International reactions to the 2006 Thai coup d'état

The 2006 Thailand coup d'état took place on 19 September 2006, when members of the Royal Thai Army staged a coup against the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The coup, which is Thailand's first in fifteen years, followed a year-long political crisis involving Thaksin and political opponents and occurred less than a month before elections were scheduled to be held, on 15 October.[1] The military postponed the upcoming elections, suspended the Constitution, dissolved Parliament, banned protests, suppressed and censored media outlets, declared martial law, and arrested Cabinet members. The coup was bloodless, with no casualties reported.

Many organizations and countries expressed their concern about situation and hope for a peaceful resolution. Some countries advised recent travelers to Thailand to be alert due to safety concerns. International government statements concerning the coup ranged from harsh denunciations (including Australia, New Zealand, Denmark) to non-interference (including China, Laos). The US stated it was "disappointed" and that the coup had "no justification".

Americas

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Africa

International

International media

The Economist came out against the coup: "Military coups, like wars, are easy to start but hard to end... The generals' error is to assume that a coup will solve anything. Whenever an election is held, Mr Thaksin's rural, populist Thai Rak Thai party will surely do well, whether or not he is allowed back into the country to lead it. And the principle of changing governments by street protest and military putsch has been re-established, undoing all the progress of the past decade, which had seen Thailand slowly emerge from the shadow of the barracks and the royal palace. More instability, not less, is the likely outcome. Nor is turmoil likely to help clean up political life." The piece continued to state how the general lack of international condemnation for the coup might embolden military leaders or reinforce authoritative tendencies in neighboring countries.[49]

The New York Times also criticized the coup, noting that "With the coup, Thailand became one more Southeast Asian nation that has reinterpreted democracy in undemocratic terms, either manipulating or sidestepping constitutional processes to achieve political ends... Now both Thailand and the Philippines, the region’s two exemplars of democracy, have ousted democratically elected leaders. [As for other Southeast Asian nations,] each nation argues that its departures from democracy are a necessary response to local conditions."[50]

References

  1. Hariraksapitak, Pracha (19 September 2006). "Thai army declares nationwide martial law". Reuters.
  2. 1 2 3 Khaleej Times Online (2006). Annan, world leaders urge return to democracy in Thailand. Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  3. International Herald Tribune, U.S. concerned about Thai coup but not rushing to judgment, 19 September 2006
  4. Bloomberg.com (2006). Thai Military, Police Say They Have Seized Bangkok (Correct). Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  5. Bangkok Post, "United States: Thai coup 'unjustified'", 21 September 2006
  6. The Nation, Foreign countries express concerns on military takeover, 21 September 2006
  7. 1 2 ChannelNewAsia.com, "Disappointed US condemns Thai coup", 21 September 2006
  8. ChannelNewAsia.com, "US reviewing aid to Thailand due to coup", 22 September 2006
  9. The Nation, US cautions Thai generals against taking politically-motivated actions, 26 September 2006
  10. The Nation, US cuts off millions in military aid to Thailand, 29 September 2006
  11. The Nation, US wary of army man as post-coup PM, 30 September 2006
  12. the Nation, Oct. 3, 2006, US welcomes new PM, interim charter
  13. The Nation, Oct 4, 2006, US warns Thailand on rights
  14. Bangkok Post, IMF closely watching Thailand, 20 September 2006
  15. http://world.people.com.cn/BIG5/1029/42354/4835168.html
  16. ChannelNewAsia.com, China says Thai coup is 'internal affair', 20 September 2006
  17. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The PRC, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang's Comment on the Current Situations of Thailand, 20 September 2006
  18. "S for S urges Hong Kong residents in Thailand to be careful", Hong Kong Government press release, September 20, 2006
  19. "Hong Kong residents reminded about situation in Thailand", Hong Kong Government press release, September 20, 2006
  20. Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Indonesia, Statement by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on the Development in Thailand, 20 September 2006
  21. ANTARA News, Indonesia hopes that Thailand will resolve the crisis democratically, 20 September 2006
  22. Mainichi Daily News, Thai coup leader says it was necessary to end rifts in society, 20 September 2006
  23. "Laos monitoring situation in Thailand", Haveeru Daily, 20 September 2006
  24. The Star, Monitor Thai Situation Before Going, 20 September 2006
  25. The Star, PM: Nobody Is Marginalised In Malaysia, 23 September 2006
  26. Geo Television Network Pakistan hopes for political stability in Thailand, 20 September 2006
  27. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Arroyo in ‘firm control’ of government military - Palace, 20 September 2006
  28. Philippine Daily Inquirer, RP nixes possibility of 'copycat coup' Arroyo in 'firm control' -- Palace., 21 September 2006
  29. ChannelNewsAsia.com (2006). Singapore watching developments in post-coup Thailand with concern (Correct). Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  30. ChannelNewsAsia.com, Foreign Minister George Yeo expresses deep concern over recent coup in Thailand. 22 September 2006.
  31. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan), 外交部提醒近日計畫赴泰國人注意安全
  32. 1 2 The Bangkok Post, Europe criticizes military takeover, 20 September 2006
  33. Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway condemns Thai military coup, 20 September 2006
  34. Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Jan Eliasson on developments in Bangkok, 20 September 2006
  35. "Per Stig: Kup er bananstats-agtigt" (in Danish). Politiken. 20 September 2006.
  36. The Nation, , Thai students at Oxford regret coup
  37. The Nation, Moscow calls for a return to democracy in Thailand, 22 September 2006
  38. "Lavrov calls for stronger constitutional regime in Thailand", Interfax, September 21, 2006
  39. Thai military takes power after coup RTÉ News, 19 September 2006 22:47
  40. The Australian, Thai coup 'assault on democracy': Labor, 20 September 2006
  41. Beehive - NZ condemns Thailand coup
  42. Business Day, Spurned Thailand shows brave face to rest of world, 12 December 2006
  43. People's Daily Online (2006). UN chief discourages military coup in Thailand. Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  44. The Bangkok Post, UN says Thai coup violating human rights, 25 September 2006
  45. The Nation, Activists to hold anti-coup gathering, 22 September 2006
  46. The Nation, IMF closely watching Thailand, 20 September 2006
  47. The Nation, Thailand disqualified as IPU meeting host, 20 October 2006
  48. Inter-Parliamentary Union, 116th IPU Assembly, Agenda
  49. The Economist, Thailand's coup, 21 September 2006
  50. The New York Times, Thailand Reinterprets the Rules of Democracy, Again, 21 September 2006
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/9/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.