As a lot of you have already heard, the Thai military force has taken over the country for now. With the constitution revoked, the coup leader, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has declared martial law. H.M. king Bhumibol was personally informed of the nation's situation by the general, together with the chiefs of the armed forces.I was able to call home this morning and learnt that the situation is under control. The military intervention has been carried out cautiously, with memories of the bloodshed from 15 years ago for everyone to keep in mind.
Personally, I see General Sonthi's action as an heroic act, as the coup was to help end the political and even societal turmoil that has been going on since the beginning of the year, not to mention the intense conflicts Thaksin had created within the country during his political term. Unlike in 1991, I think this time the army's action was carried out, purely for the sake of the people and to save the country against its Prime Minister, who thinks running a country is like running a big corporation. Well, he can run but he can't hide.
Another thing I thought was smart about this movement was the fact that it was executed without prio
r knowledge to outsiders. One of the reasons the 1991 revolution went ugly was because the exact date of the overthrow was declared, which resulted in the gathering of crowds from different institutions (mainly uni students), and those who just wanted to test out their long kept away firearms. But with this occasion, although there are tanks and humvees rolling the streets of Bangkok, everyone has been calm, while supporters nearby watch peacefully.Well, I just hope things turn out well without violence and Thaksin will be able to, for once think about the people of Thailand, rather than how to make more money, at the expense of the country's democracy. The king is tired of you, Thaksin...
Long live the king..
*Pictures were obtained from www.reuters.com
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