Teacher reports on Thai coup
A Shropshire teacher today told of the nervous atmosphere in the Thai capital of Bangkok following a military coup to oust the country's prime minister. Duncan Kaiser, who was raised in Broseley and went to school in Much Wenlock, has been teaching English and living in the city for the past three years.
He revealed how the mood changed dramatically just after 11pm local time last night, following a TV announcement that the army had seized control of the parliament.
"It was very quick, with stations suddenly switched to a Thai gentleman telling people that the army had taken control of government house and that order was still in place.
"We were actually in a local bar, chatting and having beers when a friend rang to say the coup was happening. At the same time I saw all the local Thais crowded around the TV set and realised something was up.
"A curfew rumour went around about midnight, so we all headed off home sharpish."
Nearly 20 tanks, with yellow ribbons tied around their barrels, cordoned off parts of Bangkok including the Royal Palace as the new regime put the country under martial law and declared a provisional authority loyal to the Thai king. They ordered government offices, banks, schools and the stock market to close for the day and took control of TV and radio stations.
The Foreign Office urged anyone planning to fly out to keep in touch with their travel agent or airline. But diplomats stopped short of advising UK nationals not to visit the country. Mr Kaiser said those already in the city were uncertain what they should do today.
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