Word: coups
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RESIGNED. Thaksin Shinawatra, 57, ousted Prime Minister of Thailand; as leader of Thai Rak Thai, the political party he founded in 1998; in London. Thai Rak Thai, once the country's dominant political force, has been hit by the resignation of dozens of party leaders since the Sept. 20 coup. In a handwritten letter faxed to party headquarters, Thaksin took responsibility for allowing the coup to happen and apologized for stepping down, saying, "I want to stress that it is necessary...
...example, in Argentina Juan Domingo Perón enfranchised millions, but could not complain when a coup deposed him: He had led one himself less than a decade before. The country subsequently suffered six “constitutional interruptions” in less than a century...
...Even in the region's democracies, General Sonthi's coup is widely welcomed. Filipinos?who endured 14 years of authoritarian rule under Marcos?see Thaksin's military ouster as a portent of embattled President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's own political demise. Arroyo was a big Thaksin fan. She applauded "Thaksinomics," as his pump-priming policies were termed, and even vowed to "do a Thaksin" on her country's drug dealers after he unleashed a killing spree in which more than 2,500 drug suspects died. But Arroyo's popularity slumped to record lows amid allegations that she cheated...
...With her rock-bottom popularity, Arroyo is now so dependent on the support of the Philippine military that many Filipinos might argue that a "soft coup" has already taken place in their country. Earlier this year Arroyo declared a brief state of emergency after supposedly foiling the latest in a series of plots to overthrow her. But a pro-Arroyo senator interviewed by TIME suggests the President is more likely to "do a Marcos" and declare martial law. "That's the only way for her to stay in power," he says...
...political systems incapable of guaranteeing smooth and legitimate transfers of power. Even if General Sonthi keeps his promise and returns power to civilian hands, the damage is done. Neither the dictatorial style of Thaksin's rule, nor the manner of his departure, are worth celebration. Sukma believes the Thai coup will embolden "antidemocratic forces" across the region. "They are all laughing at democracy now," he warns. Democracy might yet have the last laugh, but in much of Asia that day remains a long...