Andrew Drummond

The TimesSeptember 20, 2006Tanks roll in under cover of downpour From Andrew Drummond in

Bangkok

 Thailand fell to a bloodless coup under the cover of monsoon rains last night as tanks and Humvees surrounded Government House and took control of radio and televisions in the Thai capital Bangkok. From New York Thaksin Shinawatra, the controversial Thai Prime Minister, declared a “severe state of emergency” after calling the Channel 9 television station in the capital. But he was cut off mid-speech.

The coup went largely unnoticed in Bangkok’s popular tourist districts, where foreigners packed bars and cabarets oblivious to the activity about two miles away.

But word raced among street vendors hawking T-shirts who packed up their carts quickly and started heading home.

Hundreds of people gathered at Government House taking photos and video of themselves with the tanks, among them Sasiprapha Chantawong, a student at

Thammasat

University. “I support it’s because Thaksin has refused to resign from his position,” Sasiprapha said.

 “Allowing Thaksin to carry on will ruin the country more than this. The reputation of the country may be somewhat damaged, but it’s better than letting Thaksin stay in power.” Hundreds of tourists may find themselves stranded as airlines cancelled flights to the capital.

Last night Emirates, which flies from Bangkok to London via Dubai cancelled flights “due to the rebellious situation in

Thailand”. Passenger Gary Kings, 45, a buyer for a British clothes shop chain from Leicester said: “I have business appointments in Britain and

France.

If others follow suit then I’m totally stuck. There’s convoys of troops on the road from the airport to

Bangkok.” The

Royal

Palace remained brightly lit although the guard was doubled.

For most people the first sign that something was up was the shutdown of television programmes to be replaced with footage of the country’s revered monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The coup faction was led by Thai army commander-in-Chief, General Sondhi Boonyaratglin, who was ordered by Mr Thaksin to report to acting Prime Minister, Chitchai Wannasathit.

However, the Prime Minister’s words beamed from the other side of the world on one of his own former satellites carried little weight. Instead General Sondhi ordered police to surrender their arms at Government House and apologised to the public for the disruption.

He then suspended parliament, the Constitution, the constitutional court and declared martial law. Coup leaders later said that they were in consultation with the King , but there was no confirmation from the palace.

In a short statement General Sondhi accused Mr Thaksin of causing disharmony in the country. “I will return the power to the people,” he pledged. The coup faction also broadcast a message across all television and radio channels.

They described themselves as a “group of people who want to develop a democratic leadership under the monarchy”. The coup happened on one of two days a week when Thai nationals wear yellow T-shirts and sweatshirts as a gesture of loyalty to the King.

Although only a constitutional monarch, King Bhumibol carries most moral authority in the country which is notorious for its corrupt politicians. Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, and a member of the opposition Democrat Party, said Thaksin had forced the military to act.

 “As politicians, we do not support any kind of coup but during the past five years, the government of Thaksin created several conditions that forced the military to stage the coup. Thaksin has caused the crisis in the country,” he said.

Although Mr Thaksin was voted into power in elections, his reign has few of the hallmarks of democracy. He has clamped down on the press, has shown he is intolerant to criticism, and has been accused of enriching himself at the at the country’s expense.

Although he claims humble beginnings, his family were rich Chinese merchants. In a drugs war in

Thailand some 2,500 were killed after he ordered police to deal ruthlessly with the problem. When he was criticised by the UN on his human rights record, he retorted: “The UN is not my father”.

This year there have been regular demonstrations against him by the People’s

Alliance for Democracy. The last election was boycotted by the opposition, who said that it would not be fair.