Tanks

[Guest]

Japanese embassy have apparently advised the japanese in Thailand to go back to Japan .

Apparently the coup leaders are advising a curfew in Bangkok of 8 pm for thai citizens .

Asoke junction has soldiers at the corners with guns , but still traffic is flowing .

All banks are closed also apparently .

Cant confirm this just what my thai girl has told me .

[kahuna]

The piece I read stated that the "new" military

govenment has declared Wednesday a holiday
and that all banks and goverment offices would
be closed.  But apparently just for the one day.

It was also reported that there were soldiers on
the streets with weapons.  But they are all ready
all over the airport.

All things are dynamic (ever changing)...but there is some truth to the tired old adage,

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

[Tomcat]

(stogie bear @ Sep. 20 2006,13:02) My God... the world is run by fucking loons and idiots!  

Absolutely, i cant agree more. Most politicians in the west seem to live in Ivory Towers and dont really have a clue what goes on at ground level....they just have advisors who have advisors ....Its probably true that you are better of listening to CNN...

A good idea would be to make some of these clowns go and live in a Mumbai slum for a month.....

Back to the subject in hand... i was in Thailand at the time of the last coup. It was back to normal pretty soon ( after the Army had roughed up a few Commies and other assorted goons with loudhalers).

[nemrod]

(stogie bear @ Sep. 20 2006,11:48) But, as ever, TIT! This is Thailand and nothing really changes and no-one really wants it to...

Last news and in comments in "The Nation"The Nation:Business reaction: Minimal economic impact 'if no violence'

Benefits seen from end to divisiveness, calls for interim govt to be named
As I say before:"bussiness as usual"

[Mai-Kee]

As far as I can see from the distance, this seems to be so far the best planned coup ever in Thailand    - obviously backed by the very top - it was time to get rid of this moron who's pure existence was a slap in the face of every Thai citizen - unfortunately it always takes a while to realize for most people. Anyway, let's hope that there will be no counterstrike...

MK
PS: I wonder if there is a kind of relaxation center& health spa for all those Marcos, Suhartos, Berlusconis and Thaksins somewhere near Crawford, Texas?? I mean there must be a place for a little chit-chat among buddies somewhere on this planet?!  

[Guest]

Please forgive me posting something here that I previously posted on another (vastly less intelligent) board, but it is certainly pertinent and I think many members would be interested, so.......


Wednesday, 6:00 pm


I just got back from finding out what is actually going on in the streets here in Bangkok today. The quick answer is.....

not a heck of a lot.

I pretty much covered the city from Ekamai all the way out Sathorn to the river and then up to the government area around Chitlada Palace. Traffic was blessedly lighter than usual, roughly what one might expect on a Sunday afternoon, but the city was anything but deserted.

Other than the odd sight of two army trucks with perhaps thirty troops in full battle dress parked on Soi Thonglor at the entry to soi 21, where there is a small collection of presumably ultra hip clubs patronized solely by young Thais, there wasn't the slightest sign of any military presence anywhere. Nothing in Sukhumvit; nothing in Sathorn; nothing in Silom. The Emporium and Siam Paragon were both open and operating normally, as were most smaller stores and street vendors. None of the embassies on Wireless or Sathorn showed any visible signs of unusual security.

Among the government offices in the old part of the city, the story was a little different. There are a few troops here and there at major intersections, mostly standing in two's and three's, looking bored and scratching their bums. Occasionally a humvee or APC could be seen parked at the curb and I saw three police traffic control boxes that were being operated by the military.

But here is the most interesting thing I saw. Chitlada Palace is quite and unprotected other than for the usual ceremonial guards. Tourists are posing for pictures in front of the gates and joggers are circling the walk out beyond the moat. The Ministry of Defense complex has only the usual handful of sleepy guards posted in front. None of the other government buildings show any sign of military activity at all.

By contrast to all of this, General Prem's house near the palace is sealed off behind a two block perimeter by a dozen or more tanks, heavily armed troops, several APC's, and the occasional .50 caliber set up in the streets. No other military activity going on out there compares even remotely to the concentration of force being used to protect General Prem.

Now whatever could that mean?

[katoeylover]

Nice report with pics on Stickman's site:

http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/StickmanSpecial.htm

[Guest]

Just saw on the tube that the King endorses the coup leader. New PM will be installed within 2 weeks, but elections put off for a year.

[Guest]

this will have to go down as the smoothest first day of a military coup ever. The general has appointed himself as PM for two weeks until successor named (who?). assured all international agreements will remain in place. they must have a banker on the advisory team. last 3 weeks there has been a huge inflow of foreign funds into the markets in thailand, so good move to minimize visible, tourist-alarming, tanks / guns / soldier. I think the financial community has already moved on, baht barely moved off its 37.7 level (still praying for 40, but........), but will have to see once the stock exchange opens and how the US-traded thai funds move. Of course, one slip and everything could become burning shite in no time. I heard there was some activity moving stuff out of the PM's residence over the weekend??? life goes on though, what a place!

[stogie bear]

TiT - This is Thailand. Nothing changes for you and me and little Nok with the corner shop!

[stogie bear]

(gsr911 @ Sep. 20 2006,20:32) Just saw on the tube that the King endorses the coup leader.

I very much doubt that. Certainly the King would NEVER make a public statement to that effect.

It's interesting that the Thais in general have embraced this coup and are anticipating change for the better and all the other usual busybodys and experts (EU etc) are condemning it as dangerous or unstable!

[kahuna]

From Reuters about an hour ago:

Asked if he had the backing of the palace, Sonthi told reporters: "No, we had no supporters. We made the decision by ourselves."

[daveduke007]

Thaksin will be in London today

[Snick]

The king would never endorse a coup, but he can decide to not make any negative comments about it.

[Guest]

But it appears that indeed he has endorsed it, at least its leadership. Our new Committee of Whatever the Heck It Is is even referring to the King as its leader. Check the wire services. They're all carrying it.

Doesn't it strike you that the King moved awfully fast here? Gee, it's almost like he knew in advance, isn't it?

But of course that couldn't be.........