On September 19, Thailand's military announced that they had taken over the government from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinowatra. So what does it all mean?

Five Questions for Sadanand Dhume, Bernard Schwartz Fellow at the Asia Society and former Far Eastern Economic Review reporter

1. Thailand is a democratic country, and yet it has a long history of coups. So why did this "bloodless" coup happen?
It happened because Bangkok's elites, including King Bhumibol Adulyadej, have grown weary of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but they know they can't defeat him in an election.

2. Thaksin was loved by the peasants; one of his campaign tools was to walk into villages and hand out money. Why did the elite turn against him?
Don't elites everywhere hate bumptious pols who appeal over their heads to the masses? Of course, it's hard to like someone who, it seemed, never met a democratic institution–the press, the election commission, the army–he didn't try to subvert. Then there was his family's $1.9 billion tax-free sale to Singaporean investors of his telecoms firm, Shin Corp. Thaksin also challenged traditional patronage networks. You could say he lost his job less for being unpopular than for being too popular, albeit with the wrong people.

3. The military has cracked down on the press. Is this the end of a free press in Thailand?
No, I don't think so. Thailand is too well off now, and its civic society and culture of journalism too varied, for this to be anything but an aberration.

4. What role does the king play in all this?
It's hard to exaggerate the reverence the king inspires in Thailand. Suffice to say the coup leaders would not have dared make their move without a tacit go ahead from Bhumibol.

5. Would you still go if someone invited you to the next full moon rave at Koh Samui?
Absolutely! I'd get there a day early to pamper myself with a Thai massage, a tall glass of fresh coconut water and a visit to a local Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, match.