Standoff ... tanks ready outside Government House in Bangkok / Reuters From correspondents in Bangkok
September 20, 2006
Article from: Agence France-Presse
FORCES loyal to Thailand's sacked military commander Lieutenant General Sonthi Boonyaratglin have seized the prime minister's office.
Witnesses said troops had seized Government House with soldiers ordering police inside the Government House building to lay down their arms.
At least 20 soldiers had entered the building, according to reporters inside.
Armoured units of the Thai military blocked the area around Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra offices with tanks, witnesses said today.
Rumours of a military coup swept the Thai capital after an army-owned television station suspended regular programming and played patriotic songs.
On a government-owned TV station, Mr Thaksin - now on a visit to New York - declared a state of emergency.
“The Prime Minister with the approval of the Cabinet declares serious emergency law in Bangkok from now on” Mr Thaksin said.
He said he was ordering the transfer of the nation's army chief to work in the prime minister's office, effectively suspending him from his military duties.
Several hundred soldiers were deployed at key points in the capital of Bangkok, including government installations and major intersections, witnesses said.
Army-owned TV channel 5 interrupted regular broadcasts with patriotic music and showed pictures of the king. At least some radio and television stations monitored in Bangkok suspended programming.
The cable television station of the Nation newspaper reported that tanks were parked at the Rachadamnoen Road and royal plaza close to the royal palace and government offices.
Local radio station Ruam Duay Chuay Kan interrupted its programming just as a reporter was about to give information from Government House, where Mr Thaksin has his office.
The White House said it was aware of breaking news reports about the political situation in Thailand and was seeking additional information.
“We've seen the reports, and we are seeking additional information,” national security spokesman Frederick Jones said as US President George W. Bush prepared to address the United Nations General Assembly.
The British foreign ministry said it was trying to find out more about what was happening in Thailand.
“We are aware of reports of tanks on the street of Bangkok, and the Thai prime minister calling a state of emergency,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.
“We are trying to establish details of what has happened,” he added, giving no further details.
Witnesses said troops had seized Government House with soldiers ordering police inside the Government House building to lay down their arms.
At least 20 soldiers had entered the building, according to reporters inside.
Armoured units of the Thai military blocked the area around Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra offices with tanks, witnesses said today.
Rumours of a military coup swept the Thai capital after an army-owned television station suspended regular programming and played patriotic songs.
On a government-owned TV station, Mr Thaksin - now on a visit to New York - declared a state of emergency.
“The Prime Minister with the approval of the Cabinet declares serious emergency law in Bangkok from now on” Mr Thaksin said.
He said he was ordering the transfer of the nation's army chief to work in the prime minister's office, effectively suspending him from his military duties.
Several hundred soldiers were deployed at key points in the capital of Bangkok, including government installations and major intersections, witnesses said.
Army-owned TV channel 5 interrupted regular broadcasts with patriotic music and showed pictures of the king. At least some radio and television stations monitored in Bangkok suspended programming.
The cable television station of the Nation newspaper reported that tanks were parked at the Rachadamnoen Road and royal plaza close to the royal palace and government offices.
Local radio station Ruam Duay Chuay Kan interrupted its programming just as a reporter was about to give information from Government House, where Mr Thaksin has his office.
The White House said it was aware of breaking news reports about the political situation in Thailand and was seeking additional information.
“We've seen the reports, and we are seeking additional information,” national security spokesman Frederick Jones said as US President George W. Bush prepared to address the United Nations General Assembly.
The British foreign ministry said it was trying to find out more about what was happening in Thailand.
“We are aware of reports of tanks on the street of Bangkok, and the Thai prime minister calling a state of emergency,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.
“We are trying to establish details of what has happened,” he added, giving no further details.
14 comments:
Since our Independance from France, no Khmer TYRANTS (SIHANOUSS, LON NOL, YUON XEN) could'nt stay for ever, because they are all damned.
YUON XEN will not make an exception to this rule. It will soon be time for him, his family and his collaborators to pay for their crime and high treason.
The cambodian people and king are too weak to overthrow Hun Sen. Unlike thailand, Hun Sen has control of the army.
First and for most, let me congratulate the Thai people who stand up against the Almighty Thaksin.
Posted 1:03, Khmer people are up against the wall now. I do not know if there is any room left for them to move (To Rainsy? to Rann-Aridh?). You know that when the dog has no place to run, he will bite. I am not saying that Khmer people are dogs, don't get me wrong. Like many other predicted, "Hun Sen's Days will be just numbers!!!"
NKM
Mr. HUN SEN best friend is going down! Soon Mr. HUN SEN won't have any friend left to admire how strong he is!
Ok Strongman! So when is it your turn to go down! Remember Cambodia will not go down with you!
Can this take place in VN and Cambodia?
In response to previous question"Can this take place in VN and Cambodia?"......
Well, this question is lying upon the Chief Of RCAF. Is Keo Kimyan ready the current Phnom Penh regime yet? Is his faction ready to confront with Hun Sen Factional Forces yet? and is Chea Sim-Sar Kheng group had enough of Hun Sen and his dogs yet? And that has been the question that we, the common people, has been waiting for the answer. Are you ready guys?
Never Give UP!
HUN SEN WILL BUY ALSO HIS OWN COFFIN
By dint of hungering for murder of his opponents, YUON SEN will soon digg his own grave.
Let and see.
Cambodian National Army should learn about Thailand National Army which belong to the state instead of Political party. Hun Sen is recently out of line, the army is very sleepy leting Cambodia reputation to a country of jungle controled by a jungle man.
HUN SEN READY TO MAKE
NEW 1997 BLOOD COUP
YUON FORECASTER
Ke, Kim Yoy was my classmate in the 70's.He is a Vietnamese born in Cambodia. Anyone knew that Ke, kim Yan , Hok Lundy, or Meas Sophea etc.... is a real Khmer or a viet born in Cambodia?
If they had Viet descendants ,it is very hard for Cambodia to get a change of government as Thailand today.
We knew that Heng Pov has Viet connection that's why he rose quickly to the star rank .
What Thailand tells us, is that democracy and ballot box didn't work or fast enough....The man is so bad that he must be removed by force. Thai people could blaime it on their stubburn Minister. They don't like them. What he did was wrong and he did not listen. It would have been easier, If The PM had resigned. Well, now what? get stucked in NY and never able to come home? MR. PM was in NY when this happens wasn't he? He was supposed to give speech at the UN's meeting. It's night time in Thailand. I cann't wait to see tomorrow...
Mr. PM at home, It would be so nice and pleasant,if you would leave the office and avoid such fate now...
No wait! In Thailand, Mr.PM deosn't have any control over the Military. In our land, it's the opposit. What does that tell us?
4:01a.m, you may be right. We'd better be looking out or 100 or more of our own real patriotism people will dissappear forever from the face of this earth.
Man that is in power for almost 30 years with no one can challenge him, his category of dangerous is sky rocket. We need to realy realy understand that. Be always on look out and be extremely extremely careful!
No wait! In Thailand, Mr.PM deosn't have any control over the Military. In our land, it's the opposit. What does that tell us?
4:01a.m, you may be right. We'd better be looking out or 100 or more of our own real patriotism people will dissappear forever from the face of this earth.
Man like our P.M, his category of dangerous is sky rocket. We should know and need to realy realy understand that. It's foolish to underestimate a bull dog or wild animal.
The Viets are in control of our armed forces and national police. Those junior commanders, soldiers and police only work to get some money to feed their families. The armed forces and national police only serve Hun Sen and CPP, not the country as in Thailand.
Let's hope the event in Thailand encourages Khmer soldiers and police to stand up and protect their motherland as they should. They should no longer serve the corrupt criminals in power and those powerful Viets in Khmer disguise.
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