Latest news with #militarycoup
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Suchinda Kraprayoon, Thai Leader Who Set Off Bloody Protests, Dies at 91
Suchinda Kraprayoon, a prime minister of Thailand who seized power in a military coup, then violently cracked down on pro-democracy protests in 1992, events that came to be known as Black May, died on June 10 in Bangkok. He was 91. His death, in a hospital, was reported by the Thai News Agency. Mr. Suchinda's brief tenure as prime minister, from which he resigned in humiliation after just 48 days, was a pivot point in modern Thai history. His leadership was considered such a disaster that it quelled the military's appetite to overtly interfere in government for more than a decade, an unusual interlude in a nation long dominated by the armed forces. A charismatic Army general who became a short-fused politician, Mr. Suchinda was the nation's supreme military commander in February 1991, when he helped engineer a bloodless coup against a civilian government, some of whose ministers were notorious for corruption. It was the 17th military coup or attempted coup in Thailand in six decades. After the coup, Mr. Suchinda publicly promised that he would not take the job of prime minister, yet he did just that in April 1992, after being nominated by a pro-military coalition in the legislature. Opponents called his appointment 'Suchinda's second coup.' Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Bangkok beginning on May 17. Troops loyal to the government sprayed the unarmed crowd with automatic rifle fire. The lobby of the Royal Hotel in the city's historic center became a makeshift surgical ward, where at least 10 people were reported to have died on one given night. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Niger-Benin border standoff deepens as trade collapse bites
Nearly two years after Niger's military seized power and the border with Benin was shut, tensions over security, sovereignty and French influence have hardened into a stand-off throttling trade and paralysing ties between the west African neighbours. Benin, which denies hosting foreign forces accused of destabilising Niger, claims it has made repeated overtures to ease the blockade, but efforts have failed despite mounting economic pain on both sides of the border. "Those who are suffering are the people of both countries," Nigerien haulier Ibrahim Abou Koura, who is based in Benin's economic capital Cotonou, said. General Abdourahamane Tiani has repeatedly accused Benin of harbouring French military bases training jihadists to undermine Niger. In May, he insisted the border would "remain closed", saying the fight was not with Benin but with French troops he claims are operating from its soil. The friction since the coup has taken a heavy toll on cross-border trade and travel between the two countries. "Buses aren't as full. There's not the same number of people," said Abou Koura, in the deserted yard of his compound in Zongo, where he once stored goods bound for major Nigerien cities. Still, transport workers in Cotonou say some movement persists, with the Niger River -- a natural border -- remaining a busy crossing despite the official closure. "Goods pass and travellers cross the river to continue their journey by bus on the Niger side," said Alassane Amidou, a resident of Malanville, a city in northeastern Benin. But for trucks unable to cross by water, perilous detours through jihadist-infested zones in Burkina Faso have become the only option. "The Niger-Benin corridor is currently the safest, most profitable and shortest route for transporters and businesses," said Gamatie Mahamadou, secretary-general of a consortium of Nigerien truck driver unions, in Niamey. He called on Niger's military rulers to "immediately normalise relations with Benin", warning that "workers' safety" and "the national economy" are at stake. - Cautious optimism - Niger's vital oil exports to Benin's port of Seme-Kpodji resumed in late 2024 via a cross-border pipeline after months of disruption. Uranium shipments from northern Niger remain stalled, awaiting either a diplomatic thaw or an alternative route. Benin has denied Niger's claims it is turning a blind eye to any destabilisation attempts and continues to extend an olive branch to Niger. Former presidents Thomas Boni Yayi and Nicephore Soglo travelled to meet General Tiani a year ago in a failed bid to restore ties. Beninese Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari in early June said he hoped for "prospects for recovery" provided security conditions are met. "We are hopeful that this will be resolved quickly ... the blockage is not on Benin's side," he told local media. "We have to accept the fact that we are not on the same wavelength sometimes... The door remains open." A new Beninese ambassador may soon be appointed to Niamey, following the quiet February recall of Gildas Agonkan, who had publicly apologised to the Nigerien people "on behalf of all Beninese and the authorities of Benin". "The apology to the Nigerien people was seen in Cotonou as a diplomatic weakening of the country during this crisis," said Guillaume Moumouni, an international relations expert. "The next ambassador must be someone of great repute and who knows Niger well enough to inspire trust and respect." Benin, which maintains it hosts no foreign military bases, has seen a surge in jihadist attacks this year and laments poor cooperation with neighbouring Sahel states also affected. "Not being able to talk directly with its neighbours increases Benin's vulnerability," said Lassina Diarra, head of the Strategic Research Institute of the International Counter-Terrorism Academy in Ivory Coast. Benin is set to elect a new president in April 2026, which could be a chance to restart "serious negotiations", Moumouni said. str-bh-pid/srg/phz
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Thailand's former Prime Minister Suchinda Kraprayoon, who cracked down on 1992 protests, dies at 91
Suchinda Kraprayoon, an army commander in Thailand who in 1992 followed the Southeast Asian nation's tradition of military strongmen assuming the reins of government, died Tuesday at age 91, the state Thai News Agency reported. Suchinda, who served just under seven weeks as prime minister, became one of the country's most reviled politicians after the military used lethal force to quash protests alleging he took office by undemocratic means. The episode became known as 'Black May.' The violence, during which 52 people were killed according to an official count, ended only when the country's revered monarch, then-King Bhumibol Adulyadej, summoned Suchinda and protest leader Chamlong Srimuang for a scolding on a live television broadcast. Suchinda stepped down and exited politics, living generally out of the public eye. He was respected by fellow officers and named chairman of a major Thai telecoms company. He began his military career by attending Chulachomklao Military Academy, Thailand's West Point, and did two study tours in the United States. He served a stint in a Thai unit supporting the U.S. war effort in Vietnam and was an assistant military attache in 1971 at the Thai Embassy in Washington. A 1985 appointment as assistant chief of staff for operations put him on track to be appointed army commander, which he achieved in March 1990. He then rose to become prime minister a year after leading a February 1991 coup ousting the elected government of Chatichai Choonhaven, whose ruling coalition was dubbed the 'buffet Cabinet' because its members were seen as feeding on the spoils of power. Although Suchinda was one of four deputy leaders of the junta that took over, he was arguably more influential than its official leader, Gen. Sunthorn Kongsompong. The junta got credit for appointing qualified technocrats to serve in its interim Cabinet and for holding an election in March 1992. Five parties that won a majority of seats nominated Narong Wongwan, a wealthy businessman and member of Parliament, to be prime minister. His nomination was withdrawn after the United States caused a controversy by saying it had refused him a visa because of suspected links to drug trafficking. The five parties then selected Suchinda as their candidate, and he became Thailand's 19th prime minister. A protest movement immediately took hold and grew rapidly. The confrontation escalated into violence by May 17, with running street battles, the burning of public property and troops opening fire on unarmed protesters. When King Bhumibol on May 20 summoned Suchinda and his main critic Chamlong to tell them to end the violence, Suchinda's position became untenable. After the king signed an amnesty covering both sides in the conflict, he resigned.
National Post
06-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Toronto resident cancels planned trip to U.S. due to travel ban: 'I feel so bad'
Hla Wynn was looking forward to his annual trip to New York this summer, eager to spend time with family and help his brother recover from surgery. But the retired college professor said his long-standing plans are on hold until further notice now that U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a travel ban on residents of more than a dozen countries, including his birthplace of Myanmar. Article content Article content 'We've been going back and forth, some years they come and visit us, sometimes we go and visit them, to go for a trip during the summertime, spend about a week or two with them,' the 73-year-old said of his summer travels. '… but because of this new development, I'm not comfortable visiting them.' Article content Article content Trump announced Wednesday that citizens of 12 countries — Myanmar, Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — would be banned from visiting the United States. Article content Some of the 12 countries on the banned list were targeted by a similar measure Trump enacted in his first term. Article content Wynn, who now lives in Toronto, has maintained close ties in his home country and worries about the broader impact of Trump's ban, which is set to take effect on Monday. Article content He said he has been helping university students in Myanmar online after they lost access to education following a military coup in 2021, and he now fears the ban will make it difficult for those wanting to continue their studies. Article content Article content 'Everything was closed down or even if they are open, they are under military government, which is a very poor education system,' he said. Article content Article content 'I was so sad for these people because lots of people are trying to get into (the) U.S. and Canada … and now there are lots of students stuck to get a visa.' Article content The head of an association representing the Myanmar community in Ontario said the new travel ban is 'cruel' to the people of his country. Article content Napas Thein, president of the Burma Canadian Association of Ontario, said the people of Myanmar are already facing difficulties in their own country thanks to the coup and a new law mandating military service, and the ban will make it harder to move to a safer place. Article content 'This has really put a strain on people that I know in Canada,' he said. Article content 'I know a student, supposed to be incoming PhD student, who is supposed to go to a university in the United States, whose trajectory there may be completely halted because he's a Myanmar national.'
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Six-year-old girl among Myanmar group arrested for killing retired general
Protesters at Parliament last year against Myanmar's military which seized power of the country in a 2021 coup. Now a child is among a group arrested for a high profile assassination. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver By Reuters Myanmar's military has arrested a 6-year-old child as part of a group it labelled "terrorists" for the daytime killing of a retired military officer and diplomat last month, a junta-run newspaper has reported. Cho Htun Aung, 68, a retired brigadier general who also served as an ambassador, was shot dead in Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon on 22 May, in one of the highest profile assassinations in a country in the throes of a widening civil war. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup, overthrowing an elected government led by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering widespread protests. The junta's violent crackdown on dissent sparked an unprecedented nationwide uprising. A collection of established ethnic armies and new armed groups have wrested away swathes of territory from the well-armed military, and guerrilla-style fighting has erupted even in urban areas like Yangon. "A total of 16 offenders - 13 males and three females - were arrested," the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. In an accompanying graphic, the newspaper carried the image of the 6-year-old child, identified as the daughter of the alleged assassin. Her face was blurred in an online version of the newspaper seen by Reuters, but visible in other social media posts made by junta authorities. A junta spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comment. Golden Valley Warriors, an anti-junta insurgent group, said they killed the retired general because of his continued support for military operations, including attacks on civilians, according to a 22 May statement. The junta claims the group is backed by the National Unity Government - a shadow government comprising remnants of Suu Kyu's ousted administration that is battling the military - and paid an assassin some 200,000 Myanmar Kyat (NZD$157) for a killing, the state newspaper reported. NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt denied the shadow government had made any such payments. "It is not true that we are paying people to kill other people," he told Reuters. Since the coup, Myanmar's junta has arrested over 29,000 people, including more than 6000 women and 600 children, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, an activist group. Fatalities among civilians and pro-democracy activists verified by AAPP during this period amount to more than 6700, including 1646 women and 825 children. Myanmar's junta has said it does not target civilians and its operations are in response to attacks by "terrorists" for maintaining peace and stability in the country. - Reuters
