 Saprang and Sonthi started planning for the coup 7 to 8 months in advance , in approximately February 2006 . Coup planning occurred prior to the April 2006 elections , during Thaksin 's controversial sale of Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings and the peak of the People 's Alliance for Democracy 's campaign to oust the government . In July 2006 , Saprang gave an interview where he stated that Thai politics was below standard and that the Kingdom 's leadership was weak . He also claimed that Thailand had a false democracy . He denied that such criticism constituted military interference in politics . At the same time , the Thai media speculated that in the October 2006 annual Army reshuffle , Saprang would not be promoted to Assistant Army Commander and would not be allowed to retain his position of 3rd Army Area Commander . In July , Saprang 's own Deputy Commander in the 3rd Army Area , Major General Manas Paorik , warned the media that " a certain military officer who aspires to become Assistant Army Commander " was planning a coup . 
 Saprang and Sonthi started planning for the coup 7 to 8 months in advance , in approximately February 2006 . Coup planning occurred prior to the April 2006 elections , during Thaksin <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>controversial sale of Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings and the peak of the People <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>Alliance for Democracy <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>campaign to oust the government . In July 2006 , Saprang gave an interview where he stated that Thai politics was below standard and that the Kingdom <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>leadership was weak . He also claimed that Thailand had a false democracy . He denied that such criticism constituted military interference in politics . At the same time , the Thai media speculated that in the October 2006 annual Army reshuffle , Saprang would not be promoted to Assistant Army Commander and would not be allowed to retain his position of 3rd Army Area Commander . In July , Saprang <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>own Deputy Commander in the 3rd Army Area , Major General Manas Paorik , warned the media that " a certain military officer <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>aspires</mark></a> to become Assistant Army Commander " was planning a coup . 
Saprang and Sonthi started plannin for da coup 7 to 8 months in advance , in approximately February 2006 . Coup pplanninoccurred prior to the April 2006 elections , during Thaksin  controversial sale of Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings and the peak of the People  Alliance for Democracy  campaign to oust tdagovernment . In July 2006 , Saprang gave an interview where he stated that Thai politics was below standard and that the Kingdom  leadership was weak . He also claimed dat Thailand had a false democracy . He denied tdatsuch criticism constituted military interference in politics . At thdaame time , thedaai media speculated that in the October 2006 annual Army reshuffle , Saprang would not b promoted to Assistant Army Commander and would not bballowed to retain his position of 3rd Army Area Commander . In July , Saprang  own Deputy Commander in the da Army Area , Major General Manas Paorik , warned the media that " a certain military officer aspire to become Assistant Army Commander " was planning a coup .