Coup D'Etat in Thailand - Sep 19

Today certainly has been most interesting, has it not? I've got a little mini-post for you here from stratfor and a picture gallery from the BBC to whet your whistle.

Thailand - Military Movement in Bangkok - Sep 19, 2006

The Thai military moved tanks around government headquarters in Bangkok the evening of Sept. 19 as part of an apparent army coup. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in New York, and he will not be able to return until some sort of compromise has been made. Thaksin tried to make a statement on television regarding a state of emergency, but the programming was interrrupted to show pictures of Thai royalty while songs associated with former military coups played in the background.

The tanks moved in shortly after Thaksin issued a state of emergency and ordered army Commander in Chief Sondhi Boonyaratkalin to report to Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Chidchai Wannasathit. It is unclear whether this is an attempted coup, preventative military action or a countercoup.

Meanwhile, things are relatively calm in Bankgkok. No soldiers have been patrolling the streets, no curfew has been declared and the airport is open.

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