Thai coup leader says no vote for another year

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand’s new military ruler, winning crucial royal backing for his bloodless coup, announced Wednesday that he would not call elections for another year. The United States and other Western nations expressed disapproval and urged a swift restoration of democracy.

Army commander Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, appearing relaxed and confident in his military uniform at his first news conference since seizing power Tuesday night, said he would serve as de facto prime minister for two weeks until the junta — which calls itself the Council of Administrative Reform — chooses a civilian to replace him and drafts an interim constitution.

Sondhi sealed the success of his coup by receiving royal endorsement as leader of the new junta, while ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who watched events unfold from abroad, pondered his future and the threat of possible prosecution at home.

Early Thursday, the coup leader won the support of a rebel leader waging an Islamic insurgency.

Praise from rebel leader
“It is the right thing that the military has taken power,” said Lukman B. Lima, an exiled leader in one of several groups fighting the central government for a separate Muslim state.

“We hope that the political (situation) can be resolved under Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin as the new leader,” Lukman said.

In an e-mailed response to questions from The Associated Press, Lukman said that Sondhi was the “only one who knows the real problems” of the Muslim-dominated provinces of southern Thailand.

Lukman, exiled in Sweden, is vice president of the Pattani United Liberation Organization, or PULO. “We will continue to fight until full independence (is attained) in Pattani,” he said, referring to the provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

Sondhi said he would act as prime minister for two weeks until a new leader is chosen by the Council of Administrative Reform, that an interim constitution would be drafted within that time, and that Thailand’s foreign policy and international agreements would remain unchanged.

Australia called the coup a “great disappointment,” while Japan urged the quick restoration of democracy. The European Union condemned the military takeover, while Washington expressed concern about it. The United States, Britain and other nations also warned their citizens in Thailand to exercise caution.

King's backing
King Bhumibol Adulyadej appointed Sondhi as head of the council “in order to create peace in the country,” according to an announcement on state-run television.

“All people should remain peaceful and civil servants should listen to orders from Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin from now on,” it said.

Sondhi led a precision takeover overnight without firing a shot, sending soldiers and tanks to guard major intersections and surround government buildings while the popularly elected Thaksin, accused of corruption and undermining democratic institutions, was in New York attending the U.N. General Assembly.

Slide show   Coup in Thailand Click to see images of the military seizing control of the government.

Asked at a news conference if there would be moves to confiscate Thaksin’s vast assets, Sondhi said that “those who have committed wrongdoings have to be prosecuted according to the law.” He did not elaborate.

In launching Thailand’s first coup in 15 years, Sondhi said on nationwide television that the overthrow was needed “in order to resolve the conflict and bring back normalcy and harmony among people.”

Sondhi, 59, known to be close to the king, is a Muslim in a Buddhist-dominated nation.

State-run television also said the new leaders had dismissed the state audit commissioners and given additional powers to the auditor general Jaruvan Maintaka to investigative government corruption. Analysts said the move is expected to make it easier for Jaruvan to investigate allegations of corruption involving Thaksin and his ministers and could eventually lead to the confiscation of his assets.

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