Coup rumours dismissed, but take a toll
 The Nation
November 24 , 2005 - Rumours of a coup d’etat against the government appear to have gathered steam this week, a situation which does not bode well from either a political or economical standpoint.
Certain government figures reported “sensing the smell of a coup” and warned that a group was plotting to overthrow Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration.
The ruling Thai Rak Thai Party “got a piece of in-depth intelligence that a group of people was plotting to overthrow the government,” said Thai Rak Thai’s deputy spokesman Sutin Klungsang.
He said any such plot would prove to be futile because public faith in the prime minister remains strong.
“I don’t think these people will be able to do it. They are unlikely to win support from the military,” the government MP said.
Deputy Transport Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who is among a handful of MPs trusted by the PM, added more weight to the coup rumours by saying that a plot to topple the government might begin in the next two weeks.
Phumtham called on all parties to prevent the mobilisation of mass demonstrations aimed at ousting the government. He claimed the gathering every Friday of the “Muang Thai Rai Sapda” political talk show at Lumpini Park by government critic Sondhi Limthongkul was a rehearsal for ousting the government.
Whatever the objective of these government figures - to pre-empt an attempt to bring down the government or to warn Cabinet colleagues of a possible threat - the move has done more harm than good to the political and economic landscape.
Share prices plummeted almost one per cent yesterday amid concerns about political stability and signs of growing public dissatisfaction in government policies.
Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee and Stock Exchange of Thailand President Kittiratt Na Ranong yesterday came out to deny rumours of a rebellion.
But it was too late to stop the stock nosedive.
Surapong ruled out the possibility of a coup in modern Thailand because any plot to overthrow the government with force would be despised by the general public and the military.
He’s right in the sense that society has learned the hard way that military coups have brought little progress to the country’s democracy.
In a democratic society, something our country is supposed to be, an elected government should leave or be forced to leave on democratic terms, no matter how bad or hateful it is.
The leader of the government could always quit or dissolve the House of Representatives to get out of a political crisis. But it is unacceptable for society to stage a coup against an elected administration.
Rumours of a military coup are not good news for the country’s political development either.
Such talk could have been spread by people who want to use the psychological effects of a coup to their advantage. But the move will appear to be unwise if it backfires.
Your comments are welcome. Contact the Political Desk at poldesk@nationgroup.com.
Kittipong Thavevong
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