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    BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- CNN is appealing for eyewitness reports from people in Thailand watching the apparent coup attempt unfold. The following is a selection of your replies, some of which have been edited. There was an eerie silence as I walked down one of central Bangkok's popular streets. There was an unusual level of calm. You would have never guessed that a military coup just took place. In fact it felt like a bunch of people enjoying a national holiday. If international news crews were in the restaurant filming the events taking place, it would have provided a sharp contrast to what was being broadcasted on various international news channels. It's business as usual here in Thailand. It's coming to almost 24 hours since the coup took place in Thailand. Everything is peaceful and calm and all television and radio channels have resumed normal transmissions. Majority of the Thais are actually glad that a coup has taken place as they are sick of seeing corrupted politicians rule this country for several years. Taksin was not qualified to be our prime minister from long time ago but he had ignored and refused such fact. As long as, our King is here, Thai people are confident that we will be just fine. Thailand is heading toward something better. Being a Thai-American, I'm a little in awe at the situation. In reality, the situation is actually quite calm, the country is not in chaos and people are not lining the streets going crazy as some news agencies have reported. Most of Thai people I have talked to are a little surprised about the Army control, but are also annoyed by that it had to come to this ordeal because of major bickering between the two main political parties (Thai Rak Thai, and Democratic Party) unable to come to a compromise by putting forth the country's best interest. Outsiders of the country may view this as hostile, but in reality there is no violence or large gatherings going on at the moment. I'm an American living in Bangkok. I just came back from downtown, things are quiet and peaceful and the military is staged at various locations. Traffic is moving and people appear to be going about their business. It is 1:23 a.m now. All UBC cable televisions stations are out, we have only one local station broadcasting pictures of His Majesty the King. It's 1:20 a.m., we live in Bangkok. The coup seems to be still under way, we just came back from a drive along Sukhumvit Road, the main road in Bangkok -- lights are off, police are shutting down all of the stores, and directing cars off the road. It clearly isn't over yet. Thanks for allowing me to follow the news because every channel is now blocked! It is incredible how the government wants to hide what is going on to Thai people! I just saw a tank on Rama IV where I live a few minutes ago ... I hope everything will be alright in a few days ... and I hope that the Internet will not be blocked too. Am currently on 58th floor of Lebua Hotel at State Tower. CNN/BBC has been cut with message broadcast "We apologize for the interruption to our scheduled program. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible." This replaced an earlier message that indicated disruption was caused by "Sun Outages." Streets below appears to be normal with lighter than normal traffic. Hotel staff are unclear whether we will be able to get taxis in the morning to get to the airport. So glad Taksin kicked out. Thailand is moving forward to a better society. Long live our king. I work for a humanitarian organisation -- World Vision -- and we have hundreds of staff in Thailand. We'll be waiting with baited breath to see how things turn out. Thailand is a wonderful country and the tourist high season -- the country's main earner -- is about to kick into high gear. Millions of people rely on it for their incomes. Let's hope peace reigns and democracy is swiftly restored. We are a group of American university students studying in Bangkok, while the attempted coup is coming to fruition. Here, we are watching CNN World News cover what is taking place on the streets before our eyes. Earlier tonight, totally unaware of what was going on, we were searched at a military check point in the downtown area. All the streets are crowded with soldiers, tanks being located in the center of the town. Nobody knows what's really happening, it's like war! I tried to watch CNN or BBC but it doesn't work. Army TV is still sending old images. At the moment, civilians are not yet affected but we don't know whether we should leave the country. I cannot believe how immature Thai politics are. This is simply a power game of the elite/ruling class. A nationwide rally to protest against PM Taksin is scheduled to happen on September 20. The coup is mocking the "people power" and it is mocking democracy. How can there be "peace and order" in a country where people's voice is not heard and respected? And power is in a handful of ruling class with either wealth, cultural capital, or guns? On top of that, all Thai TV channels and cable TV, including CNN and BBC, and major Thai newspapers websites are blocked from broadcasting. This is ridiculous! I have seen troop carriers transporting both naval and army personnel in the area of Sathorn Road -- Bangkok's central business district. I live in the Phra Khanong district of Bangkok, a largely Thai working class neighborhood. Now 00:30am local time. Things are quiet but many small clusters of people are gathered near intersections and verdors with TV sets. The prevailing mood seems more apprehensive than angry but people are clearly not happy with the Army for stepping in. Aquaintances who I know to be fed-up with Taksin want a lawful process to be the vehicle of change and are really disturbed by Army's action. They thought they had put this kind of political interferance behind them and see this as a giant step backwards. These are not academics I'm talking about, these are the opinions being voiced by the vendors, shopowners and ordinary residents of this neighborhood. Everybody is very worried what the Air Force and Navy will do, nobody wants to see conflict on the streets. Many are also wondering if Taksin's plane will be allowed to land in Thailand, and if not, what nation close by will be willing to be his home away from home. I'm in Thailand. Since all the national TV channels are blocked, Thai people basically do not know anything about what's going on, except through watching CNN and other foreign TV channel braodcast through cable TV. But right now, all foreign TV news channel are also blocked. So the only way for Thai people to know what's going on out there is through the Internet. Many Thais have awaited a military intervention a long while. It's wholeheartedly welcome. Thaksin has been an arch-tyrant. Over the past five years corruption has phenomenally widespread. In fact, Thaksin's side was about to stage a coup today but was interrupted. So thanks for the timely intervention. I'm a Thai citicen who lives in Bangkok nearby new Suwanaphoom airport. Thai military with Thai highest police department join together to coup our country. They have already occupied all Thailand television now. It's too bad to us Thai people. I Really don't know who are really good guys or who are the bad ones. My heart has only respect for our Majesty. Hope everything will be come through peacefully soon. English language news channels (CNN, BBC, CNBC, Bloomberg) have all been suspended on the major Thai cable/satellite provider (UBC). I urge most foreigners who view this military coup with an important perspective: Unlike military dictatorships around the world that hold onto power forever, ones in Thailand generally happen when the current government is under intense scrutiny for government corruption and there is no other way from preventing the country from falling apart [in this case due to this very hypocritical leader], and then returns the power to the people. Take this situation: Give your children space to experiment -- but when your children are are about to try heroin, you have to stop them -- period. That's where Thailand is now. We're learning democracy (we've been trying for many decades), but when a PM tries legitimize himself as democratic although straightforwardly a tyrannical brat, only the Keynesian "helping hand" can save us. And the only hero now is our military. |
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Heneage Mitchell's photo of soldiers standng guard outside a Bang Phli, Samut Prakarn shopping mall on the outskirts of Bangkok.
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