Dawn of the coup: A soldier stands guard near Democracy Monument after the Sept 19, 2006 military takeover. (Bangkok Post photo)
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THAILAND (Covid-19 Updates)
New Cases: 14,109 Total Cases: 1,462,901 Recovered: 1,317,527 Deaths: 15,246
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Thailand has endured two coups over the past 15 years and both revolve around former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his political network.
The 2014 power seizure led by then army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha followed months of street rallies triggered by the Yingluck government’s amnesty bill that could have led to Thaksin’s return.
Before that, the 2006 putsch led by then army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin put an end to street protests sparked by a conflict of interest over the controversial sale of Shin Corp shares by Shinawatra siblings to Singapore’s Temasek for 73 billion baht.
Marking the 15th anniversary of the Sept 19, 2006 coup, the Bangkok Post asked political scientists to share their views on the event and how it has reshaped the political landscape.
