INDICATIONS that the political deadlock between Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his opponents had reached a critical stage could be seen as early as last July. It was then that Army Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratgalin took the unprecedented step of replacing key army unit commanders around the country, as if to ensure only officers loyal to him were in strategic positions.

Political pressure on Thaksin grew more intense as the scheduled re-