Thai Muslims hope the Sonthi will help to bring peace to the Muslim-majority south. (Reuters)

BANGKOK — The military coup led by Thailand's first ever Muslim chief-of-staff Sonthi Boonyaratglin has brought hopes of peace for the people of the Muslim-populated south who have long complained of the heavy-handed policies of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I am glad there was a coup and the coup leader is also Muslim. I hope he will help solve the problem in Thailand's three (southern) provinces soon because he knows us well," Raira Manee, a market trader, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday, September 21.

"Thaksin does not understand us," added the 30-year-old.

In the country's first coup in 15 years, Sonthi led a rapid, well-orchestrated overthrow while Thaksin was away in New York. No shots were fired during the nighttime operation which started late on Tuesday, September 19.

"Thaksin was pretty much loathed among many in the south, as was evident in the dismal showing of his allies at the last general elections," said Joseph Liow, an assistant professor at Singapore's Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies.

The Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia have been plagued by unrest since January 2004, and Thaksin's decision to impose emergency rule there in 2005 was widely criticized, especially among the sizable Muslim community.

The measure gave security forces broad immunity from prosecution, which human rights groups say led to extra-judicial killings and other abuses.

Earlier this month Sonthi broke with the official line and called for talks but the Thaksin government immediately distanced itself from his approach.

"Sonthi in particular mentioned that he has not been able to solve the southern problem because of interference from the political leader," said Panitan Wattanayagorn of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

"Now he doesn't have that, so now it is up to him to solve the problem."

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country with Muslims making up five percent of the population and mostly live in the five southern provinces bordering Malaysia.

Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat are the only Muslim-majority provinces in Thailand and were an independent Muslim sultanate until annexed officially a century ago.

Tight Control

Sonthi complained he has not been able to solve the southern problem because of interference from the Thaksin government. (Reuters)

The coup leaders appeared to be tightening grip on the country after Tuesday's power grab.

They assumed legislative powers in the absence of a parliament, imposed martial law, banned public gatherings and closed much of the country's land border.

"For the benefit of the country, while it has no parliament and senate, laws requiring action by members of parliament and the senate will be approved" by the provisional military government, the junta said in a statement.

The new regime also asked all media to stop broadcasting text messages from viewers and to stop running other expressions of public opinion.

Life in the capital was largely back to normal Thursday, with schools, banks and government offices open after being ordered shut for a day.

The people were calm and most residents appeared unfazed by the dramatic turn of events.

"Everyone is happy," said Chaiyaporn Kurusiripong, 33, a bank employee.

"On the first day back I think they will talk about this thing, but they will work as hard as usual."

There have been no reports of violence or unrest since the coup, even in the north of the country where Thaksin has a strong following.

Bowing Out

Ousted Thaksin confirmed his bowing out of politics, calling for new elections and national reconciliation in the country.

"The event 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 in London.

The statement affirmed that Thaksin "as of now will take a deserved rest."

"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."

Thaksin flew into London following the coup from New York, where he had been attending the UN General Assembly.

Sonthi said on Wednesday that Thaksin was welcome back in Thailand at any time but that he could be put on trial.

He further said that elections were unlikely before next September as it would take that long to reform Thailand's constitution but an interim prime minister will be appointed in the next two weeks.