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Thailand Military Consolidates Power Grab

It appears that the military junta which has taken over Thailand plans to hold onto power, either directly or through a ?suitable? puppet prime minister, for at least a year. The announcement came as the military coup in the country entered its second day. The United States, European Union, and United Nations have all been quick to urge Thailand to return to democracy as soon as possible, but the events in the country were not preventing foreign airlines from flying into Bangkok as regularly scheduled.

Many Western nations have tourists within Thailand, and the foreign offices of European and other nations, as well as the U.S. State Department did not specifically ban travel to Thailand, did not request that their citizens leave the country, but did urge their citizens to reconsider travel to the country at this time. The coup occurred as Thai Prime Minister Thaksin was visiting New York City for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly.

Thaksin has since flown from New York to London, where he is reportedly taking some ?much deserved rest? for the time being. Thaksin cannot travel back to Thailand at the moment, where he will risk prosecution by the undemocratic forces which have overtaken the capital and much of the countryside. Thailand?s army chief has announced that a replacement to Thaksin will be installed within two weeks, and that the Constitution will be revised.