The Revolution will NOT be televised!
(At least not in THIS country)
Just when I was beginning to become complacent about everyday life here in Bangkok, somebody goes and starts a Coup d'etat! Last night an unknown number of tanks, humvees, APCs, and soldiers moved in to central Bangkok and effectively removed Prime Minister Thaksin (and about a half dozen of his associates) from power. It was an entirely peaceful demonstration of the Thai version of democracy: The majority rural population votes in a right wing government and the Bangkok leftists find way to get rid of it. As of this morning there has still been no reported violence and the whole city seems completely calm and not nearly as disturbed as one might expect. My guess is that while this isn't the way they wanted Thaksin to go down, the people are happy to be rid of him, at least in the city.
The schools and Universities are closed today, and supposedly the King has declared this some strange form of National Holiday. Details are sketchy, but either way, I have little to do today but refresh the BBCNews homepage. The CNNInternational and BBCWorld cable news broadcasts were shutdown in this country shortly after midnight, and they have yet to return. All we have to watch now is a state controlled channel that is simply airing pictures of the King and patriotic songs, which occasionally have been subtitled in English for us.
UPDATE: The state controlled television networks have returned to air news in Thai. The cable news networks have not been returned, likely to prevent Thaksin from being able to make any statements to the Thai people.
Just when I was beginning to become complacent about everyday life here in Bangkok, somebody goes and starts a Coup d'etat! Last night an unknown number of tanks, humvees, APCs, and soldiers moved in to central Bangkok and effectively removed Prime Minister Thaksin (and about a half dozen of his associates) from power. It was an entirely peaceful demonstration of the Thai version of democracy: The majority rural population votes in a right wing government and the Bangkok leftists find way to get rid of it. As of this morning there has still been no reported violence and the whole city seems completely calm and not nearly as disturbed as one might expect. My guess is that while this isn't the way they wanted Thaksin to go down, the people are happy to be rid of him, at least in the city.
The schools and Universities are closed today, and supposedly the King has declared this some strange form of National Holiday. Details are sketchy, but either way, I have little to do today but refresh the BBCNews homepage. The CNNInternational and BBCWorld cable news broadcasts were shutdown in this country shortly after midnight, and they have yet to return. All we have to watch now is a state controlled channel that is simply airing pictures of the King and patriotic songs, which occasionally have been subtitled in English for us.
UPDATE: The state controlled television networks have returned to air news in Thai. The cable news networks have not been returned, likely to prevent Thaksin from being able to make any statements to the Thai people.
posted by Ryan at 9:39 AM
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