Despite waking up on Wednesday to troops and tanks on the streets of Bangkok, most Thais took the military coup in their stride, hoping it would mean the end to months of political strife and division.
While the bloodless putsch against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra came as a surprise, many people in the Thai capital saw it as a timely move to halt a deepening crisis that has left the country in political limbo for nine months.
“I’m glad the coup took place because things have been ugly for a long time,” said motorcycle taxi driver Rittiporn Yomram, 36.
“The question is how long the army will hold on to power, although if they hadn’t come in, this situation would only have worsened.”
Military Humvees and jeeps were parked outside Bangkok’s glitzy shopping malls, with troops on street corners and guarding metro stations normally thronged with thousands of commuters.
Banks, stock markets, schools and government offices were closed, while newspapers stalls were sold out after the army cancelled normal television and radio programs.
Somsak Nurnsai, a street cleaner, said people were confused about what was going on, although he said he was confident there would be no repeat of the violent chapters of Thailand’s coup-prone history.
“At first, I knew nothing, and I wasn’t sure what the army was going to do when the tanks came in,” he said. “I don’t believe there will be violence. Thailand has come a long way since those days.”
Mixed views
Motorcycle taxi driver Somsak Khanok, 33, said he welcomed the military’s move. “People have been creating problems for months now, and as long as the army doesn’t turn to violence, this revolution will be a good thing,” he said.
But there were concerns about what effect a coup and the removal of Thaksin -- Thailand’s longest serving elected prime minister -- would have on the country and its economy.
“I opened my restaurant this morning, and no one was there. If this happens for more than three days this will ruin my business,” said Urai Dokmai, 57.
“I know Thaksin is corrupt, but I support him because he’s done a lot of good things for this country, particularly the poor.”
Amporn Sriaem, 46, a cleaner, said she was upset Thaksin was no longer in power. “I have no problem with Thaksin. He seems like a good guy, he gave us cheap healthcare, he helped the poor,” she said.
“If this prolongs, this will destroy the country’s economy.”