Tanks appear in Bangkok - reports

[Filuwaúrdjan]

From the BBC:

Tanks have taken up position around the Thai government headquarters in Bangkok blocking traffic, eyewitnesses have told Reuters news agency.
An army-owned TV station has altered its programming to broadcast images of the royal family and songs associated in the past with military coups.

More soon.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Bye bye Thaksin!

I bet opebo is quite happy right now.

[opebo]

Bye bye Thaksin!

I bet opebo is quite happy right now.

I am happy to hear it though I won't jump to any conclusions.  I'm somewhat suspicious that it could be Thaksin's people doing a coup.

Al's post was the first I heard about it.  I was wondering why they're playing all these weird King-oriented TV shows and songs!

Wait I just read more.. it is being described at this stage as an 'attempted' coup..

Wait and see.  Happily I'm a long long way from Bangkok.

[Michael Z]

Bye bye Thaksin!

I bet opebo is quite happy right now.

I am happy to hear it though I won't jump to any conclusions.  I'm somewhat suspicious that it could be Thaksin's people doing a coup.

Al's post was the first I heard about it.  I was wondering why they're playing all these weird King-oriented TV shows and songs!

Over here the news are talking of a military coup and that the army have taken control of the TV stations.

Also, apparently the Thai PM has sacked the Army Chief, but whether this was before or after the tanks blocked the government HQ is up in the air ATM.

I also heard something or other about the army taking over a key govt building, but it's all a bit hazy.

[afleitch]

Unsuprisingly, Thaksin is out of the country at the UN in New York at the moment. If it is an attempted coup it is well timed.

[opebo]

Taksin may have been out of the country in order to avoid getting killed.

The spokes man of the military just came on TV here - they have control of Bangkok and the surrounding areas and have taken over. 

Thaksin is OUT!

[MODU]

Taksin was out of the country due to the UN meeting, which is probably why the coup was attempted.  Gain power while those in power are out of the way.  Anyway, it is now reported that the attempted coup isn't working (CNN).

[opebo]

Seems to be working here, MODU - they have full control of the airwaves, and are reporting that they have full control of bangkok and the surrounding areas.

The Thais seem to think it a fait accompli.  They say the national police - who had been pro-Taksin - are now with the military.  Guess they thought if you can't beat 'em join em.

[WalterMitty]

is it business as usual when a coup is going on?

are people on the street?  business being done?

or is it a national emergency type of thing?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

and are reporting that they have full control of bangkok and the surrounding areas.

But then they would say that, wouldn't they?

I guess things will become clearer soon.

[opebo]

is it business as usual when a coup is going on?

are people on the street?  business being done?

or is it a national emergency type of thing?

Well it is certainly business as usual up here, but I'll bet in Bangkok is isn't quite normal.  Someone reported they closed all the bars at midnight.  I'll bet it will all be back to normal in a day or two.  I'm planning a trip to Pattaya in just a day or two - hope nothing interferes!

[WalterMitty]

is it business as usual when a coup is going on?

are people on the street?  business being done?

or is it a national emergency type of thing?

Well it is certainly business as usual up here, but I'll bet in Bangkok is isn't quite normal.  Someone reported they closed all the bars at midnight.  I'll bet it will all be back to normal in a day or two.  I'm planning a trip to Pattaya in just a day or two - hope nothing interferes!

being a foreigner, arent you a tad nervous when something like this happens?

[opebo]

and are reporting that they have full control of bangkok and the surrounding areas.

But then they would say that, wouldn't they?

I guess things will become clearer soon.

Yes, they will.  But I meant that the mere fact that they have control of the airwaves is a big sign.  And the only thing that could stop it now is either 1) an important military unit resisting, which is exceedingly unlikely, or 2) mass civilian protests, but Taksin's support is mainly in far flung provinces so it wouldn't matter.  Bangkok matters.  Well, Bangkok and the person of the King.

being a foreigner, arent you a tad nervous when something like this happens?

Yes.. but not about my safety.  Just about whether I can travel to Pattaya and find everything open.  I'm mostly just excited to be rid of the lousy moralist Taksin.

[opebo]

More rumours - they are saying now that the coup is 'complete', and that the main army forces are simply going back to their barracks, and that the King will appoint an Government tomorrow!

I have no idea if this is just talk.

The baht has fallen a bit, even against the incredibly weak U.S. Dollar.  Also I read that the U.S. stock market is down a bit on this coup.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

oooh, and Thaksin is stuck out of the country. Think they'll seize his assets?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/thailand.coup.rumor/index.html

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The baht has fallen a bit, even against the incredibly weak U.S. Dollar.  Also I read that the U.S. stock market is down a bit on this coup.

While the 1.5% decline in the baht just before the close of trading is no doubt due this news, I doubt the U.S. stock market decline is, since it is no more than its usual daily volatility.

[MODU]

Taksin may have been out of the country in order to avoid getting killed.

The spokes man of the military just came on TV here - they have control of Bangkok and the surrounding areas and have taken over. 

Thaksin is OUT!

Update.  Thaksin and the government still controls state TV, and will be returning to Thailand Wednesday after his speech Tuesday night.  He is not "out" yet, and I doubt that he will be until the November elections.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Reuters seems pretty sure that Thaksin has been overthrown.

---
All news outlets I've seen seem to be making it pretty clear that the military are in total control of Bangkok.

[TomC]

The baht has fallen a bit, even against the incredibly weak U.S. Dollar.  Also I read that the U.S. stock market is down a bit on this coup.

While the 1.5% decline in the baht just before the close of trading is no doubt due this news, I doubt the U.S. stock market decline is, since it is no more than its usual daily volatility.

Yes, it's been on an upswing, so a downward correction is in order. But the media has to attribute some rationale.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The baht has fallen a bit, even against the incredibly weak U.S. Dollar.  Also I read that the U.S. stock market is down a bit on this coup.

While the 1.5% decline in the baht just before the close of trading is no doubt due this news, I doubt the U.S. stock market decline is, since it is no more than its usual daily volatility.

Yes, it's been on an upswing, so a downward correction is in order. But the media has to attribute some rationale.

The only one I've heard attribute today's stock results to what's going on in Thailand is opebo.  The idea of what the media would be like if opebo were in charge is rather revolting, altho part of Wes Medell's rant on Studio 60 last night comes to mind. "It’s just thrown in the towel on any endeavor that doesn’t include the courting of 12-year-old boys, and not even the smart ones. … We’re pornographers! And it’s not even good pornography!”

[ATFFL]

Some US media has called it the cue for the expected profit taking.  Not the cause per se, but making an expected event happen instead of possibly waiting a day or two.

[MODU]

I think a 12 point dip in the Dow is nothing, especially in regards to the events in Thailand.  While there was a quick dip, it was more reactionary than impacting. 

[David S]

More rumours - they are saying now that the coup is 'complete', and that the main army forces are simply going back to their barracks, and that the King will appoint an Government tomorrow!

I have no idea if this is just talk.

The baht has fallen a bit, even against the incredibly weak U.S. Dollar.  Also I read that the U.S. stock market is down a bit on this coup.

Might not be too bad a time for you to get outa Dodge and head on back to the good ole USA until things blow over.

[minionofmidas]

More rumours - they are saying now that the coup is 'complete', and that the main army forces are simply going back to their barracks, and that the King will appoint an Government tomorrow!

I have no idea if this is just talk.

The baht has fallen a bit, even against the incredibly weak U.S. Dollar.  Also I read that the U.S. stock market is down a bit on this coup.

Might not be too bad a time for you to get outa Dodge and head on back to the good ole USA until things blow over.

Better yet, to some more stable semidemocracy in the area ... like Cambodia.