Coups can be fun too!

I thought this was a great summary of the current situation, off of 2bangkok.com's fourm.

Coup-land, the theme park!
Just got back from the area around Gov't House/Parliament etc. Large swaths of area are blocked off to car traffic, mostly using portable metal gates. There are soliders at many interesections and at all entrances to the blocked areas. Many of the soliders don't have ammunition clips in their rifles.

The mood is completely calm, somewhat comedic actually. Pedestrians are free to cross the traffic barriers and wander about on the closed roads. A fair number of people are hanging out, taking pictures and videos, posing with the tanks and the soldiers. The soldiers are very friendly, happily smiling for the cameras. People are putting their kids on the tanks to take their pictures. It's hardly what you'd expect from a military coup.

We saw no hint of any political interest from the people there - no clear cut coup supporters or protestors. People just seemed curious and somewhat bemused. The scene has become a tourist attraction. There's even a tuktuk based iced-coffee seller at one barrier.

I suppose we're in for a barrage of "democracy in peril" stories, as if Thaksin was some kind of paragon of democratic ideals. I hope somewhere the story comes out how this is really a battle between two personality cults, one using the rhetoric of electoral politics and free markets, the other using the rhetoric of religion and tradition while both pander to nationalism. But neither really cares much about the substance behind the rhetoric, using promises of salvation, whether material or spiritual, to command a following in order to increase their own stature. There are no good guys here - but IMHO, the current coup is a more honest reflection of Thailand's political rot, and therefore is preferable to the Thaksin administration which was more able to hide its authoritarianism under a veneer of electoral victory and liberal rhetoric.

In truth, neither side is really democratic in that neither is really interested in the people governing themselves. With the military/palace alliance at least this is obvious. Thaksin, for his part, ignores the civil liberty and checks-and-balances aspects of self-rule, creating instead a majoritarian dictatorship.

I'd say the biggest immediate issue is placating Thaksin's supporters upcountry. I hope this means an accounting of what he and his cronies have really been doing these past few years (similarly, an accounting of the Bush crew's actions would be nice to see). Of course this will be politically motivated, but perhaps ti might also be accurate.

I'll be very interested to hear the Thaksin apolgists take on the evidence as it emerges.

For the longer term, I don't think this coup makes much difference to Thailand's political, social or economic development. All of these are a disaster and has been so for a long time, though covered up by different layers of hype, supported by Thailand's immense natural wealth. The military is just as likely to institute real democratic change as was the TRT, IMO.

This is a step sideways into the light - not forward or backward.

I just came back from school. I went at 14.00 hours (yes, I'm using military time) to get my research materials from the library. In two hours I managed to collect enough information from about 10 different books, journals, and government studies on air and water pollution. Made copies and got out before today's 16.30 closing. There was nobody at school today. I saw maybe 20-30 people on campus. the university is open, but no classes. After checking out books I went downstairs and ate lunch in the near-empty caffeteria. On my way off campus I ran into my dean. "อ้าวววว น้องDan. You haven't gone home yet?" "I just got finished in the library, I'm headed home now ครับ" "Well hurry." Then he took off in the other direction. I came home.

Bangkok isn't very different really. Lot less cars. Lot less people walking around. I passed one soldier on the way to school and two on the way back. They are stationed at Praram 4 and Sukumvit roads with M16 rifles. They were mostly just standing, watching traffic and laughing with the traffic policemen on duty. On the lookout for some crazy counter-coup force on the way from out of town. The soldiers aren't particularly frightening. Crazy TRT supporters and left-wing lunatics are much scarier. These are the groups which cause the tention which leads to chaos and shooting.

I agree with the article above on the current political situation. In many ways today is no differnt than last month. Thai Rak Thai (Taksin's party) effectively covered up the last election's true results and has since held power despite cries of coruption from all other parties and even a few TRT cabinet members. The real key thing is how the release of power works. Thai generals don't have a great record of taking power then releasing it again.

Half of me wants to go take pictures. Not to sell or inform but just for the hell of it. Look! I was here when the military took over! type shots. Maybe take a group of friends. The other half, the sensible one, says my family would disaprove. Actually, my grandfather might be jealous that I get to be in the revolution while he has to work.