Military Coup in Thailand 2006

[Storekeeper]

Asia Bugle Extra

"Needless to say unless you have been down a deep drain, or underwater, you will know what has been happening in Thailand . Wacky Tacky has gone and now resides in the United Kingdom of asylum seekers and economic refugees. Hopefully in the former capacity although I am sure the DSS will provide a little assistance should the costs of a 3 million quid pad on Marloes Road prove too much. Good location midway between Earls Court and High Street Ken: depending upon whether you want to have fun or be smart. Not a bad boozer down the road: the Devonshire Arms, although there are better pubs near by if you know where!

WT will no doubt be unhappy to hear that a recent opinion poll in Bangkok suggested that over 80% thought the coup was a good thing. Making the coup as near as it can be 'democratic.' Of course history, if we are prepared to look at it, will tell us that so called Democracy as advocated by Western politicians is not so easy outside Europe. History might even suggest it is an abject failure in the vast majority of third World countries it has been tried in. Dare I mention Africa .............. But one thing Democracy requires is the integrity and impartiality of the institution that control it: when they get subverted, by a rogue politician, the options to remove that person become very limited. There were suggestions here that WT was about to try to take total control: as his friends in Burma have. True or false it was a frightening scenario.(See article below)

Anyway the reason for this extra epistle is to assure all of you who do not live here that nothing has changed: accept maybe for the better! As far as I can see the bars are opening later and the girls are still as friendly as ever.

There is little doubt this coup along with bomb in the south will put off travellers this high season. Well the bombs are still only in the South and things are getting better in the main tourist areas with bars opening till late and the girls still need funds. So this is an excellent time to visit and support the LOS."

[ceburat]

SK.
Most of the educated classes here are delighted with what happened.
This was the only way to get rid of a man who spent most of his election campaigns walking round villages handing out money to buy himself a vote.

My wife's family is a prime example. They don't read newspapers, watch only soap operas on tv, are a million miles from anywhere, had never heard of the shincorps deal, their only contact with the pm was the loan (not gift) they received from the pm for their village. They are typical of much of rural Thailand. This couldn't be allowed to continue. It was divisive and probably illegal, certainly taking the piss big time.

This coup was absolutely necessary in order to restore a real democracy. The constitution needs to be changed to prevent someone like Taksin with his conflicting interests taking the piss again.

I agree 100%.

[Little Chuchok]

ok, so say the next elected government also buys votes, is corrupt, but they look after the educated people and don't give a toss about the majority uneducated rural population.Would anybody care then?

Do you really think that a new government will be that much different? Or will the scale of corruption be a little less, so it all seems ok.

[Storekeeper]

LC,

Don't try to make any sense of it all. I'm convinced large quantities of drugs and alcohol will help my disposition when I get to Thailand In March.

[Camel Toe]

There's something about a national leader dressed in combat clothing that turns some people off. He's standing at attention in front of his overly decorated military aids with their tanks and artillery, telling everyone everything will be OK. I'm thinking, if everything's OK why are you using battle tanks for a backdrop? What ever happened to libraryesque shots with shelves of books whose titles we are unable to read but assume it must be some very intellectual shite?

The only features of the coup I like are the braging rights I'll have when I get back Vancouver (coups are good conversation themes at beerfests --if you have a Tshirt to go with it) and the fact Mr Photo Opp Tox's mug won't be seen much anymore.

[William]

The only features of the coup I like are the braging rights I'll have when I get back Vancouver (coups are good conversation themes at beerfests --if you have a Tshirt to go with it)

Not at an African brai they aren't. Say you been in a coup and everyone's more concerned with what the close of play score was....

[watterinja]

Thais like Coups. It calms things down before the next corrupt govt comes into power.

[Goddess of Whatever]

Thais like Coups.

I don't think we like it. Coups make us worry, nervous, etc. (at least me and all my friends and family) but when it happened we have to live with it.

It calms things down before the next corrupt govt comes into power

I think corrupt governments are around the world but we just want to get the least one.. yeah.. I wish!

[Airportwo]

I flew back from Singapore today on a pretty much empty flight!

[RandomChances]

well just been drinking with my poor illiterate thai farming mates plus one middle class thai from BKK they universily aproved of it.
Well the farming boys were pragmatic enought to say that they really did'nt give a shit as tomorrow they still have to tend their land, so did'nt really care, my mate from BKK was over the moon about it. I will add I actually had to ask as the topic never even came up in conversation

[watterinja]

Wonder if farmers need to pay off the loans Taksie-baby gave them?

[Wallace]

f everything's OK why are you using battle tanks for a backdrop?

Perhaps it would have been a bit cramped in the taxi with all that military hardware.

[dirtydog]

A couple more pictures added today

[DrAndy]

all quiet on the Eastern front?

[watterinja]

CDRM seems to be moving on the Thaksin corruption probe. Pojjie's flown the coup.

[William]

The coup and its legal consequences

WANCHAI YIAMSAMATHA and TIMOTHY BREIER
As a result of numerous inquiries regarding the current political situation and its legal consequences, it is necessary to provide a neutral and unbiased summation of the facts and applicable legal precedent currently available for the better understanding of the public.

On Sept 19, the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM), consisting of the heads of the armed forces and the national police, took control of the national administration. The reasons given by the CDRM were that the previous government was incapable of administering the country due to rampant corruption and the manipulation of independent organisations by politicians, resulting in conflict among different groups and social disunity. The CDRM has confirmed that it has no intention of administering the State by itself and will return power to the Thai people as soon as possible.

Constitution abolished, Acts of Parliament intact: Soon after taking control, the CDRM issued its Announcement No. 3, repealing the 1997 Constitution, widely known as the "People's Constitution", and dissolving the National Assembly (consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives), the cabinet, and the Constitutional Court. However, the CDRM did not dissolve the Privy Council or any courts other than the Constitutional Court. They retain jurisdiction to adjudicate cases pursuant to the law and CDRM announcements.In addition to the constitution having been abolished, the Constitutional Organic Acts, such as the law on State Audit, Election Commission, and Ombudsman, were automatically abolished, unless the CDRM intended otherwise. The subsequent announcements did provide that certain laws shall continue to be in force. However, acts of Parliament, other than the Constitutional Organic Acts, remain intact.

CDRM announcements: The CDRM has also issued a number of other announcements and orders. Under the announcements, executive powers and duties are exercised as follows:

1. The powers and duties of the cabinet or the prime minister are exercised by the chairman of the CDRM.

2. The powers and duties of a minister are exercised by the permanent secretary.

With regard to legislative powers, where the law requires the approval of the National Assembly, the Senate, or the House of Representatives, the power is exercised by the chairman of the CDRM.

Legitimacy/legal precedent: In the past, Thailand has seen several military-backed overthrows of elected and non-elected governments. While the West perceives such action as undemocratic, their legitimacy has been confirmed by decisions of both the domestic courts and constitutional tribunals.

The first Supreme Court decision of relevance (Supreme Court Decision No. 45/1953) was handed down after the coup of 1948. It held that once the group in question has successfully seized power to administer the country, it is therefore empowered to change, rectify and repeal laws so as to continue to administer the nation, for if that were not the case, the nation could not exist peacefully.

In addition, the Supreme Court, in Supreme Court Decision No. 1662/1962, confirmed that once a particular group has taken over the power to administer the country, it has full power to administer the country. Any order it makes or enforces is deemed to be a law, even though His Majesty has not promulgated it with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives or the National Legislative Assembly.

However, in a precedent-setting case more specifically defining the somewhat broadly expressed decisions of the past, Supreme Court Decision No. 921/1993 did not recognise the law enacted by the particular group that had taken authority, if such law provided a criminal penalty with a retroactive effect or if such law set up a committee having the power to adjudicate cases, similar to that of the courts.

In such case, the Supreme Court held that certain clauses of the announcement of the particular group that had taken power establishing an asset investigating committee were unenforceable, contravening the constitutional practice in the democratic regime of government with His Majesty the King as Head of State.

In addition, the Council of State has ruled in the past, that an order of the national Executive Council was lawful and had the force of law as a statute.

New constitution and new cabinet: It has been reported that, within two weeks as from Sept 20, an interim constitution will be promulgated, a civilian prime minister and cabinet will be appointed to administer the state, and a National Legislative Assembly will be established to act as the Parliament. In addition, the CDRM intends that a new constitution will be drafted and promulgated within one year.

We will remain attentive regarding legal developments in this time of rapid change and provide our factual and legal updates as events unfold and further information becomes available.

Wanchai Yiamsamatha and Timothy Breier are members of the Administrative and Constitutional Law Practice group of Baker & McKenzie and can be contacted at:

[email protected] [email protected]

source: Bangkok Post : Business news

[watterinja]

The Thai are professional 'coup makers' - been doing it for long-enough

[mad_dog]

Swooping in the coup flexus, nexus from long beach to texas

[William]

Thai military leader defends coup

By Jonathan Head
BBC News, Bangkok



Lt Gen Winai said the army acted reluctantly


Interview

One of the six generals running Thailand's new military council has pleaded for international understanding of the reasons behind the coup.
Lt Gen Winai Phattiyakul said the army intervened because of the likelihood of clashes between supporters and opponents of the former prime minister.
He described the army as being badly divided before last week's coup.
And he accused ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra of planning to use elements of the military against the opposition.
While last week's coup has been widely welcomed in Thailand, it has been condemned by most Western governments as a step backwards.
'Could not wait'
The generals who seized power have so far made their case for intervention mainly through official statements read out on national television.
But, in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Lt Gen Winai Phattiyakul described the overthrow of Mr Thaksin as more of a political change than a coup.
He said the army could not afford to wait for elections scheduled for later this year because that would not have solved the crisis. He painted an alarming picture of violent clashes between pro- and anti-Thaksin demonstrators and he said the army had been badly divided over the crisis. He promised that existing curbs on civil liberties would only be for a short time, and insisted the military had acted reluctantly and would not view this coup as a precedent for interventions in the future.


BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Thai military leader defends coup

[Whiteshiva]

I was planning on attending this, perhaps of interest so some here?:

A Response to the International Media
The Coup d’Etat:
The Right Thing at the Right Time
Academics’ Views on Thai Democracy

Thursday September 28

Buffet dinner at 7:00 pm, Program starts at 8:00pm
Members: No cover charge, buffet dinner 280 baht; Non-members: 250 baht cover charge or buffet dinner including cover charge 400 baht
Preassigned table seating is available only with dinner reservation. To reserve, click here to send an e-mail or call 02-652-0580-1.
Much of the western world has condemned the recent coup d’etat as a setback to Thai democracy and a throwback to an era when military strongmen regularly seized power for their own ends. The Thai population, though, has been generally supportive, with many hoping the coup will enable a more robust democracy to emerge, even if disapproving of the concept of military takeovers. Most of the academic community, as well, has thrown its support behind the Council for Democratic Reform, drawing on a studied analysis of the nature of Thai democracy and its historical twists and turns.

As part of our continuing series on the recent regime change, the FCCT is pleased to welcome to our table three noted academics as they discuss and debate the Thai body politic, the coup and what it all means for the future of government here. Speaking will be:


Ajarn Surat Horachaikul, lecturer in the Department of International Relations at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science. Holding master’s degrees from both the London School of Economics and London Guildhall University, and a specialist in world politics, ethnic conflict, terrorism and social welfare, Ajarn Surat is a member of the Academic Network for Democracy and the author of Thaksin’s Cash & Gung Ho Premiership.

Ajarn Ratanaporn Dhammakosol, lecturer at Rangsit University’s Collegeof Social Innovation, guest lecturer in Communication Arts at Kasetsart, Mahidol, Thammasat and Chulalongkorn Universities, and a former consultant to the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Commerce.

Ajarn Taweekiat Prasertcharoensuk, deputy dean for academic affairs at Rangsit University’s College of Social Innovation, advisor to the Rehabilitation and Development Farmers’ Fund, and organization coordinator for the Social Investment Fund.
Please join us for what promises to be a fine and intelligent evening on where democracy in Thailand has been, where it’s headed and why the coup d’etat might just turn out to be the right thing at the right time for it all.

The FCCT is located at:

Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building
518/5 Ploenchit Road (connected to the BTS Skytrain Chitlom station)
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330

[Storekeeper]

It wasn't a really a coup, huh ? The military takes over ... controls the media ... prevents demostrations ... installs their own hand picked civilians ...

[Whiteshiva]

Yes it was.

[friscofrankie]

Taksin takes over ... controls the media ...attempts to prevent demostrations ... installs his own hand picked civilians ...
let us not forget aboishes laws creates new laws...

[Storekeeper]

Apples .... oranges.

[RandomChances]

Apples .... oranges.

Bannanas and apricots....is this a new game ?