Coup in Thailand, riots in Hungary Update: Military “revokes” Thai constitution

posted at 12:10 pm on September 19, 2006 by Allahpundit

Mary K‘s following developments in Bangkok. Apparently tanks have blockaded government HQ and, per the latest Fox alert, soldiers are “confronting” police inside the building. Thailand’s PM was in NYC at the UN but he’s on his way home now after having declared a state of emergency. I’m so completely ignorant about Thai politics that I’m not even sure whether this is good or bad. Since military coups are almost always bad, I’m going to guess: bad.

Meanwhile, the fightin’ nutroots cast a longing look at Budapest, where revelations that the prime minister and his party lied about the economy have resulted in overnight riots. Thank goodness our chickendoves are more civilized than that.

Update: The Thai PM has fired his military commander. Too late, methinks.

Update: Just across on CNN — the Thai constitution has been put on ice by the country’s military.

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I’m with you, Allah. I have NO idea whether that’s good or bad. Eek…need another Asian History class. Back to school with me!

tickleddragon on September 19, 2006 at 12:16 PM

This seems unrelated to their Islamist problems, doesn’t it?

Thailand’s PM was in NYC at the UN but he’s on his way home now after having declared a state of emergency.

CNN reported that he’s speaking at the UN tonight (they’ve rearranged the schedule to accommodate) and then he’ll go home.

Pablo on September 19, 2006 at 12:40 PM

“We lied through the last 1 1/2 or two years. It was entirely clear that what we said was not the truth.” — [Socialist Prime Minister Ferenc] Gyurcsany

And he’s a Socialist?!? It can’t be!

Pablo on September 19, 2006 at 12:46 PM

People rioting when they discover their leaders have lied to them on major issues……interesting.

honora on September 19, 2006 at 1:01 PM

According to Wikipedia, regarding Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra (see here; emphasis added in the quote below):

A controversial leader, he has also been the target of numerous allegations of lèse-majesté, treason, usurping religious and royal authority, selling assets to international investors, religious desecration, and siding with gods of darkness.

How can one not be amused by politics?

Muslihoon on September 19, 2006 at 1:02 PM

The King of Thailand continues to play a major role: it all comes down to what he wants to see happen. He can stop the coup or he can let it go on. Who knows, maybe the King asked the army to overthrow the government. Either way, this is a curious development, and it seems no one knows whether this is good or bad. A possible motivation was provided by Wikipedia (so take it for what it may be worth):

Thailand has been in political turmoil since the results of April’s general elections were annulled, leaving the country without a working legislature. Thaksin had won elections in 2001 and 2005, and was widely expected to win to planned elections in November.

Muslihoon on September 19, 2006 at 1:06 PM

Meanwhile in wacademia, sharia assault and battery in Minnesota;

Traveling preacher creates campus controversy

On Monday, the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks, Smock was preaching on campus.

Smock said he made numerous anti-Islamic remarks that day.

“I am against the Muslim religion,” Smock said. “I believe it’s violent.”

Smock said he had a Bible in one hand and a Quran in the other.

Matt Marcou, an electrical engineering first-year, said he had just left a chemistry lecture and came across Smock, who was “calling (the Muslim) god a false god.”

Marcou said a woman attempted to grab the Quran from Smock’s hand, but Smock resisted.

The woman was so distressed “she actually started throwing punches and kicks,” Marcou said.

Smock said the woman hit and kicked him, broke his glasses and tried to strangle him with his own necktie.

And how do campus police react? Do they arrest the woman? Do they protect free speech?”

A few dozen people had gathered around Smock, and when police showed up the second time, officers approached him. After speaking to him, the officers brought him to the rear of the squad car and searched him against the trunk.

Police then placed him in the back seat and drove away. Smock said police drove him to where he had parked his car.

Assault for sharia… no speech for thee-uh.

Terp Mole on September 19, 2006 at 1:12 PM

He was also about to greenlight the institution of Sharia law in the southern half of the country in an attempt to appease the terrorists that have killed 1,400 Thai citizens. The PM was also rumored to be planning the overthrow of the King.

The army, I think, wants none of that.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060917/wl_asia_afp/thailandsouthunrestblast

BelchSpeak on September 19, 2006 at 1:13 PM

The PM has really making it hard to keep the area democratic and his response to Muslim insurgency has also caused problems.

http://pun.org/josh/archives/2006/09/thailand_coup.html

The military has declared it is loyal to the King.

shirgall on September 19, 2006 at 1:19 PM

People rioting when they discover their leaders have lied to them on major issues……interesting.

No riots here Honora because there’s been no lying on major issues. Claims of lying by the opposition means nothing. I believe enough people see the partisanship in these democrat moanings and rantings and believe that it’s just politics, therefore no coups, no riots.

ScottG on September 19, 2006 at 1:57 PM

Also ignorant on Thai politics. However, I do know that Thailand has been very open to Christian missionaries compared to many other Asian nations — well, namely their neighbors. I’d hate to see that change. I know many missionaries just use Thailand as a “base” for that reason and then cross borders from there in attempt to get the Gospel out.

wytammic on September 19, 2006 at 1:57 PM

might be teh response to excessive muslim terrorism? Constitution on hold until the wiping out of the terrorists?

Defector01 on September 19, 2006 at 2:21 PM

I think that this has nothing to do with the muslim insurgency in the south.

Thaksin has some serious flaws (the country became less free under his leadership), but destroying democracy is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The Thai military is very corrupt (which is part of why they’re having such a hard time with the muslim insurgency). This is bad news.

sandberg on September 19, 2006 at 2:31 PM

Well it seems that the coup has been completed.

BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s army commmander ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a military coup Tuesday night while the prime minister was in New York, circling his offices with tanks, declaring martial law and revoking the constitution.

An announcement on national television signed by army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin ordered all troops to report to their duty stations.

As soldiers and armored vehicles moved through Bangkok, an announcement from the military earlier declared a provisional authority loyal to beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The announcement declared that a “Council of Administrative Reform” had seized power in Bangkok and nearby provinces without any resistance. It recognized the king as head of state.

From AP via Yahoo! News.

Muslihoon on September 19, 2006 at 2:33 PM

My guess is this is a good thing. Thaksin is mostly supported by the poor and uneducated, which usually means a more extremist viewpoint.

The Sharia law implementation would have been disastrous.

NTWR on September 19, 2006 at 2:52 PM

Wait a minute, I was wrong… WAAAAYYYY wrong.

It is a Muslim general who is now taking control!

Striking when Thaksin was in New York at the U.N. General Assembly, army commander Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin sent tanks and troops into the drizzly, nighttime streets of Bangkok. The military ringed Thaksin’s offices, seized control of television stations and declared a provisional authority loyal to the king.

Who knows….they say this guy, since he’s Muslim, will be better able to control the Muslim insurgency. I guess we just have to see if he replaces their constitution with Sharia law or not. This is an interesting event.

NTWR on September 19, 2006 at 7:02 PM

This is one reason why Pakistan’s President Musharraf is afraid to leave the capital. Any time he leaves, there could easily be a coup against him. After all, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sacked him while he was abroad and in the air; he made an emergency landing at Karachi and orchestrated the coup against Sharif – but only just barely.

Muslihoon on September 19, 2006 at 9:39 PM

If you want to see where this coup is going and why, watch the King. He is revered in Thai culture in a way that is completely at odds with our perception of a King. We think of Kings like they have in England.

That is not how the Thai’s think of their King.

In recent coups, the King has stepped in, voiced his opinion, and the involved parties acquiesced to his desires.

EFG on September 19, 2006 at 11:54 PM

Mark my prediction. Thailand will be under Sharia law within the next 5 years.

Egfrow on September 20, 2006 at 9:55 PM