The Age : Coup leaders ban protests

Coup leaders ban protests

Connie Levett | Bangkok | September 20, 2006

Thailand's interim government has banned demonstrations consisting of five or more people and placed strict controls on foreign and domestic media, after the military overthrew Prime Minister Thaksin and took charge.

In a peaceful coup, Thailand's army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin took the reins of power late yesterday as head of an interim Political Reform Council run by the military.

"I would like to assure that the council has no intention of running the country by itself and will return power, under the constitutional monarchy, to the people as soon as possible," he said in a national television address today.

'We have seized power'

Sonthi said the coup was necessary to unite the nation after months of political turmoil and accused Thaksin of causing "an unprecedented rift in society, widespread corruption, nepotism" and of "crippling" interference in independent agencies.

"We have seized power," he said.

The military has extended its zone of military control around Government House in central Bangkok, making it impossible to get within 500 metres of government buildings.

Soldiers and tanks spread out across Bangkok last night, taking up positions on street corners and surrounding Thaksin's offices while he was in New York at the UN General Assembly.

Martial law declared

Martial law was declared, and the stock exchange, schools, banks and government offices were ordered to remain closed.

As the coup unfolded, tourists and curious Thais stood with media and soldiers right outside the main gates.

Despite the air of forced normality, and overwhelming support by Bangkok residents for the move to oust caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shuinawatra, the military is clearly taking no risks.

Thai television stations returned to normal programming at 9am (12pm AEST) after an address by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the head of army and coup leader.

General Sonthi reiterated last night's announcement that he had made his move to restore peace and harmony to the nation, and to end the political turmoil that has gripped Thailand for the past nine months.

Howard condemns coup

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has condemned the coup as a "throwback'' to Asia's past instability.

"I would want democracy to be restored in Thailand,'' he told reporters.

"We condemn military coups, they are a throwback to a past that I had hoped Asia had emerged from and it's a great disappointment.''

Many Bangkok residents, however, seemed happy that the government had been ousted.

"I don't think its bad, I think it's time," said a 33-year-old Thai businessman this morning. "Many people in Thailand had started to split. They have stopped something much worse."

Reporting restricted

Thai coup leaders have slapped strict controls on foreign and domestic media, state television announced today.

The order gives the Communications Ministry the right to block "disinformation" deemed harmful to a provisional military council now in control of the country, according to an announcement read out on national television.

"Please report the news straightforwardly and constructively, in order to bring back normalcy to our country," the announcement said.

In the hours immediately after the coup, international news channels, including CNN and the BBC, stopped airing on Thai cable.

It was unclear if the networks had been intentionally blocked, but Thai press reported today that security forces had seized transmission facilities.

theage.com.au, with agencies