« Kazakhstan: Is It A Bird, Is It A Plane, Or Is It A Muslim Woman In Orbit? |
| US: Raid On Home Of Missouri Muslim »
September 19, 2006
Thailand: Military Coup Under Way - How Will This Affect The Muslim South?
There is currently a coup d'etat taking place in Thailand, and though I had a lot of information gathered on the insurgency in the Muslim south, it seems that the uncertainty which was felt by even the commander of the Southern Army, General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin in how to proceed with peace measures will become more uncertain.
Yesterday, he noted that the insurgents who have been carrying out a sustained campaign of bloodshed since 4 January 2005 in the provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala had links with the island province of Satun and Songkhla province. It was in the southern province of Songkhla in Hatyai, where the bombings took place on Saturday, September 16 (pictured). On the same day, General Sonthi had arranged peace talks with young Muslims at Yala Central Mosque, to discuss how to proceed with peace measures. The insurgents who blew up parts of the commercial center of Hat Yai
In yesterday's Jakarta Post, it was suggested that Saturday's attacks had been a deliberate attempt to sabotage the Thai economy. Three weeks earlier, on Thursday August 31, a series of small bombs went off almost simultaneously in 22 banks in Yala province, apparently to deter people from investing in the South.
But with the current coup, discussions of the financial situation in the southern provinces are meaningless. The economy which had been at a peak has dropped to its lowest point in four years, with the baht now lower than it has been since July 2002.
Earlier today, according to the Nation, a religious teacher was arrested in Betong district of Yala province, in connection with the bank bombings of August 31. 30-year old Udom Hamin was arrested from his home. He was a former teacher at a Muslim school Darunthamwithaya Foundation School in Betong. This school was a branch of the Thammawathiya (Thamma Wittaya) Islamic school in Yala city. After they had returned from a trip to Satun island, 19 members of this school were arrested on March 28. They were released without charge later. The school had been founded by Sapaeing Bazo, leader of the insurgent grop Barisan Revolusi Nasional Coordinate, who has a bounty of 10 million baht ($256,227 US) upon his head. He is currently hiding in Malaysia.
Currently, the Bangkok Post has no workable internet pages, though a headline on the front page of its website says "Military Coup under way in Thailand" and under that a heading stating "Thai premier declares state of emergency". Clicking on these links do not bring up any pages.
Thaksin Shinawatra is currently attending a General Assembly in the United Nations in New York, and according to the BBC TV News, the coup, which appears to be bloodless, has caused shops, restaurants and other businesses to close earlier. Whether the army has imposed a curfew, or whether people are acting as if there is a state of curfew, is unknown.
The website of TNA English News is running, but it has not been updated since yesterday. It carries a headline of Thaksin Shinawatra stating he wanted to create a "free trade area with the USA" and another story about how he has ordered increased funding for the victims of Saturday's insurgent bombings in Hat Yai. He had made the order from New York via an internet link.
Tanks are in the streets of Bangkok, and TV stations, radio stations and other outlets are all under the control of the military. One army-owned TV station suspended programs and displayed pictures of the Thai King, and played military music. Thaksin has officially announced a "state of emergency".
It seems that the coup has been led by General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin according to BBC World Service. The Nation News has this statement from the "military reformist".
Statement from the military reformist
The following is the statement from the miliary reformist.
There has been social division like never before. Each side has been trying to conquer another with all possible means and the situation tends to intensify with growing doubts on the administration amid widespread reported corruption.
State units and independent organisations have been politically meddled, not able to deliver their services as specified in the Constitution.
The administration is also usually bordering on "lest majest" actions against the revered King. Despite attempts from social units for compromises, there is no way to end the conflicts.
The revolution body thus needs to seize power. We have no intention to rule but to return the power to the people as soon as possible, to preserve peace and honour the King who is the most revered to all Thais.
Martial rule has been enforced, and this is the first military coup in 15 years.
The Nation states the following.
Caretaker PM tries to fight back
Shortly after receiving news of an attempted coup in Bangkok caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gathered reporters representing the Thai news media to his New York hotel at about 9pm Thai time.
He told them he had been informed of the coup attempt and was about to address the nation via an Internet broadcast on staterun television Channel 9. He would declare a state of emergency.
Meanwhile, in Bangkok soldiers were seen surrounding the Thaicom satellite receiving station at Khae Rai at about 9.30pm. Another group of troops seized control of staterun television station Channel 11.
Tanks and personnel carriers were observed on Rajdamnoen Avenue and its nearby vicinity surprising onlookers.
Troops were deployed at the Tevet Intersection and at the resiฌdence of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda for his security.
By press time this morning tanks and military vehicles armed with machine guns were stationed at Government House, the Royal Plaza and government units along Rajdamnoen Avenue.
At Government House, reporters were asked to leave the building and remain outside while Cabinet secretarygeneral Prommin Lertsuridej and Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya rushed in.
As news of the attempted coup spread, senior military commanders met at Armyrun television Channel 5 headquarters. It was suspected they were preparing to announce the coup.
A group of pro-Thaksin officers, meanwhile, reportedly met at the home of Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura.
At about 10.30pm, a bus loaded with soldiers from the 11th Military Police Battalion arrived at Government House. Their comฌmander spent about five minutes negotiating with the security staff before the troops were allowed inside without any resistance.
Sources said troops participating in the coup were from the 1st and 3rd Army Regions, the Internal Security Operations Command, the Special Warfare Centre and Army units in Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri provinces and sections of the Navy.
Before announcing his state of emergency Thaksin had decided to return home ahead of schedule and should be back in the country by tomorrow. However, his movements in the event of a successful coup remained uncertain.
Sources said Thamarak and Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand director Mingkwan Saengsuwan, who oversees television Channel 9, were detained by troops following the broadcast of Thaksin's announcement.
Soldiers wearing yellow identification cloth on their fatigues above the right breast seized the station.
The Nation also carries this statement: "The coup makers order soldiers not to leave barracks. The military reformists issued an order for all soldiers to remain in barracks. The spokesman of the coup makers announced on TVs that all military units could not be mobilized."
Other local news outlets, such as the Pattaya Mail and the Phuket Gazette are working but not updated, making no mention of the coup.
The fact that the army has told soldiers to stay in barracks implies that the army is not united in its intentions. To provide some background to the current coup, it is necessary to look back at events from earlier this year. We wrote on August 28: Assassination plot or hoax?
On Thursday, August 24, a general in the Royal Thai Army was sacked following allegations that his personal driver had been found in possession of an explosive device, which was said to have been intended to kill Thaksin. Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, an officer with the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), was arrested early in the morning, and later that day General Panlop Pinmanee, deputy director of ISOC was dismissed from his post.
The following day, as rumours spread that the bomb incident was a hoax set up by the government and Thaksin's party, the Thai Rak Thai, the caretaker prime minister (who had stepped down on April 4 after allegations of corruption) made a statement. Thaksin said that four military officers had been involved in the assassination plot.
However, many people refused to believe the claims, according to a poll published in yesterday's Bangkok Post, which had been conducted by Bangkok University. 49.8% of those polled, who came from Bangkok and its environs, claimed the plot was a hoax. 60.8% of these were convinced the government had engineered the event, and 20% thought that anti-government elements were behind the plot. Only 20.5% thought the plot had been real. 47.5% or respondents thought the TRT party would not lose popularity, and 25.5% thought the insident would affect TRT.
Inside a Daewoo car were found explosives, and according to Pol Lt-Col Kamthorn Ouicharoen, a 38-year-old officer of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's bomb disposal unit, the bomb was constructed by a professional. 67 kilograms of TNT was the explosive in the device, which would have caused damage over a 50 meter radius. However, army specialist Maj-Gen Khatiya Sawasdipol said he thought it was a plot by police to deceive people. He said wires in the detonating circuit were not connected correctly, and the bomb would not have gone off. The car was parked about a mile from Thaksin's house.
Yesterday, a 13-minute video of the suspect, Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, was released by police. This was a message made after his arrest, in which the lieutenant said that he took full responsibility for the proposed attack, and even apologised to the public and Thaksin Shinawatra. Today, a military court refused the suspect bail.
Following the suspected bomb plot, there were further arrests of army officers, and arrests of army officials were made last week, It appears that for some in the army, this has been a final straw. Thaksin Shinawatra has made a mess of democracy in Thailand, and has alienated members of the army, particularly General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who heads the current coup, the first in Thailand for fifteen years.
We wrote on July 16:Thaksin Shinawatra was the officially elected prime minister of Thailand, representing the Thai Rak Thai party, but following nationwide protests, accusing him of corruption, he ordered an election on April 2, three years before schedule. The opposition boycotted the election, leaving 40 seats in parliament unfilled. Thaksin stepped down on April 4, saying he was "taking a break" from politics. The April 2 election was declared null and void by the Constitution Court and the next proper election will not be held until October 15.
On May 23 Thaksin Shinawatra returned to take part in the political process, after General Chidchai, his deputy in the TRT party who had become the "caretaker" president, was being accused of spending more time shopping, golfing and travelling abroad than coping with affairs of state. On May 22, the Supreme Administrative Court agreed to hear a proposal, mounted by a group of lawyers, that accused Thaksin of dereliction of official duties.
On Thursday, 13 July, the Constitution Court announced that it will take on a case, which accuses both Thaksin's party and its main rival, the Democrat Party, of electoral fraud. Associated Press via Forbes notes that the parties could be dissolved if the ruling goes against them.
Last month, Thaksin resumed his radio chat-show, after not being on air for four months, and soon, this move caused his opponents to gripe, as he began making accusations against an unnamed individual of "plots" against him.
Recently there have been demonstrations again, criticising Thaksin and his methods. Though only a caretaker now, he is holding himself up as the sole defender of democracy, and he has been attempting to woo other countries, presenting his interpretations of recent events. The demonstrations have been held by the PAD, People's Alliance for Democracy. An open letter, sent to all embassies in Thailand on Friday to state their position, can be found here.
The PAD open letter was in response to the letters sent by Thaksin to various world leaders, in which he whined about the conspiracies against him, and misrepresented the situation. This is a section from his letter to President Bush: "There has been a threat to democracy in Thailand since early this year. Key democratic institutions, such as elections and the observance of Constitutional limitations on government, have been repeatedly undermined by interests that depend on creating chaos and mounting street demonstrations in Bangkok as a means to acquire political power that they cannot gain through winning elections."
"Having failed to provoke violence and disorder, my opponents are now attempting various extra-Constitutional tactics to co-opt the will of the people. If our democratic institutions prove strong over the next several months, those too will be unsuccessful."..........It does not seem that the measures discussed above will achieve much to halt the insurgency. Thaksin Shinawatra is a poor leader in a time of crisis, and during an armed insurgency, strong leadership is essential. He recently brought in the Muslim army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin to head the command of operations in the southern Muslim provinces. This move was made to replace General Chidchai Vanasatidya/Wannasathit.
Sonthi was only appointed to be in charge of dealing with the insurgency on June 19, but now, according to The Nation, it appears that even his post as commander-in-cief of the army is being placed in doubt by Thaksin.
Rumors in the military are suggesting that Sonthi's assistant, General Pornchai Kranlert, will be given his job in a military reshuffle in October. Apparently Sonthi fell out of favor in March, when he decided not to support the government in its proposal to use military force to quell the street protests which eventually led to Thaksin temporarily "stepping down" on April 4.
It seems that for Thaksin, the situation in the south is of less importance than his own power. Sonthi, who could speak Yawi, the Malay dialect used in the South, was not given control of the southern operations because of his potential to quell the unrest. It appears that he was given his post to get him out of the way.
It is suggested that in the October military reshuffle, Sonthi may be given the role of supreme commander, a mere ceremonial role. Currently this post is in the hands of General Ruengroj Masaranont, who is retiring.
Thaksin's personal failings and devious scheming have already caused a major political crisis in Thailand, far away from the troubles which appear to be intensifying in the south. The diplomacy with Malaysia is just that, diplomacy. It will not stop the cross-border problems, and while there is weakness and instability in the rest of Thailand, the insurgents, who have killed 1,300 people since January 2004, will push to further destabilise the southern provinces.
There will not be an election until October. Unrest is brewing, and Thaksin appears ready to use the army to suppress citizens who are protesting at his abuses of democracy. His personal vanity and manipulations are transparent. but the army is there to protect the nation, as represented by the king, not to protect a corrupt despot. A commentator recently compared politicians in Thailand to jockeys. The army is the horse, and jockeys may come and go, but the racehorse is still owned by the king.
The southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, as well as two districts of Songhkla province, formerly comprised an independent Muslim sultanate called Pattani, before they were officially annexed by Thailand a century ago. The population in these provinces is 80% Muslim, and 20% Buddhist. Since January 4 2004, an insurgency has been carried out by Muslim separatists from several factions, who wish to see the southern region secede from Thailand.
General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin is himself a Muslim, and has tried to find some peaceful solution to the problems in the Muslim south. Hopefully, if factions in the army stay united, the elections will still take place in October. What is certain regarding the southern conflict is that there have been totally contradictory messages coming from Thaksin Shinawatra's government about how to deal with the insurgency. Some ministers have argued for an "iron-fisted" approach, whereas others have tried conciliation. Being a Muslim, Sonthi is not in favour of a rule of terror in the south. But his loyalties, hopefully, will remain with Thailand and the king.
So far, there is martial law, the constitution is suspended, and the parliament has been dissolved. The coup leaders are apparently in consultation with the Thai king, Bhumibol Adulyadej.
UPDATE: The Bangkok Post appears now to be operating normally. It has a feature on the coup, which we reproduce below:
COUP D'ETAT
Armed forces and national police take over government
POST REPORTERS
Troops loyal to army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin last night staged a coup d'etat to oust caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was in New York and due to address the United Nations General Assembly. The coup makers called themselves the Democratic Reform Council, led by Gen Sonthi. In an announcement flashed across national television, they said they comprised the commanders of the three armed forces and the national police chief.
The council cited unprecedented division in the country, widespread suspicion of abuse of power, and activities bordering on lese majeste for taking power for a period they promised would be temporary.
Tanks and troops of the Fourth Cavalry Battalion moved into Government House and other strategic points in Bangkok, including the Royal Plaza.
The coup came after Mr Thaksin declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.
In a statement relayed from New York and carried by Channel 9, he sacked the army chief and put the armed forces supreme commander, Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranont, in charge of enforcing the state of emergency. Both were to report to Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister whom Mr Thaksin named as acting prime minister.
The council said it had the situation under control and there was no resistance.
As of press time, it was not known how long the council would remain in power and when it would appoint an interim government.
The council revoked the State of Emergency declared by Mr Thaksin and imposed martial law at around 12.30.
Shortly afterwards, the council abrogated the 1997 constitution, dissolved the Constitution Court, the caretaker government and the Senate.
The council was reported to be based at army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue.
The council was reported to have blocked the website of a so-called fake media outlet calling itself The Reporter.
Mr Thaksin's statement was relayed at about 10.20 pm but was disrupted around 10 minutes later.
Sources later told the Bangkok Post that troops had burst into the offices of Channel 9 and told the station officers to stop running the statement.
Sources said Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday tried to mediate between troops loyal to the army chief and another army faction loyal to Mr Thaksin.
During the talks, Gen Prem was reported to have been summoned to the Royal Palace. Nothing more was known.
The council leaders were also summoned to the palace late last night.
Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkol were all in New York with Mr Thaksin.
Prime Minister's Office Minister Newin Chidchob, Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra and her son Panthongtae left for Singapore at about 9.00 pm.
Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak are currently in France, and are likely to postpone their return.
Pol Gen Chidchai, Defence Minister Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, Social Welfare Minister Wattana Muangsuk, PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva were reportedly at home at the time.
A cabinet source said the armed forces and police decided to stage the coup to avert a possible clash between an anti-Thaksin rally that the People's Alliance for Democracy planned to stage today, and members of the forestry police.
The source said the forestry police based at Khao Yai National Park were due to move into Bangkok today to quash the PAD-led protests.
The forestry police are equipped with HK 33 rifles and well trained for confrontations with the protesters.
The army last month asked the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department to return around 1,000 rifles, which were loaned to forest rangers several years ago. But Gen Sonthi at the time downplayed the political implications of a plan to take back of the rifles, saying the army was in dire need of weapons.
The source said several cabinet ministers had been alerted about the coup yesterday afternoon and many started to pack their belongings and left their offices for good.
In New York, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee denied the coup had been successful, saying the seizure of TV station headquarters did not guarantee its success. Seizing power by means of a coup was no longer acceptable in the modern world.
He said the coup makers comprised people losing power and benefits but he refused to be specific. Mr Surapong denied the coup had anything to do with the military reshuffle, saying consideration of the reshuffle list had not been on Mr Thaksin's recent agenda.
He said Pol Gen Chidchai was not under arrest, as rumoured, because he had just spoken to him on the phone.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is poised to face mass selling in today's trading amid fears that there could be a counter coup by supporters of Mr Thaksin, analysts said.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 19, 2006 2:41 PM
Comments
I noted that you mention how the Baht is currently at its lowest since July 2002. It's actually still quite high compared to 2002 (about 20% higher), but yesterday it experienced it's greatest single day drop since July 2002... Economically, Thailand was doing rather well before the coup, as I understand it.
Posted by: Tyland ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.westernresistance.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 20, 2006 12:55 PM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)