By Andrew L. Jaffee

When the cat’s away, the mice play? Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in New York when rebels ousted him from power. Er, ah, at least they’re polite rebels. From the AP:

“The armed forces commander and the national police commander have successfully taken over Bangkok and the surrounding area in order to maintain peace and order. There has been no struggle,” the announcement said. “We ask for the cooperation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience.”

Were they playing elevator music during this public service announcement?

So far, there’s been no bloodshed, but I’m saddened that the military has stepped in. While Thaksin is most certainly involved in some type of corruption, new elections were scheduled for October 15. His party easily won the last two elections and was expected to win in October. What will happen now?

I doubt the coup has anything to do with Thailand’s Islamist problem, even though the coup’s leader, Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin is “a Muslim in this Buddhist-dominated country.” But he is “known to be close to Thailand’s revered monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.”

Hopefully, things will get back to normal soon:

A senior army general, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said the armed forces chiefs were meeting with the king to discuss forming an interim government, suggesting it would probably be led by civilians.

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Related: Elections, Pure Politics, Southeast Asia

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