Thai consular work is normal despite coup

DUBAI — Following the military coup in Bangkok on Tuesday, which ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power, a top official of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Dubai announced yesterday that their consular operations remain normal.

By Criselda E. Diala

Published: Thu 21 Sep 2006, 10:19 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 8:26 PM

“The consular services of the Thailand Consulate-General have been running normally. We have learnt about the news from Bangkok, and that the military takeover was done peaceully, without any bloodshed or resistance,” said Pasan Teparak, Consul-General of Thailand.

Teparak said that the new military administration has made a number of announcements following the takeover. “The most significant announcement was that they (the administration) will adhere to international laws, practices and treaties that Thailand has signed with other countries. They will protect the foreign embassies in Bangkok, including all foreign nationals who are in Thailand,” he disclosed.

The Consul-General mentioned that the group of military leaders already had an audience with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday evening and that a public holiday in Thailand was declared yesterday. The new administration yesterday also called on all diplomatic representatives based in Thailand for a briefing and clarification of the country’s situation. “The military administration promised that their intention is to put democracy in Thailand so that the Thai people would have the right to vote and choose leaders in the government. Although yesterday has been declared a holiday for government offices, schools, and the private sector, we are expecting that everything will be business as usual today,” Teparak told Khaleej Times yesterday.

He said that the Thai Consulate-General has received calls from Thai nationals based in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, expressing concerns about the safety of their families in Thailand. “The Thai nationals who are here have experienced a military coup at least once in their lifetime. The last that we had was 15 years ago. But once they are assured that the military’s reasons for the coup were mainly to maintain loyalty to His Majesty the King, and to bring democracy, they would understand and patiently wait for the good outcome of the situation.

“The most important thing is that we have a monarch who is above politics,” Teparak said.

The consular official also expressed confidence that the recent political developments will only slightly affect Thailand’s economy. “The devaluation of the Thai baht against the US dollar is expected, but with the peaceful takeover, our trade relations with other countries, including the UAE, should fall into place soon,” Teparak mentioned.