 Columnist Thanong Khanthong of "The Nation" claimed that Gen. Sonthi acted to prevent an imminent military coup by Thaksin.The columnist contended that Thaksin intended to use the political rally planned by the [[People's Alliance for Democracy]] at the Royal Plaza on Wednesday 20 September to trigger violence and then declare a state of emergency and place the country under martial law.General Sonthi would have learned from an intelligence report that Yongyuth Tiyapairat and Newin Chidchob were planning to organise a counter protest with the support of the [[Thahan Phran|Forestry Police]] ("Hunter Soldiers" or Rangers) armed with [[Heckler & Koch HK33|HK33 rifles]] and acted before the bloodshed was set to take place.