesUp"}
Oh God! Another coup, another set of military idiots submerge democracy. Let's see what the "democracy"-spreading Bush administration will do now.
{"commentId":297143,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"200MilesUp"}
- 2 votes
#5 - Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:36 PM EDT{"commentId":297162,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Hetep and Respect Good Spirits Oluseye, didn't we just have one of those coup things over here in America. It is the funnest thing, I woke up one day and we had a King again. Oddly enough his name was George like the first guy.
{"commentId":297162,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":297241,"authorDomain":"prez"}
A senior army general, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said the armed forces chiefs were meeting with the king to discuss forming an interim government, suggesting it would probably be led by civilians.
Maybe you should read before opening your mouth. And perhaps keep your disdain for Bush in articles that are even remotely relevant.
{"commentId":297241,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"prez"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":297363,"authorDomain":"200MilesUp"}
Matt, please reassure me that you didn't just reveal your ignorance of what democracy is. A democracy is not a system where Generals get to decide who rules. Civil rule is NOT democracy. You don't know this?
In any case Bush's democracy spreading policy is very relevant in this case. The US policy for at least 30 years has been to oppose military interventions in (even partly) democratic climes.
It couldn't be more relevant but I guess I can't count on you to make an assessment based on fact or reality.
{"commentId":297363,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"200MilesUp"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":297565,"authorDomain":"prez"}
It couldn't be more relevant but I guess I can't count on you to make an assessment based on fact or reality.
Ironic coming from someone jumping in to harp on the Bush administration.
{"commentId":297565,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"prez"}
{"commentId":297610,"authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}
Doubly ironic coming from someone who is yet to make any sense in this thread.
{"commentId":297610,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":297840,"authorDomain":"200MilesUp"}
The only thing relevant here to Matt is what he agrees with.
{"commentId":297840,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"200MilesUp"}
{"commentId":299390,"authorDomain":"ISPY"}
In Thailand they Have a wonderful Monarchy headed by His Majesty King Bhumibol and this is what hold the Thai's together. Dont worry Oluseye Bassir this is just how they do thing in Thailand. H.M. King Bhumibol is revered and adored by his subjects not simply because he is Monarch but because he has earned the respect of the nation (and also many foreign nationals who reside as guests in his Kingdom). Now the longest reigning Sovereign in the world, King Bhumibol has been a guiding light and steadying hand for his people.
{"commentId":299390,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"ISPY"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":297279,"authorDomain":"vvv"}
I live in Bangkok myself and the move is welcomed by a lot of my (educated) Thai friends. They all regard Thaksin (or Toxin, as he's also called) as a leech draining the country of its finances and only looking after his friends and family (promoting them to high positions). The streets are quieter than normal but nothing seems out of the ordinary. Television channels such as BBC News and CNN are cut off, and Thai channels only show a notice in Thai. People don't seem to be overly concerned though.
The reason why Thaksin is so popular in the poor rural areas is because of the populist policies of handing out cash to people. They don't seem to realize that it only alleviates their poverty by a week and that nothing he's doing is long term. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party does not come with sound alternatives and the Thai tend to vote for the "devil they know."
{"commentId":297279,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"vvv"}
- 2 votes
#6 - Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:07 PM EDT{"commentId":297338,"authorDomain":"profuzion"}
Ok, I have a question
I was planning on buying 2 plane tickets to Bangkok this week for a trip at the end of October for about 10 days (We have never been)
Is it going to be safe to take a trip to Bangkok during this time?
Should I hold off on the trip and wait for another date?
Am I still goiong to be able to stay at certain hotels for $5 a night?
{"commentId":297338,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"profuzion"}
{"commentId":297527,"authorDomain":"listenup"}
My dad told me the PM's sister is the second wealthiest person in Thailand. I also think it's policy for the PM to drop connections to any business he has when he enters the position...something Thaksin did not do.
{"commentId":297527,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"listenup"}
{"commentId":297506,"authorDomain":"Paradox460"}
Great, more civil uproar in the world.
{"commentId":297506,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"Paradox460"}
#7 - Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:40 PM EDT{"commentId":298002,"authorDomain":"guyco"}
what the hell is going on there?
{"commentId":298002,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"guyco"}
#8 - Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:40 AM EDT{"commentId":298405,"authorDomain":"lankafool"}
he's draining the economy
To his credit, Thailand's economy has been white hot over the majority of his reign.
I'm confused.
{"commentId":298405,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"lankafool"}
#9 - Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:15 PM EDT{"commentId":298490,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}
I think the problem here is that while Thailand's economy has taken off since he took power, he is benefitting personally from shady investments that he has made in the name of his country. His gains were ill-gotten.
{"commentId":298490,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":299463,"authorDomain":"listenup"}
The Thai government had to purchase some type of airport security from the US government; the trade could only be done between the two governments, no private parties. The PM bought this security for 18 million, then turned around and sold it to the Thai government for 40 million. He has repeatedly done this with similar deals.
{"commentId":299463,"threadId":"43136","contentId":"367324","authorDomain":"listenup"}
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