UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military

voanews.com

Coup Launched in Thailand, PM Declares State of Emergency

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
19 September 2006

Thailand's army has issued a statement saying it has seized control of the government and declared martial law. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly, responded to the coup by declaring a state of emergency.

The statement was displayed on national television, after soldiers had moved into positions around Bangkok.

Reports of the coup prompted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to issue a statement from New York saying he was placing Bangkok under a state of emergency.

Coup leaders later said they had suspended the constitution and most branches of the government.

Panitan Wattanyagorn, a Thai political scientist, says army factions opposing and supporting Mr. Thaksin are negotiating to resolve the situation.

"It might be possible there will be clashes in the next few hours if the negotiations failed to produce a substantial result," said Panitan Wattanyagorn.

The apparent coup comes after a year of rising political tension. Mr. Thaksin has been under pressure from the urban middle class, which has become disenchanted with a leader they consider corrupt.

The United States says it is monitoring the situation, and urged the Thai people to remain calm.



NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list