Thaksin Composed in New York as Bangkok Coup Unfolds

An apparent military coup unfolded in Bangkok on Tuesday to find Thailand's prime minister a world away. Thaksin Shinawatra was in New York, and a senior Thai official told AFP he had remained calm at his hotel and was showing no sign of preparing to relinquish power.

Thaksin stayed at the hotel alongside members of his staff as reports of the takeover arrived from the capital. He spent part of the afternoon watching U.S. President George W. Bush address the UN General Assembly on television from his hotel room. The official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, offered these details to convey the prime minister's composed state of mind.

Thaksin made clear, through the official, that he had no intention of stepping aside. "He regards himself as the elected prime minister," the official said, adding that Thaksin's stated priority was defending Thailand's constitution against the military action now underway in Bangkok.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.