Thai PM Thaksin ousted by coup
{{date|September 19, 2006}}
[[Image:LocationThailand.png|thumb|Location of [[w:Thailand|Thailand]]]]
Thailand's army general ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a military coup, declaring martial law and revoking the constitution. Army spokesperson Col. Akara Chitroj said army Commander-in-Chief Gen. [[w:Sondhi Boonyaratkalin|Sondhi Boonyaratkalin]] would be acting prime minister. An announcement from the military earlier declared a provisional authority loyal to [[w:Bhumibol Adulyadej|King Bhumibol Adulyadej]]. Earlier a number of tanks had surrounded the government headquarters in the capital of [[Thailand]], [[w:Bangkok|Bangkok]]. Hundreds of troops had deployed at government installations and major traffic intersections. [[w:SVT|Swedish television]] has shown footage of troops with military vehicles setting up checkpoints on roads, as well as soldiers on guard (follow the video links within the article). The footage shows troops wearing yellow ribbons tied to their uniforms, the color of the King.
[[Image:Thaksin.jpg|thumb|Thai [[w:Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]] [[w:Thaksin Shinawatra|Thaksin Shinawatra]]]]
The Prime Minister [[w:Thaksin Shinawatra|Thaksin Shinawatra]] has declared a state of emergency from New York, where he is currently with the UN. "The prime minister with the approval of the Cabinet declares serious emergency law in Bangkok from now on," Thaksin said on a government-owned TV channel. He has also sacked the current Thai army commander.

There was a scare last week when several army tanks were seen in the streets of Bangkok, but army commanders said they were simply returning from exercises.

The last coup was 15 years ago, back in February 1991; there have been 23 coups (successful or attempted) in the last 74 years in the country.

Thailand has been in [[w:Thailand political crisis 2005-2006|political turmoil]] since the results of [[Third of Thais vote 'none of the above'|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 [[Thai election rerun likely in November|planned elections in November]].

According to Sky News, 50 soldiers have been said to be inside Bangkok's Government House.

All international news stations were taken off the network of cable operator UBC. All local stations are now airing a military speech loop stating everything will be over shortly.

The army issued this statement shown on national TV:

''"Whereas the political reform commission under the democratic constitutional monarchy, comprising the commanders in chief of the armed forces and the head of the national police, have secured the situation in Bangkok and nearby suburbs without any resistance.

"In the interest of maintaining law and order, a request is therefore made for public cooperation for which our apologies for any inconvenience."''

== Pictures ==
<gallery>
Image:Thai coup soldier.jpg
Image:Golpe Estado Tailandia.jpg
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</gallery>

==Sources==
{{wikipediapar|September 2006 Thailand military coup d'état|Wikipedia: September 2006 Thailand military coup d'état}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5362228.stm |title=Thailand's military tightens grip
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=September 20, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060919/ap_on_re_as/thailand |title=Thailand's military ousts prime minister 
|author=AP
|pub=Yahoo
|date=September 19, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5361008.stm |title=Thailand calls state of emergency
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=September 19, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5361210.stm |title=Thailand's countdown {to} coup
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=September 19, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.google.co.uk/news/url?sa=t&ct=uk/0-0&fp=45102e1b657c94cc&ei=0A0QRcLUFJPowgGb15SEAQ&url=http%3A//news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-09/19/content_5111825.htm&cid=0
|title=Coup rumors widely spread in Thailand
|author=
|pub=Xinhua
 |date= September 19, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-09-19T073026Z_01_BKK149619_RTRUKOC_0_US-THAILAND-ARMY.xml&archived=False
|title=Thailand's army still looms large in politics
|author=
|pub=Reuters
 |date= September 19, 2006}}

*{{source-pr|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5361756.stm
|title=Text: Thai coup-leaders' statement
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=September 19, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=22584&a=663759&lid=puff_401860&lpos=rubrik 
|title=Militärkupp befaras i Thailand   
|author=  
|pub=Sveriges television   
|date=September 19, 2006}}

== Blogs ==

*{{blogsource
|author="Dan"
|title=Metroblogging Bangkok
|url=http://bangkok.metblogs.com/
|name=
|date=19 September 2006
}}
*{{blogsource
|author=19sep
|title=19sep
|url=http://19sep.blogspot.com/
|name=19sep
|date=19 September 2006
}}
*{{blogsource
|author="purr-fected"
|title=Military Coup
|url=http://gnarlykitty.blogspot.com/2006/09/military-coup.html
|name=Gnarly Kitty
|date=19 September 2006
}}
*{{blogsource
|author=Lynn
|title=Blast to the Past
|url=http://lynnkiangsoontra.blogspot.com/2006/09/blast-to-past.html
|name=Lynn
|date=19 September 2006
}}
*{{blogsource
|author=Lynn
|title=Coup D'Etat Part Deux
|url=http://lynnkiangsoontra.blogspot.com/2006/09/coup-detat-part-deux.html
|name=Lynn
|date=20 September 2006
}}
*{{blogsource
|author=Andrew
|title= Where to now for the social movements?
|url=http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/2006/09/23/beyond-the-rural-betrayal-where-to-now-for-the-social-movements/
|name=Andrew
|date=23 September 2006
}}

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:2006 Thailand coup]]
[[Category:Thailand]]
[[Category:Asia]]

[[Category:Thaksin Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Constitution of Thailand]]

[[de:Panzer rollen in Thailand – Militärputsch]]
[[es:Las Fuerzas Armadas derrocan al primer ministro de Tailandia]]
[[fr:Les militaires thaïlandais s'emparent du pouvoir]]
[[it:Colpo di stato in Thailandia]]
[[ja:タイ王国で陸軍によるクーデター勃発、首都制圧]]
[[pl:Stan wyjątkowy w Tajlandii]]
Thailand
Thailand's army general ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a military coup, declaring martial law and revoking the constitution. Army spokesperson Col. Akara Chitroj said army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin would be acting prime minister. An announcement from the military earlier declared a provisional authority loyal to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Earlier a number of tanks had surrounded the government headquarters in the capital of Thailand, Bangkok. Hundreds of troops had deployed at government installations and major traffic intersections. Swedish television has shown footage of troops with military vehicles setting up checkpoints on roads, as well as soldiers on guard (follow the video links within the article). The footage shows troops wearing yellow ribbons tied to their uniforms, the color of the King.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
The Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency from New York, where he is currently with the UN. "The prime minister with the approval of the Cabinet declares serious emergency law in Bangkok from now on," Thaksin said on a government-owned TV channel. He has also sacked the current Thai army commander.

There was a scare last week when several army tanks were seen in the streets of Bangkok, but army commanders said they were simply returning from exercises.

The last coup was 15 years ago, back in February 1991; there have been 23 coups (successful or attempted) in the last 74 years in the country.

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 planned elections in November.

According to Sky News, 50 soldiers have been said to be inside Bangkok's Government House.

All international news stations were taken off the network of cable operator UBC. All local stations are now airing a military speech loop stating everything will be over shortly.

The army issued this statement shown on national TV:

"Whereas the political reform commission under the democratic constitutional monarchy, comprising the commanders in chief of the armed forces and the head of the national police, have secured the situation in Bangkok and nearby suburbs without any resistance.

"In the interest of maintaining law and order, a request is therefore made for public cooperation for which our apologies for any inconvenience."

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Politics and conflicts 2006 Thailand coup Thailand Asia Thaksin Shinawatra Constitution of Thailand