Egyptian Coup Blueprint Used for Thailand?

High Noon in Bangkok: Thailand PM given “two-day ultimatum” to step down

Thai protest leader says he has met PM Yingluck Shinawatra and given her a “two-day ultimatum” to “return power to the people.”

Eight days of anti-government unrest to oust the PM has left at least four people dead and dozens more injured.

The protest leader Sethup Thaugsuban had already declared Sunday “Victory-Day” in what he called “people’s coup.”

Mr Sethup who claimed to have met the prime minister secretly in the presence of the army, navy and air force chiefs, said: “There was no negotiation and no compromise,” according to reports.

“I told Yingluck [PM Shinawatra] that this is the only and last time I see her until power is handed over to the people.

“There will be no bargaining and it must be finished in two days.”

About 30,000 demonstrators had gathered at various sites, including military barracks, police headquarter, Government House, radio and television stations.

Ms Shinawatra had previously stated that the government would only use minimum force, to disperse the demonstrators. However, the army called in to help the riot police after the demonstrations turned violent on Saturday.

The latest is Thailand’s  worst unrest since 2010, when thousands of red-shirt supporters of then PM Thaksin Shinawatra, occupied strategic points in the capital. At least 100 people were killed in ensuing deadly clashes during the following 10 weeks.

Chronology of Events in Thailand

• Sept 2006: Army overthrows the PM Thaksin Shinawatra and rewrites the Thai constitution, under direct instruction from King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
• Dec 2007: Pro-Thaksin People Power Party wins majority vote in the election.
• Aug 2008: Thaksin Shinawatra flees Thailand before end of a “corruption trial.”
• Dec 2008: Constitutional Court bans the majority People Power Party, as mass protests paralyze the capital Bangkok; the monarchists assign Abishit Vejjajiva to power.
• Mar-May 2010: Up to a million pro-Thaksin protesters occupy key locations in Bangkok in a 10-week sit-in; army clears the streets, killing at least 100 protesters.
• Jul 2011: Yingluck Shinawatra leads Pheu Thai party to general election win
• Nov 2013: Anti-government protesters begin street protest.

Egyptian Coup

On August 31, 2013 Egypt’s military ruler the Puppet General Sisi gave the democratically elected President Morsi a “48-hour ultimatum” to resolve differences with the Tahrir Square protesters, failing which he threatened to put forward “a roadmap” [translation: military coup] for the country.

Related Links

• Thailand: Monarchy, Corruption, Injustice, Poverty, Police State April 10, 2010
• Country in Focus: Thailand August 24, 2008
• Time to Abolish Thai Monarchy!
• Time for People’s Power: Abolish Thai Monarchy!
• Coalition Against Trafficking in Women [Page has been removed from the Internet]
• Thailand – Population, Poverty and Prostitution
• Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation: Thailand [Page has been removed from the Internet]
• ECPAT International [Page has been removed from the Internet]
• The Witness
• Recent News on Thailand from the Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report[Page has been removed/ restricted access on the Internet]

• Reuters Photo Gallery
• Eight die as troops, protesters clash in Bangkok
• In Pictures: ‘Thailand Political Protest’