World Notes Thailand

Escorted by a police car, a silver-gray Mercedes carrying General Kriangsak Chomanan passed through the ornate gates of the Armed Forces Supreme Command headquarters in downtown Bangkok last week. Out of habit, the guard on duty saluted. But it was not an occasion to honor the retired general and former Prime Minister, for Kriangsak, 67, was arrested and charged with attempting to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda on Sept. 9.

As rumors of a post-coup Cabinet shake-up persisted, the Prime Minister began the difficult task of settling accounts. Security forces rounded up four retired generals, including Kriangsak and Serm Na Nakorn, former Armed Forces Supreme Commander, along with 15 other officers and seven labor leaders. They also reportedly put out a warrant for the arrest of a tank commander said to be responsible for the deaths of NBC Cameraman Neil Davis and his sound technician William Latch during the coup. Another seven soldiers and cashiered Colonel Manoon Roopkachorn, who is believed to have masterminded the aborted rebellion, are still at large. Prem instructed a team of police investigators to work "day and night" to bring the culprits to justice.