AS someone who spends a lot of time in Thailand, it is a weird situation.
The military is actually trying to take over to reinstate stable good governance.
A total 180 on what a coup normally means.
Thaksin is a twit and NEEDS to be overthrown. It would be like Bill Gates taking over America and then buying off everyone he nees to buy off. Thaksin once flew his cronies on military planes to Chaing MAi for a birthday party for his daughter for god sakes!!! He sells of national industries to friends in Singapore and the urban people hate him. The one reason he is in power is that he has like 100% support from the Rural part of the country because he bought them off with some slick programs that don't actually help them in the long term but seem to appeal to them enough to vote for him despite the 'city-folk newspaper allegations'.
Still a large urban-rural divide in Thailand.
I would not be overly concerned about travelling to Thailand though. They are a very peaceful people, they just have livily semi-democratic politics. When i was last there for 4 months this winter there were massive protests and such and things outside of those protests were business as usual... they also have a VERY strong monarchy that keeps peace and stability in the country outside these flare-ups.
Claeren.
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