BANGKOK, 21 September 2006 — Thailand’s new military ruler pledged yesterday to resign from power in two weeks and restore democracy in a year, after sweeping aside Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup.
Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who orchestrated Tuesday night’s coup while the premier was out of the country, said Thaksin had been pushed out in line with the wishes of the people after months of political turmoil.
“I will resign as interim prime minister within two weeks, and now we are looking for the person who will become the new prime minister,” said Sonthi, who added that he hoped to hold new elections in October 2007. “The potential candidates are politically neutral and love democracy, with the king as head of state,” he said.
After announcing the coup Tuesday, Sonthi and his generals met with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who in the past has given his tacit blessing to replace unpopular leaders and restore order in times of crisis.
A televised statement later said the king had endorsed Sonthi as head of an interim governing council.
“For the sake of the nation’s peace and order, the king has appointed Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin to become the leader of Military Council for Political Reform,” said the statement broadcast on all TV channels.
“People should be calm and all government officials should follow General Sonthi’s orders.” Thailand has been wracked by months of upheaval since Thaksin’s family sold nearly two billion dollars of shares in the telecoms firm he founded — without paying any tax.
Waves of street protests convinced Thaksin to call a new election in April and step down temporarily, but the poll descended into chaos and members of the election commission were jailed on charges of helping Thaksin’s party. New elections were repeatedly delayed, and Sonthi said the generals had finally decided it was time to take action. He denied the king was involved in the coup.
Across Thailand, there were no immediate reports of violence or unrest.
Sonthi, who announced after the coup that the constitution had been annulled, said a new interim constitution would be ready early next month, which would lead to a permanent constitution about one year later.
“The next general election will hopefully take place in October next year,” the general said. Earlier, Sonthi said there would be strict new controls on the media and a ban on public gatherings, prompting media watchdog Reporters Without Borders to voice concern about censorship in Thailand after the coup.
“The military government must lose no time in guaranteeing the restoration of basic freedoms, especially complete press freedom,” the Paris-based group said on Wednesday. Thailand’s border with Laos and Myanmar in the north was closed.
In Bangkok, the epicenter of the anti-Thaksin movement, many people seemed relieved. People adorned military vehicles with flowers and some gave soldiers food and drink.
“The revolution was not that bad and there was no violence,” said the governor of the Bank of Thailand, Pridiyathorn Devakula. “This change is acceptable to the people, so it should not affect investments.” A poll of about 2,000 Thais showed more than 80 percent backed the coup.
Still, there was concern about a return to heavy army involvement in the politics of Thailand, which has endured 18 coups in the past seven decades.
Leaders around the world condemned the move, while the United States called for the restoration of civilian rule in Thailand “as quickly as possible.”
“I would want democracy to be restored in Thailand. We condemn military coups,” said Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
“Our country will closely watch the progress of the situation with grave interest,” Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said in a statement.
“I am really shocked. I didn’t expect a coup would have taken place in Thailand,” Abdullah Badawi, prime minister of Malaysia, told reporters at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The seizure of power by Sonthi, the largely Buddhist nation’s first-ever Muslim army chief, came amid widespread criticism of Thaksin’s handling of a militant Islamic uprising in the south of the country.
As pockets of troops took up positions across Bangkok on Tuesday night — many wearing yellow as a sign of loyalty to the king — Thaksin watched on television in New York as his five years in power slipped away. He was there to give an address during the opening of the annual United Nations General Assembly, but canceled his appearance.
“I didn’t expect this incident would happen,” Thaksin told reporters on a chartered plane from New York which landed in London yesterday. The British Foreign Office said his trip was a “private” visit.
“I was prime minister when I came, and I was jobless on the way back,” Thaksin said, according to the Thai News Agency.
In Bangkok, Sonthi said Thaksin was free to return to Thailand but cautioned that he could face criminal charges.
“Any prosecution would proceed under the law, and would depend on the evidence,” he said.
