Military junta to explain reasons for coup
Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) Thailand's coup leaders have drafted a 35-page document explaining their reasons for overthrowing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government, namely his alleged corruption, abuse of power and human rights violations.
The document, seemingly prepared for foreign consumption to defuse criticism of the September 19 coup abroad, is scheduled to be release in Thai and English by the end of the month, a National Security Council spokesman said on Wednesday.
The White Paper titled Facts about the September 19 Thai Political Reform will highlight allegedly corrupt deals approved by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government, including a scandal over baggage scanners and a rail link for Bangkok's recently opened Suvarnabhumi airport, the press reported.
The document notes a 2004 case in which the government-run Exim Bank, which supports trade and loans abroad, issued a 4 billion baht loan to Myanmar for government construction and telecoms projects that used Thai suppliers. Critics allege the deal was rigged to benefit Thaksin's former telecommunications empire Shin Corp.
The document reveals little if any new allegations against Mr Thaksin, but serves as a summary of his massive alleged wrongdoing. It spells out his administration's alleged dirty deals, human rights violations, interference with independent agencies, destruction of checks and balances and meddling with the media.
The army's White Paper is also said to highlight serious "policy flaws" that led to human rights abuses, including a controversial war on drugs that left some 2,500 people dead. Human rights groups have long claimed that most of the deaths were the result of extra-judicial killings carried out by police and security forces.
Finally, it also accuses Thaksin of interfering with the Senate, which appoints independent agencies to monitor the government, and with the Election Commission, the courts and anti-corruption agencies.
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