Thai Coup Blog
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Thai army declares Wednesday holiday, markets closed
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...c=Worldupdates

Right now troops from both Sonthi and Thaksin appear to be moving inside
Bangkok. One set of troops donned yellow armbands, symbolizing the king,
though it remains unclear whose troops they are (rumor has it they belong to
Sonthi). Either way, both sides will try to capitalize on loyalty to the
throne. And the infirm king will have to speak out in defense of one side or
another. Unless Thaksin is able to reassert control and stability in the
next 24 hours, the king probably will decide that it is time for a change in
political leadership. A short, sharp moment of instability, followed by
general stability, is traditional in Thai politics.
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Like most of the previous 19 military coups since 1932, there was no
violence. Tanks surrounded Government House and apparently some newspaper
offices. All broadcasting on local TV was interrupted, and replaced by a
notice which stated the military takeover and apologised "for any
inconvenience."

In the early hours of the coup, most other communications continued
uninterrupted. But after several hours, all cable-TV broadcasts were cut,
apparently because Mr Thaksin and other Thai ministers were giving
interviews to CNN and the BBC, which are widely seen in Bangkok.

Thailand airports remained open, including the main international airport at
Bangkok.

Thailand websites including the Bangkok Post were operating under very heavy
loads as people tried to find out what was happening. The Bangkok Post
newspaper was being prepared and printed for Wednesday morning. The front
page headline was a huge, black and capitalised statement:

COUP D'ETAT

As always, local broadcast media contained no breaking updates.

Mr Thaksin said he would return to Thailand from New York. The shadowy coup
administrators said he would not be allowed to resume his post as prime
minister.

Sources told the Bangkok Post that Privy Council president Gen Prem
Tinsulananonda had tried and failed to mediate between the coup forces and
another army faction loyal to Mr Thaksin. Gen Prem was summoned to the Royal
Palace.

The whereabouts of most of the members the government were unknown. Mr
Thaksin, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Foreign Minister
Kantathi Suphamongkol were in New York. Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai
Wannasathit, the caretaker premier, was reportedly detained by the military.

Text of Official announcements:

Announcements:

The national government through the current administration has caused
conflicts and undermined the harmony of the people as never before in
history.

Each side is determined to win by any means and the discord has shown a
tendency to escalate.

Many people have been suspicious about the actions of the national
administration under a constitutional monarchy.

The country has been governed in a way as to suggest widespread corruption.
The independent agencies have been dominated by politics. The constitutional
intention has been left unserved.

This has led to political activities becoming problem-plagued on many fronts
and the situation had worsened to the point where violations against His
Majesty the King, whom the people hold in the highest regard, are in danger
of occurring. This is despite efforts by many sections of society to resolve
the problem on a continued basis. The efforts have not pacified the growing
tension, however. For this reason, the Democratic Reform Council with the
monarch as its head, which comprises the armed forces leaders and chief of
the Royal Thai Police Office, has found it imperative to seize the power of
government from this point onward. The council is steadfast in its
objective, which is not to take over the government permanently and it will
hand back the power to the people as soon as possible.

The council is committed to preserving national peace and security and to
upholding the monarchy whom we Thais hold in the highest respect.

First coup announcement:

In reference to the council's announcement of its power seizure earlier, for
the sake of peace and order to prevail in the country, the council has
imposed nationwide martial law. The council has repealed the state of
emergency declared on Sept 19 at 9.05pm. This announcement is made by Gen
Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, head of the Democratic Reform Council.

Second coup announcement:

The council has ordered that all mobilisation and movement of military
logistics and manpower be prohibited. Military personnel are absolutely not
to leave their units without permission from the council.

Third coup announcement:

1. The current constitution, drafted in 1997, is now repealed.
2. The House of Representatives, the Senate, the Cabinet and the
Constitution Court are now dissolved along with the abrogation of the
constitution.
3. The privy councillors will remain in their duty.
4. The courts of justice, except the Constitution Court, will retain their
full power to adjudicate cases according to the law and the announcements of
the council.

Update time: 02:20 am Wednesday September 2006 Thailand time.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_....php?id=113027

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