Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej has formally recognized coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin as the head of a new military governing council. The move effectively legitimizes the coup after former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday accepted his time in power had ended.

For more details:
AFP: "Thai junta wins royal blessing, purges Thaksin allies"
http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060922070055.15vhzuud.html

and

BBC: Thai king backs coup leadership
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5369760.stm

Thai generals cement grip, Thaksin urges unity
Agence France Press
21/09/2006 16h43
http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060921163101.5b1e6fwr.html

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's ruling generals cemented their grip on power, as ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he would take a break from politics and called for national reconciliation.

Thaksin's announcement from London less than 48 hours after the military seized power in a bloodless coup indicated he now accepted his five years as Thailand's leader were over.

"Event(s) in Thailand during the last two days should not detract from my main aim of national reconciliation," said a statement issued by Thaksin's aides Thursday.

"We hope the new regime will quickly arrange a new general election and continue to uphold the principles of democracy for the future of all Thais," it said. "Dr Thaksin as of now will take a deserved rest."

The developments consolidated the grip of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and his council of military leaders, who extended their power by banning all political activities until further notice.

[... Read the Rest of the Story...]

Tanks are rolling through Bangkok as the military attempts a coup to overthrow Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who is presently in New York to address the opening of the United Nations General Assembly’s 61st session.

Shinawatra has faced considerable opposition in the past year amid widespread allegations of corruption. Faced with mounting protest he called a snap election in April. Three main opposition parties boycotted the election which was later ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court for failing to elect enough members to fill all the seats in parliament.

The country has been in political limbo since, as Shinawatra prepares for new elections in November.

Shinawatra has declared a state of “serious emergency law” from New York, and stated that things would soon return to normal. Shinawatra has cut short his trip to New York to address the situation.

See the following for more details:

BBC: “Thai PM ‘Overthrown in Army Coup’ ”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5361512.stm

AFP: “Troops Seize Centre of Thai Capital in Apparent Coup”
http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060919165132.691ofq9y.html

Reuters: “Thai Army Coup Ousts Government”
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx...

IHT: Tanks Circle Government Offices in Bangkok”
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/19/asia/web.0919thaiCND.php

CNN: “Thai Government Faces Coup Attempt”
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/thailand.coup.rumor/index.html

The Congolese Supreme Court today overturned an earlier decision ruling the planned 29 October presidential runoff unconstitutional. On Wednesday, the court had ruled that the October election date violated the electoral law requiring a presidential runoff within 15 days of the publication of first round results.

The Supreme Court today accepted an appeal by the Independant Electoral Commission (CEI), citing the impossibility of a 15-day electoral calendar given logistical complications faced in the first round. With this ruling that time period has been extended to 50 days.

With this extension the Supreme Court has accepted the CEI electoral calendar in which the runoff is slated to coincide with provincial elections on 29 October 2006.


------------------ Source in French: ------------------

http://www.cei-rdc.cd/article.php3?id_article=172

Publié le 15 Septembre 2006

La Cour suprême de justice accepte la requête de la CEI


La Cour suprême de justice (CSJ) a déclaré, le vendredi 15 septembre 2006, recevable la requête introduite par la Commission Electorale Indépendante (CEI) en rapport avec la prolongation du délai de 15 jours prévu par l’article 75 de la Constitution. En date du 06 septembre 2006, la CEI avait en effet sollicité auprès de la CSJ la prolongation au 29 octobre 2006 du délai de l’organisation du second tour du scrutin présidentiel pour cas de force majeure tirée notamment des contraintes d’organisation et de logistique dans lesquelles la CEI se trouve. Ces contraintes, selon la requête introduite par la CEI, rendent matériellement impossible l’organisation dudit scrutin dans le délai de 15 jours prévu aux articles 71 de la Constitution et 114 de la loi électorale. La CEI sollicitait en outre le respect pour la campagne électorale du délai de 15 jours qui précède la date du 29 octobre 2006. Après un examen approfondi de la requête, la CSJ a retenu « que les conditions liées à la préparation et à l’impression des bulletins de vote en Afrique du sud, à leur acheminement en RDC qui requiert au moins 56 rotations d’avions gros porteurs et à leur déploiement dans tous les bureaux de vote et de dépouillement du pays, réalisable dans 26 jours au minimum après l’arrivée des matériels électoraux en RDC, sont techniquement irréalisables dans les 15 jours ». A ces conditions la CSJ a ajouté le temps de la confection des listes électorales qui s’échelonne du 30 août au 21 octobre 2006. Ces conditions objectives étant réunies, la CSJ a conclu à la nécessité de la prolongation du délai de 15 jours. Elle a donc autorisé une prolongation de 50 jours, délai dans lequel la CEI, « comme cela lui revient, fixera la date du second tour de l’élection présidentielle », de même que la campagne électorale.

Publication des résultats définitifs du 1er tour de l’élection présidentielle

Avant d’aborder ce dossier, la CSJ a rendus publics les résultats du 1er tour de l’élection présidentielle. Après avoir examiné les 8 requêtes introduites à titre du contentieux électoral, la CSJ a confirmé les résultats publiés par la CEI en date du 20 août 2006. Joseph Kabila et Jean-Pierre Bemba sont ainsi légalement reconnus comme candidats devant concourir pour le 2ème tour de l’élection présidentielle.

------------------ FIN ------------------

The following photos come from a great little photo-essay put up by BBC a couple days ago at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/africa_kinshasa_0the_dustbin0/html/1.stm


Yes, this is the city I lived in for a month.

I'm hoping that between student loans and maybe a few more generous benefactors I can get this debt burden under control in order to focus on my studies for this, my last year at the University of Winnipeg.

If you're reading this thinking "of all the things in my life that I spend money on, Joel's work in the Congo seems like a particularly valuable cause," please don't hesitate to contact me (jmarion47@gmail.com). No amount is too small to make an impact.

Sure, after the fact I can't motivate people with the thought that "without your money this trip won't be possible" because I made it possible - by borrowing the money from the bank... but now the bank wants the money back, and i'm still hard at work at school.

And what, exactly am I doing in school? well, like I said, this is my last year at the U of W. I'll be finishing my Honours in Politics in order to graduate with a double major in Conflict Resolution Studies and Politics (BA Hons.). Just this last week I was honoured to receive the Lloyd Axworthy Scholarship in Politics for my exceptional academic standing and the work I have been doing in the University community and the DRC. Apparently the administration noticed that I've been hard at work.

I'm praying to find a sponsor to send me back to the DRC for the second round of the Presidential Elections, October 29, 2006. After all, this is where the elections will really make a difference. the overall balance of peace in the country is truly on shaky ground. With a clear divide in the allegiances of the country between the two candidates and their supporters in the east and west, and with so much riding on the outcome of this final leg of the post-conflict transitional process, it is absolutely imperative that the international community do everything in its power to ensure the transparency of the electoral process.

it is absolutely imperative that the international community do everything in its power to ensure the transparency of the electoral process.

So, if you know of any major funding sources, or if you yourself think you can muster some funds to contribute to this truly massive undertaking please contact me. All the support I have been receiving, both financial and moral, have been greatly appreciated. I believe we truly are making a difference towards the greater goal of building peace in this ravaged country.

I am planning on doing some presentations on the election observing, as well as my overall experience in the DRC over the next few months. Keep watching the blog, and I'll post something as soon as it's planned. (and if you want me to email you directly just let me know, I can do that too).

-joel