Thai premier moves up UN speech as coup unfolds at home

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Tuesday September 19, 2006

New York- Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawtara has moved up his speech to the United Nations General Assembly to Tuesday evening as an apparent coup was unfolding at home. But it was not clear if Thaksin would deliver the speech or head home earlier. All the phone lines to the Thai mission at the United Nations have been busy through the morning, local time.

Marie Okabe, a UN spokesperson, confirmed that Thaksin had swapped places on the speaking schedule with the Montenegrin leader, who will take Thaksin's place at the podium later this week during the annual gathering of leaders of UN members.

UN security officials said the prime minister had not yet entered the UN buildings.

Thaksin on Tuesday night Bangkok time declared a state of emergency amid rumours that the military had staged a coup d'etat, and called on the military to respect the authority of his deputy prime minister Chidchai Wanathasin.

But the broadcast was cut off in mid-sentence. It has been common in past military coups - Thailand has experienced 19 since 1932 - for the military to seize control of the airwaves as their first step to seizing power.

The premier has been under pressure to resign since January, when his family sold its share in the Thaksin-founded Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holding in a 1.9 billion tax-free deal that irked Bangkok's tax-paying middle classes and elite.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur