Thai Premier Samak Warns of Coup Plot, Says It Won't Succeed

 

By Anuchit Nguyen

 

March 28 (Bloomberg) -- Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said unidentified people are plotting to stage a coup in the country and insisted the plot won't succeed because he and the army chief are in close contact.

 

He declined to elaborate on the alleged plot or identify the conspirators.

 

``I have very good communication with the army chief,'' Samak told reporters in a weekly briefing in Bangkok today. ``I am not so worried about the talk about a possible coup.''

 

To contact the reporter on this story: Anuchit Nguyen in Bangkok at anguyen@bloomberg.net.

 

Last Updated: March 28, 2008 01:42 EDT

Only a matter of when it will happen. If Thaskin walks free of all charges then I feel a coup would take place. Things are not going well at all for the new government.

Only a matter of when it will happen. If Thaskin walks free of all charges then I feel a coup would take place. Things are not going well at all for the new government.

So far , the only one "charge" made it to the courts and from legal standpoint the charge has no merit. The whole bru ha ha is not about Thaksin at this point though. It is more about in what direction Thailand will go. I may elaborate on this matter some time in the future. Suffices to say it is all about two trends in Thai politics: cosmopolitan which wellcome foreign investments, seek elimination of poverty, welcome rapid economic growth and rising living standards of Thais and nationalistic (should I say xenophobic?) which aims at preserving status quo, relies on "self-sufficiency" and preservation of huge inequalities and unfair wealth distribution in Thai society.

Ironically (as some wise people like Peter UK already indicated elsewhere), it may very well be that some sexpats and sex tourists may prefer the second trend. Cause the first one means more expensive Thailand with shrinking pool of sex workers. Of course, the first trend may mean more stable and safe Thailand for foreigners with some potential future benefits as land ownership etc.