Military Forces Cause Chaos In Bangkok, Locals Plea To King For Help
Maira Oliveira - All Headline News Reporter Bangkok, Thailand (BANG) - After military forces staged a bloodless coup on Tuesday, the people of Thailand have turned to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin led the siege against the unpopular Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - who was in New York to address the UN - when the army surrounded government buildings and declared martial law in Bangkok. Last night, Thai TV stations - hijacked by the army - aired pictures of their king to reassure the country that the military's intentions were honorable and they were in solidarity with the monarch. The king has reigned for 60 years, the longest of any living monarch, and has outlasted 20 prime ministers, 15 constitutions and a large number of coups. On Thai national television, a chicken vendor, said, "Tomorrow everything will be back to normal. Everything is OK because we have a king." General Boonyaratglin met with the popular monarch immediately after declaring that he had seized power from the prime minister, and announced that he would head their "council of reform." King Bhumibol has few legal powers but has a great influence over his people, who regard him with an almost god-like devotion. The British Foreign Office has issued a warning to the thousands of Britons currently in Thailand to avoid large crowds and demonstrations. Many people spending holidays there are leaving the c |
