Gen Pathompong Kesornsuk, former chief advisor of the Supreme Command, urged Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda to stage coup to prevent himself from being sacked by the government.
Speaking to protesters at the Government House, Pathompong said the Army chief should not allow Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to purge him.
Coup rumours were widely spread Thursday with a lot of phone calls being made to several newspapers’ editorial offices to check whether coup was being staged. (Nation)
The state of mind of some high ranking officers is very clear… Many rumors…
Meanwhile, Somchai, the alleged Prime Minister, seems already on the run, after he retreated in Chiang Mai. He was then followed by the other ministers. A special meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled…
To meet is good. Talking is good. To consider is good too. 😉
Meeting with the prime minister in Chiang Mai, 350 miles (570 kilometers) north of Bangkok, the Cabinet would consider both an emergency decree or the use of a tough internal security law, government spokesman Nattawut Sai-kua said.
“We have to consider these legal options to solve the crisis,” he said before the afternoon meeting. (AP)
No escape : they have to decide something.
Thailand Crisis 
Strange thing is that today for the first time I heard a taxi driver talk very disrespectfully about a member of the royal family as criticism for backing the PAD. I think this kind of behavior of the taxi driver is not acceptable.
Gen Pathompong has identified himself as a PAD supporter for months. I do not believe that Gen Pathompong has any power to influence Gen Anupong so I do not take his urge to stage coup seriously. Unlike China’s PLA, US or European Armies, the Thai Army produces an army of Gens, Lt Gen, and Maj Gen, many of whom do not have commanding authority. But also many of them either are subservient to politicians, businessmen or run underground businesses. Remember the Pro-Thaksin “Sae-Daeng”, who in the past weeks saber-rattled over PAD on a daily basis? He is also a Maj Gen.
Democracy in Thailand is just a joke. Thailand as a modern state is also a joke. Political parties in Thailand are also a bunch of crooks. In essence, it is still a warlord society, comprising cronies/factions in every field.
Coup rumors all over the trading desk this afternoon.
and at the end it will turn out that these are only rumors. Coups usually come out of the dark
Not really. In september 2006, it was exactly the same : void, confusion within the gvt, rumors and then… bam… the tanks on the street. Although it was a “nanny coup”.
If another coup happens now, violence would explode. The PPP supporters would not stay quiet this time…
Do you think that the PPP supporters will fight the army for 500 a day. I doubt so, but I realize that many taxi drivers are Thaksin fanatics.
TC:
“If another coup happens now, violence would explode. The PPP supporters would not stay quiet this time…”
I beg to disagree. If another coup, the real coup, happens, says, in favour of PAD, the PPP supporters will flee. Unlike PAD supporters, PPP supporters work for Thaksin’s money, not for their conviction. In contrast, violence could erupt and go out of control if there were no coup. Again, this is what Thaksin supporters use to falsely glorify Thaksin as the champion of democracy but purposely overlook the fact that he is convicted.
I absolutly disagree with that.
Try for one second to think like a PPP supporter : basically, since end of 2005 (first rallies against Thaksin, less than 1 year after his electoral victory) your vote is stolen, despised, insulted, every single day… despite another electoral victory in december 2007.
So okay, some red shirts thugs, like their counterparts of the PAD, are soldiers of fortune. Paid. But do not underestimate the anger of many “normal” and common people… They are angry, even probably now full of hatred.
It would be a real mistake to underestimate them.
And this is precisely why, a “nanny coup” like 2006 with “Droopy Surayud” and “Dumbo Sonthi” (copyright myself 😉 )… is impossible.
:::::::::FRESH UPDATE:::::::::
There are eyewitness reports that tanks are rolling into Bangkok area.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please follow the situation close.
PM will make a statement on TV at 6 PM.
::::::::FRESH UPDATE #2::::::::
Rumour has it that Somchai has sacked Gen Anupong. Will confirm the news again shortly.
@Wrongfred
There is a simple reason why the taxi drivers love Thaksin. In former days the taxi licenses have been in the hand of a few companies and the taxi drivers had to rent the caps on a daily base.
By issuing thousands of new taxi licenses, the Thaksin governement sponsored a program for taxi drivers to buy there own taxi cab (with credits from a bank owned by Thaksin – from a trader company who bellongs to Thaksin). Usual system – I help you a little and I profit a lot. That is also the reason why there are too many taxis in Bangkok. And the taxi drivers had to go deep into depth and paye every bath to the lesing company. But the taxi drivers only see, that Thaksin helped them to become independent at first stage.
And thats why they love Thaksin.
Not only ThaiChris… not only.
if you say that you really underestimate the situation I believe.
Like to say : “all PPP voters have been paid”.
Yes, you’re right some people are thinking like this : Thaksin gave me that, therefore he’s a good man, therefore I support him.
But many other are just angry to be treated like shit, like undermenchen over and over (coup etc.).
People are not totally retarded. They start to understand that something is fundamentally wrong and flawed within the Kingdom (wealth distribution, education, corruption etc.)
And for that matter, Thaksin appears (right or wrong) like someone against the establishment….
It’s a very powerful source of support.
And this is why is think the thai society is deeply divided, not only on the surface (which color do you prefer, red or yellow ? Obama or McCain? ). Non. It’s much more deeper.
It’s a freaking social class division. And this is dangerous.
So you are saying taht if there is a coup this time it would be far more violent thatn the “nanny coup” in 2006.
It’s obvious !
SMSs were sent all over AIS mobile phone network, persuading and mobilizing UDD supporters against the Army. Let’s see if they can.
@ chinesethai
“Unlike PAD supporters, PPP supporters work for Thaksin’s money, not for their conviction.”
Obviously you are under the influence of some PAD reality distortion field. TC gave correct answers already. But I am not astonished that you are under this impression. I have to admit that it also took me some time before I realised that among the PAD supporters one can find people who are actually concerned about corruption or the future of the Thai democracy. Nevertheless they are the same sort of useful idiots for the yellow camp as you will find in the red camp.
TC:
Can you see now why we Thais found rumours, eyewitness reports more credible than Thai journalists?
That’s why I took off the cable and install satellite dish for Nation Channel, Al Jazeera, CCTV, TVBS, Channel News Asia, BBC, NHK, VOA and Arirang. Cheaper than paying 2x,xxx/year perpetually. 🙂
@TC
I don’t underestimate at all. This love goes very deep. The reason might be different but for all Thaksin supporters it was te first time (beside the kings family) that somebody did something for the ppor, uneducated.
Thaksin could have become the best PM Thailand ever had. Or the richest man of Thailand. But he tried to achieve both at the same time. That is why he failed and why he should not be allowed to come back. He still wants both.
And they still want him. But I’m not sure if the mass comes out and fight. Because they want the miracle and not the death.
paperback,
Then you underestimated me big time. I had experience on the ground with these people. They may have love for Thaksin but their willing to fight for Thaksin is another story.
chinesethai,
then you misunderstood me big time. As TC explained, the motivation of a great part of PPP/UDD supporters is not some paid-for affection for Thaksin but the realisation that they are on the loser side of a huge class division. They won’t fight “for Thaksin”, they would fight for a better livelihood.
Of course the willingness to oppose another coup will be directly linked to the amount of force the military is ready to use. If they are willing to create a Tiananmen in Bangkok a coup will certainly be able to restore “law” and “order”.
i agree with chinesethai that if there is a violent coup the udd will not come out. they are paid to gather/rally not to fight. one observation is that when the red gang attack the attack like pack of wolves for eg in udonthani and in viphavadi road. i saw the press conference yest. evening and gen. anupong was asked what if he was sacked? his reply was if he was worried about it he could stage a coup and be in the pole position.
the most stupid thing pm somchai can do is fire gen anupong.at the moment the ppp is blaming all the mess on the military by saying that it did not do its job.
right now gen anupong is not popular with pad and govt.
lets not forget that even in the military there are 2 factions pro and against thaksin.
tc as for yr last post about thaksin helping the poor. his banking scheme for low interest for the poor is the same scheme as u pay yr car installment. so the interest is actully double and yr principal does not go down as u pay the monthly payments.
in hindsight if gen saprang was the commander in chief instead of gen anupong there would have already been a coup. gen saprang is a royalist to the bone.
I was trying to find out more about the tanks on the road however I was not successful. Some witnesses on Thaivisa mentioned that there were some movements of soldiers and tanks near the Don Muang area.
I share Chinesethai feeling on dubious probability of arm resistance by “Red shirt”, but for wholely different reason.
Not all who wear red are paid as not all who wear yellow are not paid(or brought in from the South).
But for the prior umpteen coups, never once did the “Rural strike back” come to Bangkok. May be this time, they tasted power and know hope. They might come or they might not. I’ld put it a 50/50 of them coming. Even the crappy, aluminion-piece-of-shit Sciopian tank would be deadly enough for lightly arm, lightly train resistance.
But one thing for sure, if there is a coup. There wont be democracy or another election(may be at a ratio of elect/select 70/30) this time around.
I agree with you, fall.
I spent today talking to someone from upcountry. He was pro-Thaksin. His argument was the typical one: ALL politicians are rotten, but he gave us something for the first time, and treated us with dignity – we won’t forget that. He was very well informed about the situation, the PAD, and their shadowy backers.
I asked him what he felt people upcountry would do if they were removed from the electoral process by some means. He went quiet and said they would not be happy. Read into that what you will…
“Unlike PAD supporters, PPP supporters work for Thaksin’s money, not for their conviction.”
uahahahaha !
PAD are not paid, huh?
and where from they got those 35mln THB after Oct 7 which Chamlong himself proudly announced?
(that is only one amount he has publicly announced – and how MUCH MORE they get regularly which they do not mention?)
where from they get ALL those equipment, and food supply and everything else in their camp, all the “logistics”?
or may be that is not considered as “paid” ?
oh, yeah. perhaps “paid” here implies “give small amount of money as personal allowance”?
well, in this meaning to I am SURE and I know that MANY of PAD are also being paid ! I know this for a fact.
therefore this kind of rhetoric is from category
“kettle calls pot black”
perhaps NorPorChor (and/ or some investigative reporters with consience, if any) must research this and find evidences and expose PAD. because PAD always uses this as one of their main argument. but once they are exposed as doing the same, perhaps even at much bigger scale – they will stop using this “lame duck” silly argument.
I went to the last two UDD rally, at the stadium and in the temple. I was never paid.
I used my own money to go all the way from Bangkok to Nonthaburi. I even bought some of their CDs, books, and merchandises.
And I’m not even a PPP supporter. In fact, I hate Thaksin and his corrupt ways.
But I won’t tolerate another coup. I won’t let them take away my freedom and my right to vote. Never.
And I’m not the only one that think that way. Thais who value democracy will not sit still this time.
If the tanks roll, I will get out. They will all get out.
ThaiCrisis is right: it’s a social class division. And it’s dangerous. We all know who’s behind this.
If “they” think they can slap on the people’s face again, France and Nepal are good examples.
Don’t believe me? Just wait and see…
dtry,
that is the ultimate goal of chakaphob/veera and party. the rest is just details. why do u think hmk has not come out? he has only one shot at this and if it is not successful chakaphjob/veera and co. will smell blood and the pipe dream of republic of thailnad is not a pipe dream anymore.
for them thaksin and his money is just a means to an end. they dont really care about him.