Thailand

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Thailand Image File history File links Thai_Garuda_emblem. ... Thailand had been ruled by kings since the 13th century. ...

King Bhumibol Adulyadej Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont 2005-2006 political crisis 2006 coup d'état Council for National Security Sonthi Boonyaratkalin Civilian interim government Cabinet of Thailand National Assembly Senate House of Representatives Political parties Elections April 2006 (invalidated) October 2006 (cancelled) next (by October 2007) Constitutions 1997 Constitution (abrogated) 2006 Interim Constitution Constitutional Court Provinces and districts Human rights South Thailand insurgency Foreign relations Foreign aid

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This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

This article focuses on the military junta that overthrew the elected civilian government of Thailand in the 2006 Thailand coup. For information on the civilian government to be appointed by the junta, see the Thailand 2006 interim civilian government article. The kings in the current Chakri dynasty of Thailand are often referred to as Rama followed by Roman ordinal in English translation. ... Bhumibol Adulyadej (Thai: ; IPA: ; Royal Institute: Phumiphon Adunyadet;  ) (born December 5, 1927), officially styled the Great (Thai: มหาราช, Maharaja) and also known as Rama IX, is the current King of Thailand. ... The following is a list of Prime Ministers of Thailand: Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, (1932-1933) General Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena, (1933-1938) Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, (1938-1944) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1944-1945) Tawee Boonyaket, (1945) Seni Pramoj, (1945) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1946) Luang Praditmanutham, (1946) Rear Admiral Thawal Thamrong Navaswadhi... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The cover of The Economist magazine of April 8th–14th 2006, showing anti-Thaksin protesters. ... Wikinews has news related to: Category:2006 Thailand coup The 2006 Thailand coup détat took place on Tuesday 19 September 2006, when the Royal Thai Army staged a coup against the government of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. ... General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin (Thai: ; first name also spelled Sondhi; last name also spelled Boonyaratglin or Boonyarakarin) is Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. ... The Thai 2006 interim civilian government is the Thai provisional civilian government headed by Interim Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont. ... In the politics of Thailand, the Cabinet is a formal body composed of government officials chosen by the Prime Minister. ... The National Assembly (Rathasapha) is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. ... The National Assembly (Rathasapha) is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. ... The National Assembly (Rathasapha) is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. ... Political parties in Thailand lists political parties in Thailand. ... Politics of Thailand Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Thailand ... National legislative elections were held in Thailand. ... After Thailands April 2006 elections were declared invalid by the Constitutional Court, it was decided that new elections would be held on 15 October 2006. ... Legislative elections are expected to be held again in Thailand by October 2007 after the military assumed power in the 2006 Thai coup détat on 19 September 2006. ... The Democracy Monument: a representation of the 1932 Constitution sits on top of two golden offering bowls above a turret, in a traffic circle in the center of Bangkok. ... The 2006 Interim Charter of Thailand was drafted by the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) after it seized power from the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 Thailand coup. ... The Constitutional Court of Thailand (Thai: ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ) is an independent Thai court established under the 1997 Constitution with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, draft legislation, as well as the appointment and removal of public officials and issues regarding political parties. ... Thailand is divided into 75 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat), and one municipality - the capital Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon in Thai). ... Human Rights in Thailand The constitution provides for freedom of speech, press, peaceful assembly and association, religion, and movement within the country and abroad. ... Flag of Pattani Raya, a symbol of Pattani separatism The South Thailand insurgency is a separatist campaign centered in the Pattani region, three southern provinces of Thailand, with violence increasingly spilling over into neighbouring provinces and threatening to extend up to the national capital in Bangkok. ... Thailands foreign policy includes support for ASEAN in the interest of regional stability and emphasis on a close and longstanding security relationship with the United States. ... Foreign Aid to Thailand On July 31, 2003, Thailand repaid its outstanding obligations under a standby arrangement from the International Monetary Fund designed to help it recover from the 1997–98 Asian financial crisis. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Image File history File links Current_event_marker. ... Wikinews has news related to: Category:2006 Thailand coup The 2006 Thailand coup détat took place on Tuesday 19 September 2006, when the Royal Thai Army staged a coup against the government of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. ... The Thailand 2006 interim civilian government is the Thai provisional civilian government headed by Interim Prime Minister, retired General Surayud Chulanont, appointed on 1 October 2006, by the Council for National Security, the initial post-coup interim military government led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin who overthrew the government of Thaksin...

The Council for National Security (CNS, formerly known in english as the Council for Democratic Reform and the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy; Thai: คณะมนตรีความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ abbreviate คมช, formerly คณะปฏิรูปการปกครอง ในระบอบประชาธิปไตย อันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุข, formerly abbreviated คปค; see below for other translations), was the name of the military regime that governed Thailand following the 2006 coup d'état ousting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. It was led by Army Commander General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who claimed powers equivalent to Prime Minister, before appointing Surayud Chulanont as Prime Minister of Thailand.^[1] Under the CNS-drafted interim consitutution, the Council continues to maintain considerable power, particularly over the drafting of a permanent constitution. This article focuses on the military junta that overthrew the elected civilian government of Thailand in the 2006 Thailand coup. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wikinews has news related to: Category:2006 Thailand coup The 2006 Thailand coup détat took place on Tuesday 19 September 2006, when the Royal Thai Army staged a coup against the government of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. ... The following is a list of Prime Ministers of Thailand: Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, (1932-1933) General Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena, (1933-1938) Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, (1938-1944) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1944-1945) Tawee Boonyaket, (1945) Seni Pramoj, (1945) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1946) Luang Praditmanutham, (1946) Rear Admiral Thawal Thamrong Navaswadhi... Wikinews has news related to: Thai PM Shinawatra ousted by coup   (Thai: , IPA: ; born July 26, 1949 in Chiang Mai, Thailand with family roots in Meizhou, Guangdong, China), Thai businessman and politician, is the deposed Prime Minister of Thailand and the former leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... General Sonthi Boonyaratglin (Thai: ; first name also spelled Sondhi; last name also spelled Boonyaratkalin or Boonyarakarin) is Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... The 2006 Interim Charter of Thailand was drafted by the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) after it seized power from the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 Thailand coup. ...

Name

The military junta that overthrew the government of Thaksin Shinawatra originally called itself the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy. This was originally translated in several ways in news reports, including Wikinews has news related to: Thai PM Shinawatra ousted by coup   (Thai: , IPA: ; born July 26, 1949 in Chiang Mai, Thailand with family roots in Meizhou, Guangdong, China), Thai businessman and politician, is the deposed Prime Minister of Thailand and the former leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ...

• Administrative Reform Council
• Democratic Reform Council
• Political Reform Council
• Committee of Political Reformation Under Democracy
• Military Council for Political Reform
• Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy
• Administrative Reform Group under the Democratic System with the King as Head of State.^[2]

On Thursday 21 of September, the junta spokesperson asked the local press to report its name in full (with "...under the Constitutional Monarchy"), and noted that "The name is important in relaying a right message and its shortened version might be misleading".^[3] Both before and after this, most news reports used a shorter name.

The junta later changed its english name to simply "Council for Democratic Reform" in order to remove any suspicions about the role of the monarchy.^[4]

Article 34 of the 2006 Interim Constitution changed the name of the junta to the Council for National Security.^[5] The 2006 Interim Charter of Thailand was drafted by the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) after it seized power from the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 Thailand coup. ...

Membership and key positions

Sonthi received the appointment and blessing of king Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is quoted as saying, "In order to create peace in the country, the King appoints General Sonthi Boonyaratglin as head of the Council for Political Reform. All people should remain peaceful and civil servants should listen to orders from General Sonthi Boonyaratglin from now on"^[6]. The junta consists of the leaders of all branches of the Thai military and police:^[7] Bhumibol Adulyadej (Thai: ; IPA: ; Royal Institute: Phumiphon Adunyadet;  ) (born December 5, 1927), officially styled the Great (Thai: มหาราช, Maharaja) and also known as Rama IX, is the current King of Thailand. ...

• Army Commander General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, named Chief of the Council for Democratic Reform
• Navy Commander Admiral Sathiraphan Keyanon, named first deputy chief of CDR
• Air Force Commander ACM Chalit Pookpasuk, named second deputy chief of CDR
• Police Commissioner-General Pol Lt Gen Kowit Wattana, named third deputy chief of CDR
• National Security Council Secretary-General Gen Winai Phatthiyakul, named Secretary-General of the CDR
• Supreme Commander General Ruangroj Mahasaranon, named Chief Adviser to the CDR

A week after the coup, Sonthi's former classmate Gen Boonsrang Naimpradit was promoted from Deputy Supreme Commander to the post of Supreme Commander, replacing Ruangroj Mahasaranon. Junta Secretary General, Winai Phattiyakul, was promoted to the post of Permanent Secretary for Defence.^[8] General Sonthi Boonyaratglin (Thai: ; first name also spelled Sondhi; last name also spelled Boonyaratkalin or Boonyarakarin) is Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. ... The President of the Council for National Security is the head of the Council for National Security This is the name of the current military regime governing the Kingdom of Thailand following the 2006 coup détat ousting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. ... Admiral Sathiraphan Keyanon is a Thai naval officer, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy, and a deputy in the military junta that overthrew the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a 2006 military coup. ... Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pookpasuk is a Thai air force officer, Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, and a deputy in the military junta that overthrew the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a 2006 military coup. ... Kowit Wattana is the Police Comissioner-General of Thailand. ... General Ruangroj Mahasaranon (born 28 March 1946; Thai: ) is the Supreme Commander General of the Royal Thai Army. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... General Ruangroj Mahasaranon (born 28 March 1946; Thai: ) is the Supreme Commander General of the Royal Thai Army. ...

Gen Sonthi also promoted his fellow classmates and lieutenants in the coup, 1st Army Region Commander Lt-Gen Anupong Paochinda and 3rd Army Region Commander Lt-Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, to the post of Assistant Army Commander.^[9][10]

On 22 September, the Council gave Police General Kowit Wattana absolute power over all police matters. He was also made Chair of a new National Police Commission, the membership of which had not yet been announced. The Commission will be assigned to amend the 2004 National Police Bill over the next year; the Bill had been originally been approved by the elected Parliament. Under the pre-coup legal framework, the Premier had been responsible for Chairing the Commission.^[11] Kowit Wattana is the Police Comissioner-General of Thailand. ...

A later restructuring reflected power shifts among the junta, particularly an increase in the power of the army and a decrease in the power of the police and navy. Police chief Kowit Watana, who, after the coup, had reshuffle senior police personnel to strengthen his personal base, was demoted from junta Deputy Chief to merely a member. Navy Commander Admiral Sathiraphan Keyanond, who had been second in command of the junta, was also demoted to being merely a member.^[12]

Political motivations and objectives

In a statement on 21 September, the Council stated its reasons for taking power, and gave a commitment to restore democratic government within one year. The statement described the coup as a “brief intervention in order to restore peace, unity, and justice in the country.”

The reasons given for the coup were:

Lack of political confidence in Thailand and impasse of political differences Drastic increase in disunity among Thai people Signs of rampant corruption, malfeasance and widespread nepotism Inability to proceed with the reform process as intended by the Constitution Interference in national independent agencies, crippling their ability to function properly and to effectively solve the nation’s problems Certain substantive democratic elements in the Constitution have been undermined Deterioration of social justice Evidence of words and actions which have shaken and proven to be against the very foundation of Thailand’s democracy with His Majesty the King as Head of State

The statement continued: “The Council’s intervention has no other aim than to strengthen democracy through democratic reforms, including the holding of generally-accepted free and fair elections. Leaving the country under protracted political uncertainty, on the other hand, would eventually erode people’s trust and confidence in the very foundations of democracy.” Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ...

Decisions and future

The junta pledged to appoint a civilian government, step aside, reinstate human rights, hold elections within a year, and not change key Thaksin-government policies like universal healthcare and microcredit village funds. The junta later appointed retired General Surayud Chulanont as Premier, changed its name to the Council for National Security and institutionalized its power in the Interim Constitution, lifted their ban on political gatherings (but only for "constructive debates"), and moved the probably date of elections to 17 months.^[13][14][15] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The 2006 Interim Charter of Thailand was drafted by the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) after it seized power from the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 Thailand coup. ...

Timeline for establishment of civilian government

The Council’s statement included a timetable for the restoration of civilian government and elections. “A provisional constitution will be in place within two weeks, and eventually a civilian government will be formed,” it said. “The mechanisms for democratic reform will soon be reinstated. A legislative body, responsible for legislation and the drafting of the new constitution, will be established. This process, which will lead to general elections, should be completed within one year.^[16] See Thailand 2006 interim civilian government The Thailand 2006 interim civilian government is the Thai provisional civilian government headed by Interim Prime Minister, retired General Surayud Chulanont, appointed on 1 October 2006, by the Council for National Security, the initial post-coup interim military government led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin who overthrew the government of Thaksin...

Following the general election the junta would be dissolved and replaced by a Council of National Security ^[17] "It's necessary to keep the council so that there is no loophole for the executive branch," General Sonthi Boonyaratglin told AFP ^[18]

Removal from the civil service

The junta initiated the removal from the civil service of people appointed by the Thaksin government as well as Thaksin's former Class 10 classmates at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. Military officers to be transferred to inactive posts included assistant army chief Gen Pornchai Kranlert, First Army Corps commander Lt-Gen Jirasit Kesakomol, First Army Division chief Maj-Gen Prin Suwandhat, Commander of the First Army Area Lt General Anupong Paochinda, Maj General Prin Suwanathat, Lt General Jirasit Kesakomol, Maj General Ruangsak Thongdee, Maj General Sanit Phrommas, and Maj General Manas Paorik. General Lertrat Rattavanich, seen as close to the Thaksin government, was promoted to a ceremonial post of Defence Inspector General.^[19] The Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (Thai: โรงเรียนเตรียมทหาร) is a Thai military academy, providing an education equivalent to the last two years of senior high school (years 11-12). ...

Labor Ministry Permanent Secretary Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra, was arrested and is being detained on the second floor of the Army Headquarters building.^[20]

Also transferred were 18 senior police officers which the junta claimed could pose a threat to national security if they were to remain in their current posts. These included Special Branch Police chief Pol Lt-Gen Thaworn Chanyim, Immigration Police chief Pol Lt-Gen Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, Region 4 chief Pol Lt-Gen Sathaporn Duangkaew, Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-Gen Montri Chamroon, Crime Suppression Division chief Pol Maj-Gen Winai Thongsong, 191 Police chief Pol Maj-Gen Sumeth Ruangsawat, Metropolitan Police Division 5 chief Pol Maj-Gen Kosin Hinthao, Metropolitan Police Division 7 chief Pol Maj-Gen Boonsong Panichattra, and Special Branch Police Division 3 chief Pol Maj-Gen Atthakrit Thareechat. Pol Maj-Gen Atthakrit Thareechat is currently providing security for Thaksin in London.^[21]

Surasit Sangkhapong, director of the Government Lottery Office and an aide of Thaksin resigned to allow Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka to conduct an investigation into an allegation of irregularity.^[22] Jaruvan Maintaka (Thai: จารุวรรณ เมณฑกา), born 1947, is the current Auditor-General (Thai: ผู้ว่าการตรวจเงินแผ่นดิน) of the Kingdom of Thailand. ...

Governors of provinces seen as Thai Rak Thai political strongholds transferred to smaller provinces or appointed to the inactive posts in the Interior Ministry. This included the governors of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Buri Ram, Phatthalung, Satun, Surin, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, and Samut Prakan. Interior Minister Aree Wongarya denied that the moves were politically motivated.^[23] However, the reshuffle was widely seen as an attempt to demote those with links to the deposed government. Interior Ministry permanent secretary Phongphayome Wasaphooti also noted that the transfers were done in order to "reduce the influences attached to their Thai Rak Thai-initiated CEO governorships. The transfers are aimed at enabling the [Surayud] government to function more easily."^[24] Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. ... Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. ... Wikinews has news related to: Thai PM Shinawatra ousted by coup   (Thai: , IPA: ; born July 26, 1949 in Chiang Mai, Thailand with family roots in Meizhou, Guangdong, China), Thai businessman and politician, is the deposed Prime Minister of Thailand and the former leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ...

Appointment of advisors

The junta ordered 58 prominent civilians to serve as its advisers. However, most of the appointees denied any knowledge of the appointments, with some saying they couldn't serve. "I have said that the coup is wrong, how can I serve as its advisory board?" asked Chaiwat Satha-anand of the Faculty of Political Science of Chulalongkorn University^[25]. Pratheep Ungsongtham Hata, who was appointed to the reconciliation panel, also boycotted the CDR's advisory board, noting that as a democracy advocate, she could not work with the CDR, which took by unconstitutional means. Pibhob Dhongchai, a leader of the defunct anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy, said he could not participate in the reconciliation panel because he was a member of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, and already had a channel to advise the government.^[26] Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand [1] and has long been considered one of the countrys most prestigious universities. ... Prateep Ungsongtham Hata (Thai: ประทีป อึ้งทรงธรรม ฮาตะ, born 9 August 1952) is a Thai activist noted for her work with slum dwellers in in the Khlong Toey district of Bangkok, Thailand. ... Image:Pipob. ... PADs protesters marching in Siamsquare district The Peoples Alliance for Democracy is a coalition of protesters against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand. ...

Pasuk Pongpaichit, an anti-Thaksin economist who had also been appointed, denied that she could not serve as an advisor, using as her excuse an impending extended trip to Japan.^[27] When asked by the press why the junta had not informed the appointees of their appointments, the CDR spokesman Lt-Gen Palangoon Klaharn said: "It is not necessary. Some matters are urgent. It is an honour to help the country. I believe that those who have been named will not reject the appointment because we haven't damaged their reputation." ^[28] Pasuk Phongpaichit is a Thai economist, a Professor at Chulalongkorn University, and the author of several books on corruption in Thailand. ...

Advisors were appointed in 4 key areas:

• Economics. Headed by Bank of Thailand Governor Pridiyathorn Devakula, this group had 19 members, including Ammar Siamwalla and Chalongphob Susangkarn (Thailand Development Research Institute), Kosit Pampiemras (Bangkok Bank), Khunying Jada Wattanasiritham (Siam Commercial Bank), Piyasvasti Amranand (Kasikorn Asset Management), Pasuk Phongpaichit (Chulalongkorn University), Ajva Taulananda (Charoen Pokphand), Veerathai Santipraphop, and Sivaporn Darandaranda.

• Ethics, good governance, corruption prevention. Headed by the National Institute of Development Administration's Churee Vichitvadakan, this group had 13 members, including Dejudom Krairit, Sungsidh Piriyarangsan and Suraphol Nitikraiphoj.

• Reconciliation and justice. Headed by Community Organizations Development Institute Chairpman Phaibool Wattanasiritham, this group had 26 members, including Gothom Arya, Chaiwat Sathaanand, Theeraphat Serirangsan, Phiphop Thongchai, Pratheep Ungsongtham Hata, Srisak Valiphodom, Urichai Wangkaew and Sophon Supaphong.

• Foreign affairs. Headed by former Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Vitaya Vejjajiva and made up of former diplomants including Tej Bunnag, Krit Karnchana-kunchorn, Nit Pibulsongkram and Phisarn Manawaphat.^[29]

The Bank of Thailand (ธนาคารแห่งประเทศไทย) is the central bank of the Thailand. ... Mom Rajawongse Pridiyathorn Devakula (Thai: born 15 July 1947) has been Governor of the Bank of Thailand since 2001. ... Ammar Siamwalla (Thai: อัมมาร สยามวาลา) is one of Thailands most prominent economists. ... The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) is a non-profit non-government Thai policy think tank focused social and economic development issues. ... bangkok bank ... Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited, is a Thai commercial bank. ... Piyasvasti Amranand is a former Secretary-General of the Thai National Energy Policy Office and Chairman of Kasikorn Asset Management. ... Pasuk Phongpaichit is a Thai economist, a Professor at Chulalongkorn University, and the author of several books on corruption in Thailand. ... Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand [1] and has long been considered one of the countrys most prestigious universities. ... Charoen Pokphand is a huge business group based in Thailand. ... National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) (Thai: สถาบันบัณฑิตพัฒนบริหารศาสตร์) is a graduate school under the Commission on Higher Education, the Ministry of Education. ... Prateep Ungsongtham Hata (Thai: ประทีป อึ้งทรงธรรม ฮาตะ, born 9 August 1952) is a Thai activist noted for her work with slum dwellers in in the Khlong Toey district of Bangkok, Thailand. ... Sophon Supapong (Thai: โสภณ สุภาพงศ) is a former Senator for Bangkok in the National Assembly of Thailand and the former President of Bangchak Petroleum. ...

Investigation of the deposed government

The junta assigned several agencies to investigate the deposed government.

• An Assets Examination Committee, established to investigate corruption allegations involving projects approved by the deposed government, including the CTX bomb-scanner controversy. Jaruvan Maintaka, Auditor-General, threatened to resign from the Committee if it did not investigate all cases of alleged irregularity, including the personal wealth of former Cabinet ministers as well as "policy corruption", where policies were approved to allegedly benefit personal interests. Specifically, she wanted the Committee to investigate the sale of Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings.
• The National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), which was ordered to rush its investigation into corruption allegations involving politicians. The Commission members were appointed by the CDR and consisted of several vocal critics of Thaksin Shinawatra.^[30]
• The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which would continue to investigate the sale of Shin Corporation.^[31][32][33]

After less than a week, the Assets Examination Committee was dissolved and several of its members were incorporated into a new 12-member committee with greater powers to freeze the assets of members of the Thaksin government accused of corruption. The new committee had a much wider scope that the original Committee, and was able to respond to the demands of Jaruvan Maintaka. The committee was empowered to investigate any projects or acts by members of the Thaksin government and others who were suspected of irregularities, including tax evasion. The chairman of the old committee, Sawat Chotephanich, was demoted in the new committee; he later resigned, reportedly in protest.^[34] The remaining members of the new committee included several figures who had been publically critical of the Thaksin government, including Kaewsan Atibhoti, Jaruvan Maintaka, Nam Yimyaem, and Sak Korsaengreung. Nam Yimyaem was later appointed chair of the committee. Several allegation of corruption have been made regarding the construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport, a new international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. ... Jaruvan Maintaka (Thai: จารุวรรณ เมณฑกา), born 1947, is the current Auditor-General (Thai: ผู้ว่าการตรวจเงินแผ่นดิน) of the Kingdom of Thailand. ... Thaksin Shinawatra $1. ... Wikinews has news related to: Thai PM Shinawatra ousted by coup   (Thai: , IPA: ; born July 26, 1949 in Chiang Mai, Thailand with family roots in Meizhou, Guangdong, China), Thai businessman and politician, is the deposed Prime Minister of Thailand and the former leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... Shin Corporation (SET: SHIN; NASDAQ: SHNZY; NASDAQ: SHNVF; NASDAQ: SHNUF) is the largest conglomerate in Thailand. ... Kaewsan Atibhoti is a Thai politician, former Senator for Bangkok, and unsuccessful nominee for Election Commissioner. ... Jaruvan Maintaka (Thai: จารุวรรณ เมณฑกา), born 1947, is the current Auditor-General (Thai: ผู้ว่าการตรวจเงินแผ่นดิน) of the Kingdom of Thailand. ... Nam Yimyaem (Thai: นาม ยิ้มแย้ม) is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Thailand, former deputy Supreme Court President, and currently chairperson of a committee investigating the assets of deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. ...

A separate decree (No. 31) gave the NCCC the authority to freeze the assets of politicians who failed to report their financial status by a deadline or intentionally reported false information. Another decree (No. 27) increased the penalty for political party executives whose parties had been ordered dissolved, from simply banning them from forming or becoming executives of a new party, to stripping them of their electoral rights for five years.^[35]

Interim charter

Main article: 2006 Interim Constitution of Thailand

The junta released a draft interim charter on 27 September 2006, to much criticism.^[36] Structurally, the draft interim charter is similar to the 1991 Constitution, the 1976 Constitution, and the 1959 Charter, in that it sets up an extremely powerful executive branch which would appoint the entire legislature. The CDR, which would be transformed into a Council for National Security (CNS), would appoint the head of the executive branch, the entire legislature, and the drafters of a permanent constitution. Criticism focused on the fact that: The 2006 Interim Charter of Thailand was drafted by the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) after it seized power from the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 Thailand coup. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• The junta would appoint the Prime Minister and would sit in Cabinet meetings
• The junta would appoint the entire legislature
• The junta would appoint a 2,000 person National Assembly, which would appoint 200 candidates for a Constitution Assembly, which would appoint 100 members of a Constitution Assembly, which would select 25 members. The junta would directly appoint another 10 people to join the 25 in to writing a permanent constitution.^[37]

Military restructuring

Sonthi Boonyaratglin announced that the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) and the Civilian-Police-Military Task Force (CPM) 43 would be revived. Sonthi said the Army-led multi-agency Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command would be dissolved and its troops would come under the CPM 43, which would operate in parallel with the SBPAC. The SBPAC and CPM 43 had been dissolved in mid-2001 by former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Prior to that, CPM 43 was under the directive of the SBPAC. Sonthi also made himself head of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC). Previously, the ISOC had been headed by the Prime Minister.^[38] The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) is a unit of the Thai military devoted to national security issues. ...

The junta also extended for another three months the Thaksin government's emergency decree to combat the south Thailand insurgency. The emergency decree empowers state authorities to search and arrest suspected insurgents without warrants.^[39] Flag of Pattani Raya, a symbol of Pattani separatism The South Thailand insurgency is a separatist campaign centered in the Pattani region, three southern provinces of Thailand, with violence increasingly spilling over into neighbouring provinces and threatening to extend up to the national capital in Bangkok. ...

Sonthi and other senior junta leaders flew to Chiang Mai on a Air Force C-130 on 3 November 2006 to visit a prominent fortune-teller and perform a religious ceremony to ward off bad luck over their staging of the Sept 19 coup.^[40] The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

State enterprise board appointments

Junta leaders appointed themselves to the Boards of Directors of several state enterprises.^[41]

• Chalit Phukphasuk was appointed to the boards of Airports of Thailand (AoT) and the Thai Airways International
• Saprang Kalyanamitr was appointed to the AoT board
• Sathiraphan Keyanont was appointmented to the Chair of the Port Authority of Thailand board

Thai Airways International (Thai: ) is the national air carrier of Thailand. ...

Human rights restrictions

The junta enforced censorship of the media. An interview with the late Nuamthong Phaiwan broadcast by television channel iTV came to an abrupt end after the Director of Army-owned Channel 5 called the station to warn them against the broadcast.^[42] Additional troops were dispatched to keep order at the station. Nuamthong Phaiwan was a Bangkok, Thailand taxi-driver who drove his taxi into a tank in protest after the military coup of 2006. ... ITV (Independent Television) is the name popularly given to the original network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. In England, Wales and southern Scotland, the network has been rebranded to ITV1 by ITV plc, the owners of... The Royal Thai Army is the army of Thailand. ...

The junta maintained martial law after the coup, even though junta vice-chairman Chalit Phukbhasuk claimed that there were no intelligence reports of unusual activities by supporters of deposed Premier Thaksin.^[43]

References

External links

• Official site
• Jane's article about immediate aftermath of coup