Those of you considering a trip to Chiang Mai in the near future might want to keep tabs on the situation. The Prime Minister is in Chiang Mai and apparently is moving the entire government there because of fears of another coup.

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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PM Has no Schedule to Return to Bangkok, Apparently Fearing Coup: Spokeswoman

 

Chiang Mai - Deputy Government Spokeswoman Suparat Nakboonnam said Friday that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has no schedule to return to Bangkok in the near future.

 

She said Somchai decided to remain in Chiang Mai as part of security measures due to uncertainty related to the moves of the armed forces.

 

All moves of the prime minister will be held confidential for safety reasons, she said.

 

The prime minister will resort to teleconference meeting with other Cabinet members in Bangkok, she said.

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And this, from the BANGKOK POST:

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Somchai Moves Government to Chiang Mai

 

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat will remain in the northern city of Chiang Mai "indefinitely" because of tensions with the military, a government spokesman said.

 

Somchai was forced to land in Chiang Mai from a trip abroad on Wednesday after anti-government protesters seized control of Bangkok's two airports.

 

He declared a state of emergency at the airports on Thursday night as rumours of a possible military coup swept the capital, although the army said it was not intervening.

 

"As there are still uncertainties in the tensions between the government and army, for his safety the prime minister will stay in Chiang Mai," government spokesman Suparat Nakbunnam said.

 

"He has no schedule to return to Bangkok, he will stay in Chiang Mai indefinitely for his security," Suparat said.

 

Cabinet ministers flew to Chiang Mai for an urgent meeting on Thursday, effectively setting up a government in exile from the capital, which remains cut off by air from the rest of the world.

 

(AFP)

 

If a coup occurs what good will it be to have the government in Chiang Mai? I know this is a PPP stronghold, but don't most laws have to be published in the Royal Gazette and given approval by the monarch?

 

In a week or so the PPP could be disbanded anyway and new elections held.

 

So let's say there is a coup. The Prime Minister and MP's are in Chiang Mai. A short while later the PPP is disbanded by the courts. The government would have no power no matter where they are. What am I missing here? Will PM who is so buddy buddy with the Burmese military ask for their help? Will they flee to the casinos in Cambodia?

 

It might be a good idea to listen to the suggestion of the Army commander and resign for the betterment of the country. Thaksin, in my view, does not have the good of the Thai people in his mind. He has such a large ego, he seems to want to ignore the fact that he is a convict on the run while his own party was in power. Maybe he should return, serve his sentence and then try to get back in politics.....