Thai coup

My father lives in Bangkok, Thailand, a beautiful and normally peaceful country. The majority of people there are Bhuddist. I called him tonight to see if he knew anything about the miltary coup taking place there. He was not aware of it before I called, but was not overly concerned. After a little while he called me back and said that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was leading a corrupt government and that he had recently pushed through promotions of generals he was friendly with. Not a smart move. Apparently that ticked off some others in the military. It seems as though the military is loyal to the King and there is not much threat of violence. There has been unhappiness over recent elections and some influence the Prime Minister used to benefit his family’s business.

We probably know more than he does right now as they have cut off the local and international television.

Here’s a timeline of recent events leading up to this situation according to CNN:

(Reuters) — Following are several recent political developments in Thailand leading to Tuesday’s declaration of a state of emergency by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra:

February 6, 2005: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) Party wins a second landslide election victory, taking 377 of the 500 seats in parliament.

September 9, 2005: State-run television takes a current affairs show hosted by Thaksin’s former business associate, Sondhi Limthongkul, off the air, citing repetition of “unfair” criticism of various parties.

January 23, 2006: Thaksin’s relatives sell their controlling stake in Shin Corp, the telecoms empire he founded, to Singapore state investment firm Temasek. The tax-free $1.9 billion sale angers Bangkok’s middle classes and adds momentum to Sondhi’s campaign.

February 24: Thaksin calls a snap election on April 2, three years early and two days before a big anti-government rally.

February 27: Three main opposition parties announce an election boycott after Thaksin rejects their demand for a neutral body to reform the constitution.

April 2: Election is held despite opposition boycott.

April 4: After a strong protest vote, Thaksin meets revered King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, before announcing on national TV that he will step down as soon as the next parliament meets.

April 5: Thaksin hands day-to-day power to Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya.

April 26: The three main opposition parties say they will stand in a new election if April 2 poll is annulled.

May 8: Constitutional Court rules that the election is unconstitutional and a new poll should be held.

May 23: Thaksin takes back reins of power, saying it was time to get back work on economic and security issues.

May 30: Government sets election re-run for Oct. 15. King approves the re-run in late July saying he wants a swift end to the crisis.

July 20: Thai army chief unexpectedly re-assigns more than 100 middle-ranking officers thought to be supporters of Thaksin, adding to rumors about divided army and possible coup.

September 19: Thaksin declares a state of emergency after tanks surround Government House.