General who led coup urges emergency rule in Bangkok

By Thomas Fuller and Seth Mydans

Published: March 28, 2007

BANGKOK: The general who led a coup last September asked his appointed prime minister on Wednesday to impose a state of emergency in Bangkok, as public opposition to the government grew louder.

There was no immediate public response from the office of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who was appointed to his job by the coup leader, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.
The general's request came in advance of planned rallies by both pro-democracy groups and supporters of the ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who has remained highly visible during his travels around Asia.

Sonthi said he was concerned that the rallies could get out of hand. "If we have no stability, investment and tourism will be hit," he told reporters. "The new constitution won't be finished."
The government is drawing up a new constitution and has promised to hold parliamentary elections toward the end of the year. Critics have voiced concern that the revised constitution could give the military far-reaching new powers.

The possibility of emergency rule added to worries that the generals, who were widely acclaimed here when they took office with a promise to restore democracy, would become a more standard-issue junta.
The declaration of a state of emergency would give the authorities the power to ban public gatherings, impose curfews and censor local news reports. It would contain some of the elements of martial law, which the government lifted in Bangkok and some other provinces just two months ago.

Both supporters of Thaksin and members of pro-democracy groups - dominated by former critics of Thaksin - said Wednesday that they would proceed with their rallies.
"We are ready to be arrested," said Japuporn Trompan, a leader of the pro-Thaksin camp.
The Thaksin supporters have announced that they will hold another Friday demonstration this week, following last Friday's gathering of about 1,000 protesters, some of whom threw rocks and plastic bottles.

A coalition of pro-democracy groups announced Wednesday that it would follow the Thaksin group next week to a royal parade ground, where a week-long protest would begin.
"What will we do if the numbers of protesters go beyond 100,000?" said Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, a spokesman for the junta, which is known as the Council of National Security. "It will greatly damage the country's image."
Thailand has a history of demonstrations that end in bloodshed, and both military and civilian figures have expressed concern about violence.

Months of increasingly large rallies last year set the scene for the coup that ousted Thaksin on Sept. 19 while he was in New York preparing to address the United Nations.
Like Sonthi's request for emergency powers Wednesday, the coup came in advance of a planned demonstration, that on in opposition to Thaksin.
"Even Thaksin allowed people to protest," said Giles Ungpakorn, an organizer of the first pro-democracy demonstrations against the current junta.
"To announce a state of emergency is evil," he said. "It is destroying democracy and it shows that they are afraid and they are weak."

The request for a state of emergency followed a court hearing Monday at which Thaksin's wife, Pojamorn, was charged with tax evasion in the first of what the government hopes will be a series of corruption cases that could tie Thaksin down politically. But the cases have been slow to come, giving his supporters breathing room to reorganize.
The possibility of a state of emergency reinforced an impression that the generals are less comfortable with the complexities of civilian rule than with a clear-cut military approach.
Highly popular when they ousted Thaksin, they have lost support as they have reversed policies and retracted statements, coming under criticism for what is seen as uncertainty and a lack of control.

In December, the government imposed and then modified capital controls, disrupting the stock market and frightening investors.
Last month the country's respected finance minister resigned, following the appointment and immediate departure of a high-powered economic spokesman.
The government has also unsettled international airlines with a series of contradictory statements regarding Bangkok's troubled new airport, which concluded this week with the partial reopening of the old airport for some flights.
Thomas Fuller reported from Bangkok. Seth Mydans reported from Perth, Australia.

Blog master said.... Its good news , The head coup desired to use that Law.

They'll decide it tomorrow morning.

And mobs announced for a moment that they'll rally to government house too.

Its shown that the coup maker tried to destroy these mobs by our troops , our army !!!

I'm funny , the head coup Sonthi said that he concerned about Investment , Tourists , New constitution but why he didn't concern before stage a coup in 19 sep.