2005–2006 Thai political crisis

2005-06 period of political and civil unrest in Thailand culminating in a military coup In 2005 and 2006, a series of events occurred in Thailand as a result of public anger with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was opposed by Sondhi Limthongkul and his coalitions. These events culminated in a September 2006 military coup that overthrew the Thai Rak Thai government. This led to Thaksin's departure from Thailand and the establishment of a military government led by Surayud Chulanont, who was closely associated with senior statesman Prem Tinsulanonda. The crisis, resulting coup, and post-coup military government called into question issues of media freedom, the role of the Constitution in breaking a political deadlock, and the existence of political stability in Thailand. It also reflected the long-term and significant disparity between urban and rural political orientation, abuses of power, and conflicts of interest within democratically elected leaders, issues that have long plagued the Thai political landscape. Sondhi Limthongkul, a media mogul who was previously a staunch supporter of Thaksin, played a leading role in the crisis through the establishment of the anti-Thaksin