BREAKING: Possible coup in Thailand

[Coexist]

On CNN. They are waiting for more details.

[Coexist]

1. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may be stepping down.

This is all in the wake of the recent bombing.

[glaeken777]

12. perfect timing for Bush's speech.. lol

Freedom is on the march!!!!

[ananda]

2. Tanks in the streets..

.. nothing -possible- about it... a coup it is.

[Syncronaut Seven]

3. Well! Neil is hard at work I see.

He'll make a good king.

[madokie]

4. You reckon the brothers are hard at work here

I wouldn't doubt it at all.

[Syncronaut Seven]

18. Neil likes Thailand

Has a special fondness for their natural resources. The younger ones, to be specific.

[Coexist]

5. Reuters: Thailand's army still looms large in politics

By Nopporn Wong-Anan BANGKOK (Reuters) - Even though Thailand's last military coup was 15 years ago, when Bangkok motorists spotted tanks rolling down the street last week, many thought the army was up to its old tricks once again.

"I received more than 10 calls from people saying they had seen several tanks on the street and asking in a shaky voice if there was a coup," said Jakrapan Kunanyatirakul of FM 91 traffic radio.

"We called the army for an explanation and the answer was it was troops returning from up-country exercises."

With Thailand mired in a political crisis now in its ninth month and tensions escalating between the army, police, palace and government, the callers could not be accused of being paranoid.

more...

[Coexist]

6. CNN now: State TV suspends programming,

plays patriotic songs.

[Craftsman]

10. Thialand, under new management

Like it or not.

[Atman]

7. Holy schnikees! I was supposed to be there right now!

I was supposed to be flying into Bangkok on my way to Ko Samui on September 13, but we had to cancel the trip for a variety of factors. Wow...close call! Now I have to find out if my sister is okay.

[Coexist]

9. I hope your sister is safe and can get home

it might get sticky over there.

[Coexist]

8. Prime minister, at U.N. for general assembly, declares state of emergency

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14906669/

"BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra declared a state of emergency Wednesday as coup rumors swept Bangkok and Reuters witnesses saw tanks heading for downtown.

"I declare Bangkok under a severe state of emergency," he said in a voice broadcast on Thai television. Thaksin, who is in New York at a United Nations summit, ordered troops not to "move illegally."

More than 10 tanks blocked roads around Thailand's government headquarters in the capital while army television broadcast images of the royal family and songs associated in the past with military coups

Government officials said Thaksin planned to return from New York on Thursday, a day earlier than scheduled. They gave no reason."

[Coexist]

11. Poor Bush has been pre-empted

[warrens]

13. Keep in mind the PM is a wackjob

I don't remember details, but I read a profile of him in, I think, the New Yorker. This is not a good person.

[adarling]

15. just heard he is a billionaire who probably bought the election last time

and i guess has really pissed people off. So far it seems like a peaceful coup, people aren't panicking, just taking pics with their cell phones:eyes:

[DinahMoeHum]

14. Betcha there's been severe criticism of the Thai government

in the aftermath of the December 26, 2004 earthquake/tsunami that struck their western coastline.

Wouldn't surprise me.

:evilfrown:

[malaise]

16. That and the pedophile business

Yep - there has been a coup.

[lindac07]

17. We were in Thailand on business last year at this time.......

and made a lot of friends. I hope they're okay. My Thai friends are pretty outspoken. They made it very clear that they think GWB is a jerk. I guess I should email them to find out what is going on. I know that Thaksin is pretty unpopular there.