http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/

"A group calling itself the Committee for Democratic Reform under the Monarchy as Head of State has apparently seized control of the government institutions in Bangkok and declared martial law.


We have seen various reports that the military has deployed troops around key government facilities and other strategic locations around Bangkok.


There are no indications of any violence at this point.


We advise all American Citizens to continue to monitor the situation closely, avoid any large gatherings and exercise discretion when moving about the city.


At this point, we are not advising Americans to leave Thailand; however, Americans planning to travel to Thailand may wish to consider deferring travel until the situation becomes clearer.


The Embassy will continue to follow developments closely. If there is any important information regarding the security of US citizens the Embassy will post it on the U.S. Embassy Bangkok and Department of State websites."

Thai Military Declares Martial Law
By SETH MYDANS and THOMAS FULLER
BANGKOK, Wednesday, Sept. 20 — Leaders of Thailand’s armed forces seized control of Bangkok on Tuesday night, suspended the constitution and declared martial law.

They ousted the Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, while he was in New York for a meeting of the United Nations. Mr. Shinawatra had appeared on Thai television to declare a state of emergency but was cut off in mid-speech.

The coup, led by the army’s chief, Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, also “terminated” both houses of parliament, the cabinet and the constitutional court. General Sondhi was named acting prime minister.

Overnight, General Sondhi was shown on television in an audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a clear indication that the revered constitutional monarch endorsed the move.

Late Tuesday night in Bangkok, tanks and armored personnel carriers rolled through heavy rain to block the entrance to the prime minister’s office, while other tanks took up positions at government offices and major intersections. Witnesses reported that roadblocks had been set up around Bangkok.

On a television station controlled by the military, a general in civilian clothes said that a “council of administrative reform,” including the military and the police, had seized power in the name of the king.

Speaking for General Sondhi, who has publicly feuded with Mr. Thaksin, the spokesman said the military did not intend to rule the country and would “hand power back to the people.” He gave no timetable, however.

The spokesman accused Mr. Thaksin of corruption and constant interference with the legislature and the courts. He apologized to the public for any inconvenience caused by the coup.

The announcement came shortly after Mr. Thaksin, in a television broadcast from New York, declared a state of emergency and effectively fired General Sondhi.

But that broadcast was cut off before it was completed, and General Sondhi announced soon afterward that he had revoked the state of emergency. Shortly after that, he announced his own declaration of martial law.

Mr. Thaksin had been scheduled to address the United Nations in New York on Wednesday, but his speech was initially moved up to Tuesday evening because of the coup and later canceled.

Thailand has been embroiled in a political crisis for months. Huge street demonstrations in April forced Mr. Thaksin to step aside and call a snap election, which his party won easily when the opposition boycotted the vote. A court later annulled the result.

An election commission loyal to Mr. Thaksin set a new vote for Oct. 15, but its members were removed and jailed by a court for malfeasance. A new commission has said that the election would be delayed, a development seen as a setback for Mr. Thaksin.

Mr. Thaksin is both one of the most popular and unpopular prime ministers in recent Thai history. The different points of view point to a sharp social divide that he has played on during the crisis.

Mr. Thaksin’s party, Thai Rak Thai, has won three elections by landslides — in 2001, 2005 and again in April — because of broad support among rural voters, who have been the main beneficiaries of his populist policies. He was widely expected to win any new election.

But opposition to him has swelled among the elite, mostly in Bangkok. Public indignation was heightened by his family’s tax-free sale of its $1.9 billion stake in a giant telecommunications company to a Singapore company.

Mr. Thaksin’s government has also been accused of rampant corruption, a charge repeated by the general announcing the takeover on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s televised coup announcement came after reports of large-scale military movements around the capital. The military has been sharply divided between officers loyal to the prime minister — some of them his relatives — and others who oppose him.

There has been tension over an impending military shuffle that would determine which officers were moved into commanding positions.

The website of The Nation, a major daily newspaper here, reported that Mr. Thaksin had ordered General Sondhi to be assigned to the prime minister’s office, where he was to report to Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Chidchai Wannasathit, who is a major general of the national police. That assignment would have effectively stripped General Sondhi of command.

On Monday, speaking to the Council of Foreign Relations in New York, Mr. Thaksin said that he might step down as prime minister after the elections, but that he would remain the head of his party, known as Thai Rak Thai, according to The Associated Press.

During his talk, he joked about the difficulties he was facing, saying that young democracies struggle like a child learning to walk. “I, for one, haven’t seen a child learning to walk without bumping his bottom constantly,” he said. “As adults, we must learn to live with the pain and the pangs of democracy, lest we throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

Thailand has suffered a number of military coups in the past, but Tuesday’s apparent coup was the first in fifteen years. Loudspeaker announcements were heard ordering civilians off the streets, but no formal curfew was announced.

Though Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and the king has only limited formal political power, he is highly influential and is revered by the Thai public after more than 5o years on the throne. Armored vehicles seen moving in the capital bore ribbons of bright yellow, a color associated with the monarchy, news agencies reported.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/world/asia/20thaicnd.html?ei=5094&en=f076b8d685fd69d1&hp=&ex=1158724800&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print

Where to check travel conditions in Thailand

By Kristin Jackson
Seattle Times travel staff

The military coup in Thailand has brought tanks and soldiers into some streets in Bangkok. Although the city was quiet this morning – army leaders said they had taken control without resistance or violence — those who have relatives or friends traveling in Thailand may be concerned.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who's in New York where he was due to speak at the United Nations, has declared a state of emergency; the coup leaders in Bangkok have declared martial law. Trucks with loudspeakers were ordering civilians off the street in some parts of the sprawling city and troops were at government buildings.

As yet, it's unclear what restrictions/delays there may be in travel; Bangkok's airport was operating normally and international flights were continuing.

Here's where to find information, including emergency contacts in case the situation turns worse.

The U.S. State Department can assist U.S. travelers and likely will soon issue a bulletin on Thailand. Get information at www.travel.state.gov or by phone at 888-407-4747. That phone number also can be used to speak to State Dept. staff in case of an emergency involving a U.S. citizen overseas.


Travelers can register online through the State Dept. with the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok; such registration is recommended by the State Dept. for travel to all countries where's there's civil unrest so consular staff can assist them. The State Dept. also likely will soon make an announcement on Thailand. It will be available online or through its phone line (www.travel.state.gov or 888-407-4747)


In Bangkok, the U.S. Embassy can assist American travelers (and residents). Get general information at its Web page at bangkok.usembassy.gov or phone (66-2) 205-4000. In case of emergency, the embassy's office of American Citizen Services is at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok, near Lumpini Park and across from the main U.S. Embassy. The email is acsbkk@state.gov and the Web site is bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/acs.htm In case of emergency or deaths, phone (66-2) 205-4000 and ask for American Citizen Services (during business hours) or the duty officer (after hours).

In the northern city of Chiang Mai, a popular destination for American and European travelers, there is a U.S. Consulate: bangkok.usembassy.gov/consulcm/index.htm or phone (66-53) 252-629. It's at 387 Wichayanond Road, Chiang Mai.

A good media source for updates on the situation is the Bangkok Post, an English-language daily newspaper that's online at www.bangkokpost.net (The Web site takes time to load because of heavy online traffic.)

Those due to travel soon to Thailand should talk with their airline or travel agent about delaying flights until the situation becomes more clear. Air travel already had been in a state of flux as Bangkok is opening its new Suvarnabhumi airport. A handful of Thai Airways domestic flights and some international flights started using it in recent days; full commercial service was due to begin on Sept. 28. However, there were computer glitches and delays even before the coup.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003265809&zsection_id=2002113000&slug=webthaitravel19&date=20060919

Them tanks left over from WWII?

Ironeagle, great pix of this current situation. We pray that it does not end in bloodshed.

Bluelight, not sure about your intentions of your sarcastic comment, but I would not want to mess with the Thais when they are pissed off! You should not underestimate Asian forces - remember Vietnam?

IE a picture paints a thousand words thanks for keeping us up to date. My contacts say that there shouldn't be any problems in the cities it is in the country and small towns where Thaksin has his his support and where there may be problems but the Thais are fearsly patriotic and the king is a strong staberlising force. I guess we will have to wait and see.

I have jumped out of Chinooks with Thai soldiers at Ft Meade, Maryland. You can only earn a pair of American wings by jumping out of an American aircraft and vice-versa.

This guy appeared to be real mean and didnt seem like the flunkies in my unit. He was a professional soldier and didnt appear to be in it for the college benefits.

Soldiers in the United States do not train to the same level as foreign troops. A country like Thailand trains their troops hard. No political correctness involved in the training. The countries that surround Thailand are not nice places so the Thai soldiers need to be harder. They train like a country at war.

Dave,

Bluelight is wrong, those tanks are not from WWII. They appear to be M41 Walker Bulldogs, which were produced in the early 1950's during the Korean War. Still usable for crowd control, but certainly not usuable on a modern battlefield.

Hopefully this will continue to be a peaceful transition. IE - what's the explosion pic? I didn't think there had been any fighting?

These soldiers appear to be part of a drill&ceremony team. The tank is Korean war era, but it looks like it was just taken off the assembly line yesterday. All the uniforms are nice&green, no fading. Their boots appear to have been spit-shined and I think I even spot armor-all on the Humvees tires.

In a real unit, not everything is as spit&polish like you see here. In a real unit, you would see some guys sporting very faded uniforms. The boots are not all spit polished, the Humvee would be rusty and the tank would have some mud somewhere. A real field tank and Humvee has faded paint all over it and obvious imperfections.

They used the 20-round clips which are usually used for ceremony purposes. Its easier to manuever an M-16 during ceremony with a 20-round clip. Why not use the 30-rounders?

The most telling part of the whole picture is that the ejector ports are closed. These rifles are not ready to be fired. They might not even be loaded.

My guess is that they use this unit for parades.

Parade military units with 50 year old tanks? This gets better and better. No wonder no one takes this seriously, gold was down $13 today.

Thanks for the details Ironeagle, get intel.

The most important thing is to oust a dictator like Toxin! Stickman told me that he has seen people cheering in the streets. Latest is that Toxin might have to flee into political exile, apparently he is heading for the UK.

In a few hours STICKMAN will have new photos taken by him of the Thai Army on the streets in BKK. For more photos take a look here...

http://www.StickmanBangkok.com

Hi Bluelight
When it comes to the M41 tanks and lack of hi teck weapons remember that Thailand is unlikely to encounter a first class army, but is more concerned with drug lords from Cambo and the golden triangle as well as there problem neighbours. Before you laugh at the Thai Army I would look at what is happening to the USA in Iraq and those rag heads have no tanks.

AS for the gold price, its Sept-Oct its the same thing almost every year. the fouth quaret dip.

IE, took some cajones to take those pics, no?

Isawal, well said buddy. Some guys have short memories. Vietnam was a total disaster for the American forces. New, shinning armour is no use against an enemy that you cannot engage!

Hi Dave

From everything I read I see no reason to change my plans for Nov, so I will expect you at my BD bash ready to drink a little African fire water.

I just checked out STICKMAN's web sight. His new pictures are posted along with a very informative report. It seems even Thai coups are done with a smile.

I just noticed in Stickman’s report, the soldiers in some of the pictures have taken the magazines out of their rifles. I have heard of bloodless military coups but bulletless?

Politically motivated it was clearly a "show" of force. As a few Thais said to me, "The Thai people are not worried, so foreigners have no reason to worry." Other Thais are frustrated that foreign media get the story totally wrong. As complicated as Thai politics can be, the Thais do feel that a lot of foreigners are very ignorant in terms of their country. Many Thais were smiling and happy because they know Toxin's reign of terror is over!

Isawal, I try my best to post useful info for the guys, but you can't please everybody. Most guys appreciate the efforts I make so I continue to keep posting. I am pleased that you reported that my good friend Stickman's news update is very good. There would be no sense for me to post bad or misleading information. I don't always agree with what Stickman says, but on this occasion he has unselfishly worked hard to report the situation in BKK from first hand.

Again for those who want an accurate report rather than the absolute garbage on FOX NEWS, here is the link to his website...

http://www.StickmanBangkok.com

Hi Dave
As well you know I have always trusted your opinion and information as my barfines from AW will confirm.

Thanks a lot Isawal, I'm sure you are one of many happy people who don't just visit Angelwitch, but many good bars in Thailand. It gives me satisfaction knowing that my friends are happy.

I don't give a shit about the vintage or model of tanks and guns.

Somebody please tell me if the new government will make mongering better or worse.

Hot4ass2, your question is more relevant to the mongers' interests on this board, but it's an impossible one to answer. We don't have any magical powers to see who the next gov will be, or how LOS will be governed. As I have already said, there is an air of uncertainty because LOS is technically still under military law. How can we tell what the government intend to do, when a new government has not even been appointed?

Dave
As you well know Thailand was wide open during the prior military Govt but these are different times. They may not want to roll back the changes that have been made who knows ? MY opinion -and I know everyone has one of those and something else- is that the restrictions will gradually be loosened with less and less strict enforcement. Likely will never get back to the wild and woolly days of the 80's and early 90's but BKK especially should benefit . The next civilian govt will be another hurdle to jump but that's a year away at least I'll wager.

Hi Khun Mor, currently things are rolling along nicely for the bars in LOS. Pattaya is party paradise as usual (depending on heavy rainfall) and the official closing times (for most bars in Pattaya) remains at 3.00am. In Nana Plaza we have not been closing until after 2.00am, in fact closer to 2.30am. So far so good, but IMO the whole situation needs to be monitored closely. I think you are right that things will settle down eventually but it will be a matter of time. Some mongers must not expect change overnight.

I was out and about today and didn't see a single soldier or military vehicle. Maybe they are at the Government House, but not my usual stomping grounds. Everything here is back to normal for all intents and purposes.

Ironeagle, did you by any chance get any pics of the tanks that were up on Ratchada the first couple days?

Hi Sojourner, I hope that you can swing by sometime to have a chat. I find it ironic that the rain is a much bigger obsticle for the bar biz than a military coup was, only in Thailand.

I sincerely hope you all are not that naive or stupid enough to think IE took any of those pics....

Don Marco, are you talking about honour among whore-mongers? Ironeagle stole the lot from the Internet, but Stickman's were all his own photos. Unlike Ironeagle, Stickman unselfishly went out amid the military coup and took photos for the update on his website.

DM, those comments were meant light-heartedly! Before some politicaly correct guy reads that and we have a coup among mongers LOL!

I wouldnt say "stolen". I like the word "jacked" or maybe even "pimped".

Pimped the photos off of cnn.com. Thank you CNN for doing all the hard work while I sit here at my terminal. Next time I might be so kind to throw down a footnote to give you credit. I wasnt in the mood and wanted to be the pimp, so I jacked them off your site. Thanks again.

Ironeagle, glad to see that CNN did something right. Unlike FOX NEWS who are total morons!

I am planning a trip for the beginning of November. It will be my first trip to BKK. Is it safe to go now with the recent coup?

Lick,

Have you read any of the posts in the Asia chat section from the last week?

lick
It was safe DURING the coup . Just as safe as the last dozen coups in Thailand. It was and will be a totally peaceful event and has the King's blessing thus insuring no opposition.

This is a response from the ex-pats here in Thailand - "Coup, what coup?"

"Oh, do you mean when we had our photos taken with the soldiers."

Lick, we hope you wake up before you land in Thailand, or the bargirls will take a naive newbie to the cleaners LOL!

Khun Mor, actually they've had a couple coups that have gotten pretty violent, but I only heard of one or two people, and no foreigners, getting hurt by the military this time, and those reports were anecdotal as passed on by my Thai friends.

Lick, when I left Thailand earlier this week, you'd never know there was any kind of military coup around Bangkok, unless you had read the news or someone told you. The army was few and far between, although I understand they are still hanging around a few government buildings, on the northern outskirts of Bangkok, and up in Chiang Mai (Thaksin's stomping grounds). Don't cancel your plans to visit Thailand out of any fears about the coup.

Everybody thanks for all the advice. I had read a bulletin last week from the Thai embassy discouraging people planning to travel to Thailand to hold off but that was last week! I will definitely go ahead with the trip.

This was the sum total effect of the military coup on the average expat/visitor to Thailand.

Day 1: Some nervousness as the news breaks around 10 or 11 pm. If you were in Patpong, I understand they closed at 12, in honor of the curfew. A few bars, which were already devoid of customers, closed in my plaza at the same time. My bar remained open until 3:30 AM. The flower guy that comes to our bar told me that NaNa and Cowboy were business as usual.

Day 2: If you are an English teacher or student, you had a day off. If you needed to do any banking, you were out of luck. If you needed to make a transaction on the Thai stock market, you were out of luck. Everything else continued as normal.

Day 3 to present: Absolutely no changes whatsoever. In fairness, if you're around the government buildings, you might see a tank or two. And, I've seen a total of two soldiers standing around the Asoke junction of Sukhumvit.

This is the absolute truth, from someone living here. I'm sure that Dave and any other expats or current vacationers on this board will echo my summary.

Manos.

Manos, you are spot on. No sweat at all, some would like a crisis but it didn't happen.

Business as usual all the way through, Nana Plaza has not closed before 2.00am in months. And, in fact during and after the coup Nana Plaza now closes later. ANGELWITCH is closing at 2.30am or sometimes later on party nights.

Just ended a massive party night in ANGELWITCH, almost 60 Barfines and a ton of fun. Some people just don't know what they are missing!

Dave
I didn't realize you had 60 girls working there.
Either a bunch of them came back for a second go around or perhaps you and Matt were also barfined.




However you cut it the bar must have had zero pooying by the end of the night.

Khun Mor, we would be in a desperate state if Matt and I had to get Barfined. Lord help us LOL!

With Pretty Lady closed we took on a whole bunch of their BG's and the number of girls in AW has been steadily increasing for some time now. Currently AW has the most amount of BG's the bar has ever had. Counting everybody (dancers, showgirls, service, etc), Angelwitch has 100 girls working there.

Manos, as for our credibility if guys don't want to believe us that is their problem. After all this time they should realise who is who!

The closing of Pretty Lady certainly helped alot of NaNa bars, none moreso than Angelwitch. I'm still amazed that the owners (after all this time) haven't come to some sort of agreement. To my eye, prior to the closing, Pretty Lady was doing very good trade. I shudder to think of all the money lost during this dispute.

Manos.

Dave
How the hell do you stuff 100 girls into AW ?? Is David Copperfield your co-manager ?

Gotta be one sardine can during peak show hours.
I guess I hve no choice but to come see this eighth wonder of the world for myself soon.

Manos
You obviously are well aware of the perverse sense of business the Thais have sometimes. They would rather go bust that give in on some minor point that they think is doing them wrong or breaking their face.
I have no idea of the dispute involved here but I'd be willing to wager it's a point of principle not money that is the real hang up.

Mano,

I did see a small armored personnel carrier (or maybe just a big humvee?) and a couple soldiers standing under the underpass between Nana and Ploenchit skytrain stations, but that was as close to the areas most guys here hang out that I saw any sign of the army. I think they probably intentionally tried to avoid creating a stir in the tourist areas.

Hey Sojourner, perhaps the invisibility was because the Thais have "stealth soldiers!"

Khun Mor, the total pool of staff is about 100 but of course they never all turn up on the same night. Again last night almost 50 BF and it was a Sunday night. Regarding PRETTY LADY the two owners Thai/Farang are locked into a legal battle over the ownership. Yes, they were fighting over who is to run it. Latest news is that to sell PL might be their best option.

Manos, big loss for Pretty Lady and a HUGE gain for ANGELWITCH. My Bosses are laughing all the way to the bank!

I was on my 3rd pattaya trip, when the coup happened. nothing as usual in pattaya. the fucking was more intense on the coup night !! with my girl