rdfs:comment
| - The 2012 Siamese military coup d'etat is an ongoing political crisis in Siam, coming on the heels of the 2011-12 Siamese protests. After refusing to crack down on pro-democracy protesters on February 20, the military initiated a coup d'etat in the early morning of February 24, arresting President Thaksin Shinawatra and sending his sister, Deputy President Yingluck Shinawatra, into exile in neighboring Vietnam. With multiple Communist Party officials under arrest and General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has assumed the title of Acting President of the People's Republic of Siam. Hundreds have been killed during looting, civil unrest and a broad military crackdown on pro-government demonstrators and various communist political groups cultivated by the now-deposed government. After nearly a month putt
|
abstract
| - The 2012 Siamese military coup d'etat is an ongoing political crisis in Siam, coming on the heels of the 2011-12 Siamese protests. After refusing to crack down on pro-democracy protesters on February 20, the military initiated a coup d'etat in the early morning of February 24, arresting President Thaksin Shinawatra and sending his sister, Deputy President Yingluck Shinawatra, into exile in neighboring Vietnam. With multiple Communist Party officials under arrest and General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has assumed the title of Acting President of the People's Republic of Siam. Hundreds have been killed during looting, civil unrest and a broad military crackdown on pro-government demonstrators and various communist political groups cultivated by the now-deposed government. After nearly a month putting down riots and organizing opposition candidates, the military government unexpectedly announced that during an attempted escape from house arrest at an isolated villa south of Bangkok, Shinawatra and several other party officials had been killed, raising speculation that he was executed summarily or assassinated, sparking new riots. Due to an escalation of hostilities with Vietnam, the Siamese government no longer has diplomatic relations with Vietnam and was in a state of war with its neighbor from March 31 until April 4, with a ceasefire currently recognized by both sides following the April 2 coup d'etat in Vietnam. On April 7, 2012, the Siamese government announced it would hold elections within a year, with the communists prohibited from participating. The Siamese coup and the behavior of its government has been strongly criticized worldwide, and is viewed by some American policy experts as perhaps a cover operation for France to re-establish itself in Indochina. This coup is part of the broader 2011-12 Asian protests.
|