September 20, 2006 02:18 AM
Military Coup In Thailand
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin staged a coup d'etat in the Thai capital, with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra away in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Sonthi declared over army radio that Thaksin had been overthrown by the "Democratic Reform Council" because there was a need to control the political crisis for the benefit of the country.
"We want this to happen peacefully and we will return democracy as soon as possible," the announcement said.
He also said that all military units must not move from their barracks without orders from the council following reports that soldiers loyal to Thaksin would try to end the coup.
Dozens of soldiers under Sonthi's command in army tanks and trucks have seized control of Government House and television channels as all normal programmes on local television channels have been stopped and replaced with documentaries or march music in praise of King Bumiphol Adulyadej.
There were reports of shooting in some parts of the capital, especially near army camps in Chaeng Wattana, but this could not be verified.
Confusion arose after Thaksin, speaking over Channel Nine from New York, declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and transferred Sonthi to the Prime Minister's Office.
Thaksin's announcement, which was cut short, came after rumours emerged in the capital that Sonthi has ordered his army troops to be on standby for the coup d'etat.
Telephone communications in certain parts of the city were reported disconnected. CNN and BBC broadcasts in Thailand, channelled via cable television, UBC, which is the main pay TV channel, have also been disconnected.
A statement issued by Sonthi read out over army radio said the Cabinet, the 1997 Constitution, the Constitution Court and Parliament had been disbanded.
According to an army source, King Bumiphol is expected to appoint a Supreme Administration Court or Privy Council judge as the caretaker prime minister.
According to eyewitnesses, tanks could be seen in several parts of the capital although no curfew has been declared as at midnight and vehicles were still seen on the roads.
The 57-year-old Thaksin became prime minister in 2001 and was returned to power in a snap election in April 2 this year.
However, the former telecommunication billionaire has been under pressure to step down following allegations of power abuse, corruption and his tax-free sale of family-owned Shin Corporation to Singapore's Temasek Holdings early this year.
The Constitution Court had also declared the April 2 election as invalid and a new election was expected in November.
There had been a plan to stage an anti-Thaksin rally near Government House later Wednesday.
-- BERNAMA
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