http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/20Sep2006_news006.php
COUP D'ETAT
Armed forces and national police take over government / Martial law imposed,
constitution abrogated, cabinet dissolved / Unprecedented division in the
country cited as main reason
POST REPORTERS
An M41 tank loyal to army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin rolls into the
city near the Sanam Sua Pa at 10pm last night. - PHONGTHAI WATTANAVANITVUT
Troops loyal to army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin last night staged a coup
d'etat to oust caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was in New York
and due to address the United Nations General Assembly.
The coup makers called themselves the Democratic Reform Council, led by Gen
Sonthi. In an announcement flashed across national television, they said they
comprised the commanders of the three armed forces and the national police
chief.
A tank and troops move to the Royal Plaza to stage a coup against the
government of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night. -
Pattarachai Preechapanich
The council cited unprecedented division in the country, widespread suspicion
of abuse of power, and activities bordering on lese majeste for taking power
for a period they promised would be temporary.
Tanks and troops of the Fourth Cavalry Battalion moved into Government House
and other strategic points in Bangkok, including the Royal Plaza.
Troops guard the headquarters of iTV television station. - Tawatchai
Kemgumnerd
The coup came after Mr Thaksin declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.
In a statement relayed from New York and carried by Channel 9, he sacked the
army chief and put the armed forces supreme commander, Gen Ruengroj
Mahasaranont, in charge of enforcing the state of emergency. Both were to
report to Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister whom Mr
Thaksin named as acting prime minister.
The council said it had the situation under control and there was no
resistance.
As of press time, it was not known how long the council would remain in power
and when it would appoint an interim government.
The council revoked the State of Emergency declared by Mr Thaksin and imposed
martial law at around 12.30.
Shortly afterwards, the council abrogated the 1997 constitution, dissolved the
Constitution Court, the caretaker government and the Senate.
The council was reported to be based at army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Nok
avenue.
The council was reported to have blocked the website of a so-called fake media
outlet calling itself The Reporter.
Mr Thaksin's statement was relayed at about 10.20 pm but was disrupted around
10 minutes later.
Sources later told the Bangkok Post that troops had burst into the offices of
Channel 9 and told the station officers to stop running the statement.
Sources said Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday tried to
mediate between troops loyal to the army chief and another army faction loyal
to Mr Thaksin.
During the talks, Gen Prem was reported to have been summoned to the Royal
Palace. Nothing more was known.
The council leaders were also summoned to the palace late last night.
Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Foreign Minister Kantathi
Suphamongkol were all in New York with Mr Thaksin.
Prime Minister's Office Minister Newin Chidchob, Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra
and her son Panthongtae left for Singapore at about 9.00 pm.
Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid
Jatusripitak are currently in France, and are likely to postpone their return.
Pol Gen Chidchai, Defence Minister Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya, Deputy
Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, Social Welfare Minister Wattana Muangsuk,
PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva were reportedly at home at the time.
A cabinet source said the armed forces and police decided to stage the coup to
avert a possible clash between an anti-Thaksin rally that the People's Alliance
for Democracy planned to stage today, and members of the forestry police.
The source said the forestry police based at Khao Yai National Park were due to
move into Bangkok today to quash the PAD-led protests.
The forestry police are equipped with HK 33 rifles and well trained for
confrontations with the protesters.
The army last month asked the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Department to return around 1,000 rifles, which were loaned to forest rangers
several years ago. But Gen Sonthi at the time downplayed the political
implications of a plan to take back of the rifles, saying the army was in dire
need of weapons.
The source said several cabinet ministers had been alerted about the coup
yesterday afternoon and many started to pack their belongings and left their
offices for good.
In New York, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee denied the coup had been
successful, saying the seizure of TV station headquarters did not guarantee its
success. Seizing power by means of a coup was no longer acceptable in the
modern world.
He said the coup makers comprised people losing power and benefits but he
refused to be specific. Mr Surapong denied the coup had anything to do with the
military reshuffle, saying consideration of the reshuffle list had not been on
Mr Thaksin's recent agenda.
He said Pol Gen Chidchai was not under arrest, as rumoured, because he had just
spoken to him on the phone.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is poised to face mass selling in today's
trading amid fears that there could be a counter coup by supporters of Mr
Thaksin, analysts said.
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