Thailand's new military ruler pledged yesterday to resign from power in two weeks and restore democracy in a year, after sweeping aside Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup.
General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who orchestrated Tuesday night's coup while the premier was out of the country, said Thaksin had been pushed out in line with the wishes of the people after months of political turmoil.
"I will resign as interim prime minister within two weeks, and now we are looking for the person who will become the new prime minister," said Sonthi, who added that he hoped to hold new elections in October next year.
PHOTO: AP
"The potential candidates are politically neutral and love democracy, with the king as head of state," he said.
After announcing the coup on Tuesday night, Sonthi and his generals met with revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Sonthi Boon-yaratglin said in a television statement yesterday that the king had endorsed him as the head of the interim governing council.
"For the sake of the nation's peace and order, the king has appointed General Sonthi Boon-yaratglin to become the leader of Military Council for Political Reform," said the statement read on national television.
"People should be calm and all government officials should follow General Sonthi's orders," it said.
Thailand has been wracked by months of upheaval since Thaksin's family sold nearly US$2 billion of shares in the telecoms firm he founded -- without paying any tax.
Waves of street protests convinced Thaksin to call a new election in April and step down temporarily, but the poll descended into chaos and members of the election commission were jailed on charges of helping Thaksin's party.
New elections were repeatedly delayed, and Sonthi said the generals had finally decided it was time to take action. He denied the king was involved.
"Nobody was behind us. We decided on our own, and we took care of it on our own," he said.
"We decided within the last two days to stage a coup because the people have called for it and also because of the mismanagement of the government," Sonthi said. Across Thailand, there were no immediate reports of violence or unrest.
Sonthi, who announced after the coup that the Constitution had been annulled, said a new interim constitution would be ready early next month, which would lead to a permanent constitution about one year later.
"The next general election will hopefully take place in October next year," the general said.
Earlier, Sonthi said there would be strict new controls on the media and a ban on public gatherings.
The country's border with Laos and Myanmar in the north, a strongly pro-Thaksin area, was closed.
In the capital Bangkok, the epicenter of the anti-Thaksin movement, many people seemed relieved. People adorned military vehicles with flowers and some gave soldiers food and drink.
"The revolution ... was not that bad and there was no violence," said the governor of the Bank of Thailand, Pridiyathorn Devakula. "This change is acceptable to the people, so it should not affect investments."
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