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[Moghjubar]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/23/world/asia/thailand-military-coup.html

Appears to be yet another military coup, this time in Thailand.

[Ramaraunt]

Imagine what would happen if there was a coup in the USA.

[Mictlantecuhtli]

How to suicide a market full of investment 101, right here. Too bad all the foreign money has been recent due to a newly-perceived stability and will likely leave in a big way. [Why invest in Thailand when Vietnam, India and Indonesia are relatively stable?]

[WealthyRadish]

Imagine what would happen if there was a coup in the USA.

A ding in our credit rating and a couple weeks of people worrying about the postal service.

[da_nang]

How to suicide a market full of investment 101, right here. Too bad all the foreign money has been recent due to a newly-perceived stability and will likely leave in a big way. [Why invest in Thailand when Vietnam, India and Indonesia are relatively stable?]

I suppose Vietnam is relatively more stable as long as the anti-Chinese sentiment doesn't take the country to hell.

[GiglameshDespair]

There last coup they had was 2006.

Thailand coups are hardly an unheardd of thing.

 

[scriver]

In fact I believe Thailand tops the list of highest amount of  military coups. So yeah.

[Veylon]

In fact I believe Thailand tops the list of highest amount of  military coups. So yeah.

Last time around, I recall people getting their pictures with the soldiers.

Looks like they're at it again.

Let's be honest here: "Military Coup" is subjectively terrifying, not objectively. Most people there seem to expect the situation to be resolved by protests and an election, not violence. This isn't a revolution, there doesn't appear to be any appetite for a dictator of any sort, and I'm sure everyone's money will be safe.

[TheDarkStar]

There's a coup in Thailand about once every 6 2/3 years and an attempted coup about every 4 years. I'm pretty sure that people have just gotten used to it by this point.

[Descan]

If anything, there NOT being a coup could make investors go "Well shit, if even the military won't attempt to restore order, then something is seriously wrong!" and get out. Especially if there was still the same type of politics and rhetoric there had been recently.

[alway]

Let's be honest here: "Military Coup" is subjectively terrifying, not objectively. Most people there seem to expect the situation to be resolved by protests and an election, not violence. This isn't a revolution, there doesn't appear to be any appetite for a dictator of any sort, and I'm sure everyone's money will be safe.

Well yeah. I mean, would you want to be a dictator in a place that has military coups as often as most countries hold elections? Hells naw.

[Sheb]

Yeah, coup are hardly unheard of. It's just one more chapter in the long history of the conflicts between the poorer north-east and the Bangkok elite and middle class. And it won't be solved any time soon, as soon as the generals allow elections, the Reds will win and the Yellow will start protesting again...

[Mictlantecuhtli]

I was mostly referring to the recent sentiment on Wall Street/London that Thailand was going to be coup-free for a while. That was mostly a big play last year, though, afaik most emerging funds are buying into the Indonesia/Vietnam story in 2014. I assume the exposure was limited; the SET hasn't dropped off a cliff because of the coup, a la Egypt. So thankfully I was wrong about money fleeing. Now, if the situation deteriorates we can see money leaving in a big way.

Maybe Thailand should just schedule coups every 6 years or so, get rid of the ambiguity.

[hops]

My understanding of military coups tends to be that it's less reform, more 'We want our guy in power'

...so yeah.

Exactly.

As a Thai person I've gotten apathetic to Thailand politics, and I only care about avoiding the danger that obviously comes from the riots and other bullshit.

To be fair, though, things are slowly getting better. All we need is a few twenty years for Thaksin Shinawatra to up and die.

[Sheb]

Do you really think this mess will end with Thaksin Shinawatra? To me, it's not about him so much as about large parts of the population not feeling represented by the Bangkok-based elite. Even if he was to die tomorrow, and his sister too, someone else will take his place. With luck it'll be someone really wanting to make things better for the poors, with no luck it'll be just someone looking to using them to gain power.