Taxsin op-aye!

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Unless you've had your head buried in the sand the past 12 hours you'd know that Thailand has just had a coup.

Taxsin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, has been forcefully removed from office (rather easily considering how he was at the United Nations building while this took place) and the general leading the military forces has declared martial law.

The coup is due to allegations reguarding Taxsin's corruption. Considering how he changed from a nobody to being in the top 20 richest people on the planet since he became Prime Minister would have to be a rather strong indication that something is up.

BBC-basics-about-the-coup
The coup leader.

Odd to see a coup that is just so... peaceful. Most people don't like Taxsin. I admit he's done some great things for the country during his time in office but it doesn't excuse him for basically grabbing as much money he can line his pockets with while in office.

 

While a military coup doesn't HAVE to be a bad thing, shutting down news-broadcasts reeks of trying to hide something.

 

Aye, I'd always believed the term 'bloodless coup' to be only useable in the negative or speculative senses, but we might see something akin to that come to pass.

But then, we are all naught but fallible, mortal creatures; I'm sure Taxsin meant well in the beginning as well. *sigh*

 

Financial markets responded favorably to the coup.

 

While I don't specially cheer for democracy, I think coup d'etats are far worse. If a president is doing bad, then just make a big big demonstration and choose another one (like we did over here, ha!).
I've been told that while the military are in charge, people lose their freedom. Aren't you guys worried about that? You always talk about freedom and stuff, come on, be consistent with yourselves.

 

Been happening ever since the corruption allegations came out, actually. This is a prime minister who said he would step down but he didn't and the only way he's managed to remain in office is via rural votes... votes that he bought.

He bought the votes by promising to impliment a special no-interest loan scheme for rural people that would pretty much economically ruin the country. In other words he was trying to squeeze as many votes out of the country as he could so he could stay in office awhile longer then bugger off with all his money.

The coup means all the money earned via corruption will be returned to the crown and hopefully spent on society as should be.