Poomtham reflected on the 19 September 2006 coup, describing it as a lesson that should never be repeated. He noted that while a government can be changed overnight, it has instead created bigger problems lasting 20 years.
At 18:00 on 19 September 2026, reporters reported that Poomtham Vechaichai, former Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Pheu Thai Party, postedon Facebookregarding the 20th anniversary of the 19 September 2006 coup, summarizing that 20 years since the coup that ousted an elected government, Thailand must learn, remember, and never allow the destruction of the country's opportunities again.
He said he was among the ministers in the government overthrown that day. Thailand has endured conflict, lost opportunities, and ongoing impacts over two decades. His conclusion was that the use of extra-legal power to destroy democratic mechanisms should be seriously questioned and scrutinized by Thai society.
A coup may change a government overnight, but it creates bigger problems lasting 20 years. Governments and constitutions have changed, but problems and conflicts persist, while the country loses time, continuity, trust, and people's opportunities. This is a lesson Thailand should never face again. The 20 years since 19 September should remind Thailand not to solve problems and conflicts by destroying the rules designed to resolve them.