BANGKOK – The Thai military launched a coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday, circling his offices with tanks, seizing control of television stations and declaring a provisional authority loyal to the king.
An announcement on national television and radio stations declared that a ‘Council of Administrative Reform’ with King Bhumibol Adulyadej as head of state had seized power without any resistance. An army general said troops were moved from the western province of Kanchanaburi to stage the coup.Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, the general said they were led by Army Commander-in-Chief General Sondhi Boonyaratkalin.He said the coup makers arrested Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit and Defence Minister Thammarak Isaragura na Ayuthaya – two close loyalists of Thaksin – and that Chitchai agreed to resign.In a vain attempt to stave off the coup, Thaksin had ordered Sondhi to report to Chitchai immediately, effectively dismissing him from his military duties.Thaksin told of his move when he declared a state of emergency in Bangkok at 09h15 local time, when he spoke on TV Channel 9 by audio from New York.The coup went largely unnoticed in Thailand’s popular tourist districts, where foreigners packed beer bars and cabarets oblivious to the activity about three kilometres away.But word raced among street vendors hawking T-shirts, who packed up their carts quickly and started heading home.The move came a day before a major rally – the first in several months – was to be staged in Bangkok by an anti-Thaksin coalition which has been seeking his resignation for alleged corruption and abuse of power.Nampa-APAn army general said troops were moved from the western province of Kanchanaburi to stage the coup. Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, the general said they were led by Army Commander-in-Chief General Sondhi Boonyaratkalin.He said the coup makers arrested Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit and Defence Minister Thammarak Isaragura na Ayuthaya – two close loyalists of Thaksin – and that Chitchai agreed to resign.In a vain attempt to stave off the coup, Thaksin had ordered Sondhi to report to Chitchai immediately, effectively dismissing him from his military duties.Thaksin told of his move when he declared a state of emergency in Bangkok at 09h15 local time, when he spoke on TV Channel 9 by audio from New York.The coup went largely unnoticed in Thailand’s popular tourist districts, where foreigners packed beer bars and cabarets oblivious to the activity about three kilometres away.But word raced among street vendors hawking T-shirts, who packed up their carts quickly and started heading home.The move came a day before a major rally – the first in several months – was to be staged in Bangkok by an anti-Thaksin coalition which has been seeking his resignation for alleged corruption and abuse of power.Nampa-AP
