當地時間9月19日夜里，泰國軍方發動軍事政變。9月20日，發動政變的領導人、泰國陸軍司令頌提表示，軍方無意統治國家，泰國將在兩周內成立一個文官政府，任命一位新總理。據悉，看到街頭出現的大量士兵和坦克，泰國曼谷的民眾并沒有因此陷入恐慌，他們似乎平靜接受了這一切。

Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin listens to a reporter's questions in Bangkok Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006. [AP] Bangkon, Thailand - Thailand's new military ruler, winning crucial royal backing for his bloodless coup, announced Wednesday that he would not call elections for another year. The US and other Western nations expressed disapproval and urged a swift restoration of democracy. Army commander Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, appearing relaxed and confident in his military uniform at his first news conference since seizing power Tuesday night, said he would serve as de facto prime minister for two weeks until the junta, which calls itself the Council of Administrative Reform, chooses a civilian to replace him and drafts an interim constitution . Sondhi sealed the success of his coup by receiving royal endorsement as leader of the new junta, while ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who watched events unfold from abroad, pondered his future and the threat of possible prosecution at home. Receiving the imprimatur of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej legitimizes the takeover, and should effectively quash any efforts at resistance by Thaksin's partisans. Thaksin's ouster followed a series of missteps that prompted many to accuse the prime minister of challenging the king's authority, an unpardonable act in this traditional Southeast Asian nation that is a popular vacation destination for Westerners. There appeared to be a sense of relief among many Thais at the resolution of political tensions that had hung over the nation since the beginning of the year, when street demonstrations demanding Thaksin step down for alleged corruption and abuse of power gained momentum. Thailand has had no working legislature and only a caretaker government since February, when Thaksin dissolved parliament to hold new elections in an effort to reaffirm his mandate. The presence of tanks and armed soldiers on the streets of Bangkok, a city of more than 10 million, was taken with good humor in an almost holiday atmosphere. Schools, government offices and the stock market were closed Wednesday but were to reopen Thursday. Outside Thailand, the coup drew criticism from several foreign governments and human rights groups, who expressed dismay at the overthrow of a popularly elected government. The Bush administration denounced the coup and hinted that US aid, military cooperation and improved trade relations might be in jeopardy. (Agencies)

Vocabulary:

bloodless coup: 不流血政變 junta: 政變后上臺的軍政府 interim constitution: 臨時憲法 imprimatur: 許可、認可 mandate: 統治權，管轄權 （英語點津陳蓓編輯）