Tanks

[katoeylover]

Not at 4am, it isnt.

[Napalm]

IIts only tem to eleven in Dublin but we ain't got no Nana plz...

[vangough05]

amen to Nana being open. Pitty i can''t get a flight from Australia to day. All flights to Thailand from Australia have been suspended untill further notice acording to Austtalian news bullitens.

[LBloom]

Hi All,  

This is to keep all you guys in LOS up-to-date on how the coup is being reported in case you cannot get western news.

Both CNN and the BBC are putting a quite positive spin on the coup - saying such things as: (1) Thaksin was corrupt and using office to amass huge fortune (a la Berlosconi in Italy) ; (2) Thaksin undermining democracy by control of media, etc (also a la Berlosconi); (3) There was political stalemate since inconclusive April elections; (4) Thaksin undermining army by placing his inexperienced men in charge (rxpharm mentioned this in an earlier post); (5) The coup leaders have promised to hand over to a democratically elected government soon and (6) the army generals leading the coup have are close to the king.  Only down-side being mentioned is some tut-tutting about how coups are bad for democracy!!  Clear from above who's side Anglo-American establishment is on.

However, Euronews in its usual dry (but more fact-driven way) has mentioned the possibility of factions within army supporting Thaksin.  If this happens then it could get very nasty.

How do you guys in LOS see this one panning out, especially some of you who have been around a while like nemrod?  It seems to me that key will be what Thaksin will do - my sense of the guy is that he is a good businesman but not very bright and definitely not a stateman.  He is also ruthless.  The question is will  he challenge the generals directly or take the more indirect Thai way? Naturally, I hope the latter.  We can also hope that the King will exercise his stabilising influence like he has in the past.

Loking forward to hearing from you on this one.

Keep safe

LBloom

[Guest]

How important is Thailand to US  television news stations?

I just monitored  ABC, NBC and CBS during their 6:30pm national news.

 Time mentioned on;  ABC; 6:38
                                  NBC; 6:51
                                  CBS; No mention..... Katie had other shit to talk about for some reason

  seems not too important....some other lame crap were mentioned way ahead of this story

[Guest]

(JaiDee @ Sep. 19 2006,18:54) How important is Thailand to US television news stations?

Interesting question, Jai Dee. I haven't watched any television coverage of the coup over here in the U.S., but I've been following it online -- mostly BBC, CNN and the NY Times. I've also been able to get to the Bangkok Post's web site without too many problems today. CNN incidentally, has had it as their top story on the web site for much of the afternoon here.

But speaking as someone who was in the news business for some years, broadcast news tends to get boiled down to two factors (aside from ratings): timeliness and the availability of video -- I'm sure if there had been video of bloody fighting in the streets of BKK, even Katie would have been reporting on it as the lead story. Since it's a bloodless coup -- no big deal, from a TV news standpoint.

Still, one would think it would at least bear mentioning. The U.S. has a lot of economic interests in Thailand (like Ford, for example) and historically, they are have been an important ally in that immediate region for years -- Thailand even contributed troops to the war in Afghanistan.

But, on an esoteric (fancy word for "offtopic") note, I suppose it just goes to show how the Internet has changed the face of news gathering and dissemination -- it never even occurred to me to turn on the TV when I first heard about it. Which, ironically enough, was from a travel agent, whom I had asked to price some flights to the PI and Thailand ... d'oh!

[rossi]

It was the first item on the BBC News at 10:00pm this evening and was top item on the BBC news website when I checked just after 5pm (UK time). Contrast between BBC approach and some US stations I guess.

Suggestion from what I have seen that Taksin may not be allowed to return to Thailand just yet?

Army spokesman says the government and constitution have been suspended - they have met with the King. Government says they are still in control and the coup will fail.

Oh and British Foreign Office advises Britons to stay away from demonstrations and large crowds (does NEP count as the latter?)

[Guest]

Forgot to mention, I had lunch today at a local Thai place (here in the States), and the Thai owner hadn't even heard about it yet. It's a nice place -- sit down, full bar, great food (and they don't make the food farang-safe, if you ask them), but the owner keeps the tv turned on behind the bar all day -- how Asian

Anyway, when we sat down, he came up to our table -- we're regulars -- and we asked him if he had heard the news, and he thought at first we were talking about the space shuttle's delay! About that time, CNN finally got some coverage on the tv, and by the time we left he had got up to speed, called his family and friends back in Thailand, etc. (got through on a land line -- guess that service hadn't been shut down yet). He seemed to think it was no big deal ; at least that was the face he was putting on for his regular patrons. And he made it clear that he didn't think much of PM Thaksin (sp?) Didn't say it in so many words, but took it from his tone when he explained that many Thais were unhappy with the PM that he felt it was good riddance to bad rubbish ...

[gunslinger]

That Delia on CNN, the religious issues correspondent is worth a squirt

[Guest]

(gunslinger @ Sep. 19 2006,23:25) Reuters: Witness says 10 tanks seen heading for central Bangkok, Thailand,.rumours of a possible coup

.Military media playing songs usuallly used in previous coup attempts

PM declares state of emergency

Some of those soldiers are future ladies !

[thaibound]

american financial news today:

"Fast Money" on msnbc referred to thailand as 'meaningless' with regard to world markets and/or the american financial market. One analyst said the only effect would be a doubling of the price for the chinese fingerlock gag gift. (Bad joke by rich white republican.) When another mentioned a potential currency play as sometimes the yen corrects any major fluctuation in the 'minor asian currencies' the others pretty much scoffed.

So much for sensitive american news reporting.

I will confess that if i can get 45 baht to the $usd tomorrow, i'm gonna buy a bunch to have standing by for my return to LOS.

Meantime, hope all stays safe in nana. And pattaya. And soi bangla. And...

[Bit Beefy]

ok, i arrive in a few days, do i give bkk a wide birth and head strait to Pattaya or is it business as usual there?

[Snick]

I'll let you know Beefster

[daveduke007]

The boss will sort it out ( i.e. The KING ) if it gets out of hand

[Randyman]

Coup Schmooo;

Those tanks are there because they know Beefy's coming to town ....... lock and load.

RM