Thai army seizes Bangkok
Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:54 PM BST

By Pracha Hariraksapitak

BANGKOK (Reuters) – The Thai army took control of Bangkok on Tuesday without a shot being fired and announced a commission to reform the constitution, despite the prime minister’s declaration of a state of emergency from New York.

A government spokesman with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the United Nations said the coup could not succeed and “we’re in control”.

Tanks and soldiers took over Government House in Thailand’s first coup in 15 years and a coup spokesman said on television the army and police were in control of the capital and surrounding provinces.

The seizure would be temporary and power “returned to the people” soon, retired Lieutenant-General Prapart Sakuntanak said on all Thai television channels.

The army declared martial law, told all soldiers to report to base and banned unauthorised troop movements, suggesting the military leadership was worried that Thaksin loyalists in the armed forces might attempt a counter-coup.

Prapart said the armed forces and police had set up a body to decide on political reforms, ousting billionaire telecoms tycoon Thaksin in the midst of a political crisis stemming from accusations he had subverted Thailand’s 74-year-old democracy.

“Never in Thai history have the people been so divided,” Prapart said.

“The majority of people had become suspicious of this administration, which is running the country through rampant corruption,” he added.

“Independent bodies have been interfered with so much they could not perform in line within the spirit of the constitution.”

Weerasak Kohsurat, a deputy minister in a previous government, told Reuters he believed royal adviser Sumate Tantivejakul would head the reform commission and an interim government would be formed while political reforms were agreed.

Elections would be called soon and Thaksin would be allowed to take part, he said.
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