'More tank festival than coup'

2006-09-22 14:17

Bangkok - Since Thailand's coup, tanks decorated with roses and yellow ribbons have become the kingdom's hottest tourism draw, with Thais and foreigners vying for the best spot to take pictures.

"It's cool to take pictures next to tanks. I will definitely bring my kids here this weekend to take pictures with soldiers," sid Sinsak Jiarasincharoen, a 43-year-old businessman.

Since Tuesday's coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Sinsak said he has taken more than 10 pictures of soldiers and tanks in front of the Royal Plaza in central Bangkok.

Tours of coup sights

Sinsak was one of hundreds of Thais and foreign tourists who flocked to the plaza to see the forces who staged the kingdom's first coup in 15 years. Some local travel agencies even organised bus tours of coup sights.

"Normally, you hear about a coup and it's something violent, you know, and people are panicking," said Christopher Wilcox, an American backpacker in his late teens.

"As you can see around here, it's no big deal and so it's exciting," he said after posing for a picture with three Thai schoolgirls in front of a tank.

T-shirts

Behind the tanks, vendors quickly cashed in on the event, selling T-shirts bearing slogans saying "No Thaksin" for 100 baht ($2.50) each.

"It's more like a tank festival than an actual coup," said John Koldowski, director of the strategic intelligence centre at the Pacific Asia Travel Association, an umbrella group of travel agencies in the region.

"It's so mild, almost to be unbelievable," Koldowski said.

Under the watchful eye of soldiers, Thais and foreigners climbed onto tanks and waved at their friends who were taking pictures, while soldiers willingly helped young children to hop aboard big vehicles.

- AFP