Bloodless Coup in Thailand

The coup in Thailand looks like it could bring some closure to ongoing conflict in the south of that country and to the discontent felt over the ousted Prime Minister's behaviour. The coup's leader, General Sondhi, is a muslim and is known to promote a policy of negotiation, unlike the 'former'? Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who has excacerbated tensions (see next blog entry) among muslims, bhuddists and christians in southern thailand. General Sondhi's stated:

"We agreed that the caretaker prime minister has caused an unprecedented rift in society, widespread corruption, nepotism and interfered in independent agencies, crippling them so they cannot function.

"They have also repeatedly insulted the king."

The King, although not party to the coup has supported General Sondhi's plans to place an interim government in power until the next general election in 2007. The King, highly revered and also a negotiator, is expected to bring all political parties to the table. We'll see now how Thaksin Shinawatra responds...

Although there may be positive consequences to the coup, Kofi Annan rightly stated that these methods cannot be endorsed and are simply a 'power grab'.