Armed soldiers wearing yellow scarves as a sign of loyalty to Thailand's king moved through Bangkok on 19 September 2006, surrounding Government House with tanks and armored vehicles as state broadcasters appeared to come under military control. The action ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in what appeared to be the country's first coup since 1991.
Residents reacted with a mix of confusion and cautious calm. Many made frantic calls on mobile phones or gathered around television sets seeking information. Some photographed the troops, while others approached soldiers in a friendly manner, offering food.
"I was so shocked and I am scared," said Yong Suphachai, 29, a shop owner in the main tourist district. Other residents expressed less alarm, drawing comfort from the monarchy. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose image appears in homes and businesses across the country, is the nation's most revered figure, and some residents said his troops' involvement reassured them.
Shops closed and tourists cleared away from the Royal Palace area, though street vendors quickly relocated toward Government House and the United Nations building, hoping to sell food to the stationed soldiers.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.