[Geko45]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lotrfan55345', 'G')oing to the (modern) parts of Bangkok is just like the downtown of any other major city. It's not some 3rd world mass of starving people.

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('WillMissTennis', 'Z')ardoz, the only reason people are on this sight is because peak oil has to do with them. Peak oil isnt just some media hype, infact they are covering it up as if life will go on as normal for generations to come. Peak oil = problems for everyone[i]

[KevO]

hai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok amid reports of a coup attempt. Soldiers have entered Government House and tanks have moved into position around the building.

Mr Thaksin, who is at the UN in New York, said he had removed the chief of the army.National television announced that forces had taken control of Bangkok "to maintain law and order", and that they were declaring loyalty to the king.

However, the BBC's Kate McGeown in Bangkok says King Bhumibol is held in high esteem by all Thais, and the declaration of loyalty does not necessarily imply that he backs the takeover attempt.
FULL ARTICLE HERE

.

[Free]

Well who would have seen THAT coming...

Any hydrocarbon ressources, offshore activity, shipping lanes in or around Thailand?

[rwwff]

The King is sorta considered neutral ground; by declaring loyalty to him, they are indicating to the population that they have no intention of holding power or creating a dictatorship of any sort. In other words, "relax, take a couple days off, we'll sort it all out tomorrow."

My sources indicate that this has much to do with some various shady business deals the PM pulled off in the telecom industry, apparently using his position to shield the sales of various assets to Singapore businesses from taxation. Lots of nationalistic grumpiness about the sales themselves, but I think the underlieing suscpicion is that it is an example of corruption of a magnitude that offends even the Thai.

IE, for us, no biggy. For the Thai in Bangkok, don't go driving today or your car might get mushed. Good day to make Kao Mu.

[TITAN]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Free', 'W')ell who would have seen THAT coming...

Any hydrocarbon ressources, offshore activity, shipping lanes in or around Thailand?

[rwwff]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TITAN', 'T')oo bad it wouldn't be so easy to stage a coup in the u.s....

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Free', '
')Any hydrocarbon ressources, offshore activity, shipping lanes in or around Thailand?

[lotrfan55345]

I believe this will put a damper on Bangkok's new world-class airport from opening for another 6 months.
It is expected to have 60-80million passengers once opened.

[Free]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Free', '
')Any hydrocarbon ressources, offshore activity, shipping lanes in or around Thailand?

[lotrfan55345]

I dont think this is malicious - the Thai people have been hating on the PM for years now. He has corruption charges in the telcos he has, which have made him one of the richest men in Thailand. And in 6 months everything will be back to normal.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Free', '
') Does anyone know how the old government fits into the geopolitical picture?

[jaws]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lotrfan55345', 'I') dont think this is malicious - the Thai people have been hating on the PM for years now. He has corruption charges in the telcos he has, which have made him one of the richest men in Thailand. And in 6 months everything will be back to normal.

[lotrfan55345]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jaws', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lotrfan55345', 'I') dont think this is malicious - the Thai people have been hating on the PM for years now. He has corruption charges in the telcos he has, which have made him one of the richest men in Thailand. And in 6 months everything will be back to normal.

[gwmss15]

well all this crap started back in september 2005 with the cancelling of a popular TV and taksin's crappy tax evasion deal with temasek group in singapore for a 49.9% stake in shin corp (taksins telco) after this weekly protests of up to 200000 people occured for 8 months then sham elections in which the major parties bocotted as they where not real elections. in may the april elections where annulled and new elections where arranges for october (now cancelled) then taksin increasing spent more time overseas US and UK between may and the coup. This coup has the backing of the thai king so its really a cleansing of the waters to allow new elections to be held in a few months time without any taksin or his croneys around they are arrestted or bannised from thailand.

This coup at 1st seemed like the begining of the end but it could be a step forward for thailand. the army will form a civilan govt with approval of the king in 2 to 3 weeks time. Taksin is infamous for direct vote buying in issan and north thailand where 50% of thais live and is of lower education and income standards than bangkok and the south.

NOTE: the thai king is neutral and is very repected and is never protraied in a bad light.

[jaws]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lotrfan55345', '
')Oh they did, they had elections in March (?) but he still won. But peopel say he rigged the polls with his numerous connections and multi-billion dollar buisness.

[midnight-gamer]

Corruption is a everyday thing in Thailand. The Thai king is old and rumored to be in ill health. My wife says the kings son is thought to be a pretty bad guy. I worry about what will happen when the current king dies. If things get even more out of hand I would be unsuprised.

[lotrfan55345]

Thaskin and co. will probably be banished from Thailand and his beautiful 80-story skyscraper penthouse in prime Bangkok real-estate will probably be ransacked and looted with camera footage live on TV7... then people will believe that the elections will be clean and a new government will rise from the ashes.

[paimei01]

link$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')The Thai government's decision to break the patents on two Aids drugs and one heart drug, so it can offer them to all Thai citizens, is a bold move, which has put the country on a collision course with the big pharmaceutical firms.

[128shot]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('paimei01', 'h')ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6587379.stm

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')The Thai government's decision to break the patents on two Aids drugs and one heart drug, so it can offer them to all Thai citizens, is a bold move, which has put the country on a collision course with the big pharmaceutical firms.