2006 Coup-Payback Time!

[GWR]

Channel 11 Newsline mentioned twice this evening that part of the rumor about a coup and the imposition of a Emergency Rule was that an assassination attempt had been made on General Saprang. I wasn't really listening properly, but I believe I actually heard that the rumor was saying he was actually dead - but also that the rumors were groundless.

I can't find any text confirmation of this rumor. But I also can't find any reports that General saprang has been seen in public today:

PM dismisses rumours of new coup, emergency decree
BANGKOK, June 14 (TNA) – Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Thursday denied rumours of an imminent new coup and a planned enforcement of a state of emergency decree, dismissing both as groundless.

The rumour swirled throughout the capital on Wednesday, plunging the stock index by 2.26 per cent as some investors sold blue-chip stocks in response to rising political tensions following anti-coup demonstrations by supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The premier assured the public that it is unnecessary to extend the state of emergency decree enforced in the south for nearly two years to Bangkok.

"The Decree will be the last resort that this government will implement to resolve the problem," the prime minister said.

He also asked the public not to believe unconfirmed reports but to monitor news disseminated from state media.

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=29926

[GWR]

This puts the previous post in perspective a bit more. It seems Channel 11 Newsline were not exactly being very 'tight' in their use of time references:

..........

CNS deputy secretary-general Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr said rumours were circulated to give the impression of a country grinding to a dead end.

Rumours also spread of a group of military officers disloyal to the CNS plotting a counter-coup and that the CNS would impose a curfew to crack down on the demonstrators.

Gen Saprang was also a target. Over the past two months, rumours have circulated claiming he had been assassinated.

''This is normal. It is aimed at triggering panic and appealing to opportunists. But it doesn't work with the military,'' said Gen Saprang.

..........