# State of emergency in Bangkok. Looks like a coup
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [September 19, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281 "2006-09-19T16:33:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/1 "2006-09-19T16:33:09Z")
> [@](#):
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> hai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok amid reports of a coup attempt.
>
> Soldiers have entered Government House and tanks have moved into position around the building.
>
> Mr Thaksin, who is at the UN in New York, announced he had removed the chief of the army and had ordered troops not to “move illegally”.
> **[BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | 'Coup' sparks Thailand emergency](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5361008.stm)**
>
> Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra declares a state of emergency in Bangkok amid reports of a coup.
I’d guess there are a lot of concerned westerners on or around Khao San Road right about now.
Hopefully this calms down for the locals and visitors alike. Things can go to shit very fast in that part of the world though.
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### Author:  [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/2 "2006-09-19T16:34:55Z")
Me, I’d be trying to get to the airport for the first flight anywhere…
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/3 "2006-09-19T17:23:24Z")
Sorry I missed this earlier. Not sure I’d be that concerned as a foreigner or visitor. Thaksin is at the heart of the anti foreign movement there… if there is a change it’s probably positive.
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### Author:  [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/4 "2006-09-19T17:34:05Z")
> [@](#):
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> Thai media say that two army factions appear to be heading for a clash, with one side backing the prime minister and the other side backing military commander Lieutenant General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.
This is the kind of thing I’m talking about. It could get nasty on the streets.
I agree that ultimately this could be a positive move but in the short term it could get nasty if the army splits. Not even mentioning the whole Muslim problem down south. That’s got little to do with this but they could try to take advantage.
Lots of variables. Hopefully it’s bloodless. I love Thailand. One of my favourite places in the whole world.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/5 "2006-09-19T18:09:00Z")
Shit, just heard. [Thaivisa.com](http://Thaivisa.com) and [bangkokpost.com](http://bangkokpost.com) are down.
Being as positive as I can, this isn’t the first coup, and thankfully the military have said they want a) to be led by the king, and b) they will hand power over to “the people” soon enough. Mind you, Musharraf said that in Pakistan…
However, I agree that in the long term it’s a good thing if Thaksin is put out of the running, since he is one corrupt motherfucker.
Oh, and there was a massive series of bombs in the south yesterday. ☹
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### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/6 "2006-09-19T18:13:48Z")
Wow…good thing I put off that trip.
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### Author:  [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/7 "2006-09-19T18:14:16Z")
> [@yojimbo](#):
>
> Me, I’d be trying to get to the airport for the first flight anywhere…
This is so bizarre…my parent have been there for the last 3 weeks. They are scheduled to fly home today, so I am assuming they are on the plane, but…YIKES!!! :eek:
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### Author:  [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/8 "2006-09-19T18:18:35Z")
> [@jjimm](#):
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> a) to be led by the king,
As you well know, even better than I do, that’s somewhat of a no brainer. You’d lose the people in a heartbeat if you fucked with the royalty over there.
Looks like the coup has been quite successful, at least in the capital. It’s late over there so tomorrow will really show how the land lies.
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### Author:  [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/9 "2006-09-19T18:22:21Z")
> [@yojimbo](#):
>
> Me, I’d be trying to get to the airport for the first flight anywhere…
This does seem somewhat OTT now that I’m out of work and watching BBC I have to say. Then again a few days in Vietnam, Loas or Cambodia would be nice also 🙂
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/10 "2006-09-19T18:32:59Z")
I think it’d be fascinating to be there while it’s happening. I’m sure martial law ain’t too harsh away from the palace.
Though a curfew could kill one’s buzz on Khao San…
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### Author:  [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/11 "2006-09-19T19:13:24Z")
A member of my site is in Bangkok and has posted about what’s going on a little (thread [here](http://boards.slackercentral.com/showthread.php?t=83618)). He mentions all the TV channels being cut off, as well as access to news sites like [cnn.com](http://cnn.com). Crazyness. Makes my day seem even more mundane, if that’s possible.
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### Author:  [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/12 "2006-09-19T19:28:56Z")
It should be said that the ‘coup’ is the Thai’s favorite way to change government.
I was there, on Khao Sarn in fact, the last time this happened. They are almost always bloodless, really just a changing of the guard.
People are upset with the current corrupt government, mostly over their war on drugs, (shoot first ask questions later), and the treatment of muslim insurgents in the southern provinces. At one point Thai police rounded up hundreds of ‘insurgents’ and ‘transported’ them to interrogation camps. Problem was they all suffocated on the way.
People are outraged by this. The last election was boycotted by all the opposition parties as it was a snap election called at a time that would ensure the sitting PM would surely win.
In my case, while many westerners were freaking out (over nothing), the Thais were very circumspect, certain it would all be fine. With the exception of crowds in the streets and the odd tank, impassable roads to the airport (long delays), withing two days everything was totally back to normal.
The southern largely muslim provinces have more in common with their Malay neighbours than the Thai Buddhists. These provinces have largely been unaffected by the economic benefits development has delivered to the rest of Thailand in the last two decades.
I love Thailand and have had the good fortune to visit there many times.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/13 "2006-09-19T19:58:17Z")
> [@elbows](#):
>
> It should be said that the ‘coup’ is the Thai’s favorite way to change government.
Indeed, according to the only Bangkok Post article I’ve been able to access, Thailand has had 19 bloodless military coups since 1932.
> [@](#):
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> The southern largely muslim provinces have more in common with their Malay neighbours than the Thai Buddhists. These provinces have largely been unaffected by the economic benefits development has delivered to the rest of Thailand in the last two decades.
Thank you for portraying this in a level headed manner. I’ve seen the situation misrepresented many times on the SDMB. The Muslims aren’t blameless, but it’s not (yet) an Islamist vs. everyone else situation as often portrayed. I spend 3 months living amongst them last year, and never had any bother.
> [@](#):
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> I love Thailand and have had the good fortune to visit there many times.
Can’t say fairer than that. It’s my favourite country on earth.
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/14 "2006-09-19T21:19:43Z")
Earlier reports were unclear, but it seems now that it was the anti-Thaksin forces that have done the coup. Two of Thaksin’s high level supporters, including the Deputy Prime Minister have been arrested.
It will be interesting to see how this gets handled at the UN meeting involving heads of state. “I’m sorry, Mr. Shinawatra, we can’t seem to find your reservation”.
Also, fwiw, the most recent coup was in the early 1990s and was resolved when King Bhumipol stepped in to settle the dispute after things got violent. As a trivia point the King was born in Massachusetts and could, I suppose, claim US citizenship if things don’t work out for him there.
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### Author:  [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/15 "2006-09-19T21:55:51Z")
[From this story:](http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060919/D8K85S3O0.html)
> [@](#):
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> “We ask for the cooperation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience.”
For a coup, that’s pretty polite.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/16 "2006-09-19T22:06:43Z")
Are the sex-tourists OK?
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/17 "2006-09-19T22:09:53Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#):
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> As a trivia point the King was born in Massachusetts and could, I suppose, claim US citizenship if things don’t work out for him there.
No matter what, the king will be OK in Thailand. He’s sacred. And from personal knowledge, the Princess is an absolute star.
(Mind you, until a few years ago I would have said that about Nepal, but look what happened there.)
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/18 "2006-09-19T22:16:59Z")
> [@astro](#):
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> Are the sex-tourists OK?
They interviewed one (well, he looked like one and he was in Pat Pong) earlier on British TV. His political analysis was: “oh, I heard something was happening”.
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-looks-like-a-coup/373281/19 "2006-09-19T22:42:25Z")
> [@jjimm](#):
>
> No matter what, the king will be OK in Thailand. He’s sacred\*. And from personal knowledge, the Princess is an absolute star.
> (Mind you, until a few years ago I would have said that about Nepal, but look what happened there.)
I am sure the King will be fine. I was being facetious.
Just spoke to my wife a bit ago; she said her father is surprised there isn’t more [news on the bombing in Hat Yai](http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/09/18/1857097-ap.html). My wife’s family is from that area, and one of her uncles/cousins (Thai relationships are kind of complicated and I have trouble keeping them straight) was a governor or something like that in the area. One of her aunts passed away this week so now a lot of her immediate family will be in that area for the funeral.
\*One of the kings in the 1800s or so removed the sacred part, allegedly because his wife drowned when no one deigned touch her to save her when she fell in some water. So not quite sacred, but maybe universally revered is the right word.