The Coup that failed the nation (again)

Looking back on the junta’s rein

Thailand’s military junta that staged a 2006 coup d’etat officially ended its role Thursday, admitting that it had failed in its political objectives and promised to avoid further coups.

“Thailand has returned to normalcy under democratic rule,” the Council of National Security (CNS) said in a statement. “In keeping with the 2007 constitution, the CNS will now end its role.”

The CNS, as the junta styled itself, overthrew the elected government of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on charges of massive corruption, dividing the nation and undermining democracy and the monarchy.

The junta’s official dissolution followed the swearing in on Wednesday night of a new cabinet based on a parliamentary election, which ironically has brought back to power the Thaksin clique.

“The way things turned out did not live up to our expectations. We cannot blame anyone but ourselves,” CNS chairman CNS chairman Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pukbhasuk told a press conference.

Chalit added that the military would refrain from more coups in the near future even if the new government acts “mistakenly.”

Quote of the day

“Women are like pinball machines. You put money in, you don’t get anything but a good time….”

Dick Masterson

I can’t hear you

On Tuesday evening I had a business meeting which was held in a booth at a local restaurant. Originally we planned to meet at 4 p.m. but due to circumstances my colleague re-scheduled for 6:30. By 9:30 business had been discussed, diagrams drawn, dinner eaten and drinks emptied. The question became, “What do you want to do now?”

We decided to go out. I put a few options on the table (Tokyo Joes, Soi Cowboy, the V Club, the Pent Club, etc) and my friend said that he’d like to check out the Pent, as he hadn’t ever been to a g-club before.

We arrived a bit before 10 p.m. and it was a quiet evening. There were two guys onstage picking guitars and singing some nice tunes. I actually liked what they were playing, but they were replaced at 10:30 by the usual 6 person band singing English love ballads. At that point my friend and I retired to the coyote-club disco in the back. They were only just getting started when we went in.