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One day after coup, Thai junta moves to tighten its grip over the country One day after coup, Thai junta moves to tighten its grip over the country
(about 5 hours later)
BANGKOK — Thailand’s military junta attempted to tighten its grip on this teetering country Friday, summoning members of the ousted government and imposing travel bans on scores of prominent political figures. BANGKOK — In the aftermath of its coup, Thailand’s military junta has attempted to tighten its grip on this teetering country by snuffing out potential opposition and detaining scores of key political figures, including the former prime minister.
But even as foreign governments from Washington to Tokyo urged Thailand to reestablish civilian rule, Thailand’s army chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, gave no indication how long the military intends to maintain power — or whether it will relinquish it. Saturday morning, there was no official word about the whereabouts of Yingluck Shinawatra, who until two weeks ago was Thailand’s elected leader. The military had summoned Yingluck and more than 100 prominent politicians or faction leaders, threatening them with arrest if they failed to show up. It also banned those leaders from leaving the country.
Some Thai media reported that Yingluck was being held at an army base north of Bangkok. Reuters quoted a senior military officer saying that Yingluck would be let go within a week.
“We just need to organize matters in the country first,” the officer said.
Yingluck’s detention was the most forceful move on a day when the Thai military appeared to have gained the cooperation of the bureaucrats in charge of running the country. There were scattered protests in Bangkok, and soldiers forcibly dispersed activist groups who said they opposed the coup.
Even as foreign governments from Washington to Tokyo urged Thailand to reestablish civilian rule, Thailand’s army chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, gave no indication how long the military intends to maintain power.
Prayuth has set out a vague agenda calling for reforms and stability, goals that have evaded Thailand for decades. His initial moves, some Thais said, raised the specter of a prolonged junta leadership in one of Southeast Asia’s most critical but vulnerable democracies.Prayuth has set out a vague agenda calling for reforms and stability, goals that have evaded Thailand for decades. His initial moves, some Thais said, raised the specter of a prolonged junta leadership in one of Southeast Asia’s most critical but vulnerable democracies.
One day after launching its coup, the Thai military appeared to have gained the cooperation of the bureaucrats in charge of running the country. Friday morning, ministry heads and private-sector leaders met with the junta. Yingluck Shinawatra, the recently deposed prime minister, also showed up — as ordered — at an army facility, and it was unclear whether she and other family members had been detained. In its attempt to establish order, Thailand’s military has used aggressive measures. So far, there has been no explanation for the detention of more than 100 political leaders, who come from both sides of Thailand’s sparring factions. At least some have been held incommunicado, stripped of their mobile phones.
In its attempt to establish order, Thailand’s military has used aggressive measures, ordering scores of political leaders to turn themselves in under the threat of arrest. So far, these has been no explanation for their detention. At least some have been held incommunicado, stripped of their mobile phones. A small handful of political figures who’d been detained Thursday were released on Friday.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters Friday that the United States had suspended about $3.5 million of its $10.5 million in annual aid to Thailand and is considering additional suspensions. The $3.5 million in suspended aid is from the Foreign Military Financing and International Military Education and Training programs, Harf said.In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters Friday that the United States had suspended about $3.5 million of its $10.5 million in annual aid to Thailand and is considering additional suspensions. The $3.5 million in suspended aid is from the Foreign Military Financing and International Military Education and Training programs, Harf said.
“We’ve consistently been in contact with military leaders throughout this period of political uncertainty,” she said. “We urge the immediate restoration of civilian rule, a return to democracy and obviously respect for human rights.”“We’ve consistently been in contact with military leaders throughout this period of political uncertainty,” she said. “We urge the immediate restoration of civilian rule, a return to democracy and obviously respect for human rights.”
The State Department also issued a travel alert recommending that U.S. citizens reconsider any “non-essential” travel to Thailand, particularly Bangkok.The State Department also issued a travel alert recommending that U.S. citizens reconsider any “non-essential” travel to Thailand, particularly Bangkok.
Internally, the coup runs the risk of exacerbating Thailand’s long-standing political divisions, leading to violence or, in a worst-case scenario, civil war. But in the short term, the junta also faces another problem: legitimacy. Prayuth on Friday afternoon invited diplomats to a meeting at which he tried to explain the coup, Thailand’s second in eight years. Internally, the coup runs the risk of exacerbating Thailand’s long-standing political divisions, leading to violence or, in a worst-case scenario, civil war. But in the short term, the junta also faces another problem: legitimacy.Prayuth on Friday afternoon invited diplomats to a meeting at which he tried to explain the coup, Thailand’s second in eight years.
“Prayuth’s highest priority is to secure his legitimacy,” said Sean Boonpracong, a national security adviser in Yingluck’s ousted administration.“Prayuth’s highest priority is to secure his legitimacy,” said Sean Boonpracong, a national security adviser in Yingluck’s ousted administration.
If Prayuth is to gain legitimacy domestically, he needs the blessing of the country’s beloved king — a move that could come in the next few days, said Dej-udom Krairit, a senator who said he supports the coup. Dej-udom said he expects the military to remain in power for at least a year before handing the reins to a civilian government.If Prayuth is to gain legitimacy domestically, he needs the blessing of the country’s beloved king — a move that could come in the next few days, said Dej-udom Krairit, a senator who said he supports the coup. Dej-udom said he expects the military to remain in power for at least a year before handing the reins to a civilian government.
For years, Thailand has been riven by a dispute between a large bloc of rural voters and a smaller, urban group of traditional power holders. The rural class has been galvanized by Thaksin Shinawatra, a telecom tycoon who lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai but still commands a powerful political network that includes his sister, Yingluck. For years, Thailand has been riven by a dispute between a large bloc of rural voters and a smaller, urban group of traditional power holders. The rural class has been galvanized by Thaksin Shinawatra, a telecom tycoon who lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai but still commands a powerful political network that includes his younger sister, Yingluck.
Yingluck was elected in 2011 and had governed until earlier this month, when the Constitutional Court issued an abuse-of-power ruling that forced her to step down. Thailand’s courts are seen by some analysts as playing a partisan role, generally in opposition to Thaksin and his relatives.
Thailand’s military has occasionally used tensions between Thaksin and his opponents as an excuse to intervene. On Friday, there were only a few signs of defiance, with some activists and small groups in Bangkok publicly declaring opposition to the coup. The military has issued a broad edict banning such dissent — a rule that also applies to social media.Thailand’s military has occasionally used tensions between Thaksin and his opponents as an excuse to intervene. On Friday, there were only a few signs of defiance, with some activists and small groups in Bangkok publicly declaring opposition to the coup. The military has issued a broad edict banning such dissent — a rule that also applies to social media.
The military’s bold actions suggested that Prayuth is taking a hard line, some analysts said.The military’s bold actions suggested that Prayuth is taking a hard line, some analysts said.
On the one hand, said political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak, the general is following a “coup template” — maintaining law and order and setting up an interim government. But on the other hand, initial indications are that the “interim coup period will be much more repressive,” he said.On the one hand, said political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak, the general is following a “coup template” — maintaining law and order and setting up an interim government. But on the other hand, initial indications are that the “interim coup period will be much more repressive,” he said.
More than 100 people — notably Yingluck; her temporary replacement as prime minister, Niwattamrong Boonsongpaisan; and several members of the influential Shinawatra family — were summoned to Friday’s talks, which the junta said were intended “to keep peace and order and solve the country’s problems.” A retired U.S. diplomat in Thailand, speaking on the condition of anonymity, called the military’s actions sweeping compared with what happened in some previous coups, including the last one in 2006 that toppled Thaksin
At the same time, the military banned more than 150 activists and politicians from leaving the country, completed the eviction of opponents and supporters of the overthrown government from their Bangkok camps and threatened to block social-media platforms. . “Other developments over the next year could be a game-changer in the struggle for Thailand,” the diplomat said in an interview.
Neither Yingluck nor Niwattamrong was at a meeting Thursday in which Prayuth announced the coup. Those who did attend were detained. They included former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva — whose Democrat Party is the nemesis of Yingluck’s Pheu Thai party — and protest leaders Suthep Thaugsuban and Jatuporn Promphan. Prayuth, 60, was expected to retire in October. He has now been quoted as saying that if the strife is not resolved before his scheduled departure from military service, he will stay on.
“That’s bad news not just for the next guy in line, but also for Thailand,” said the former U.S. diplomat.
Domestic and international television networks returned to the air Friday. But the military asked social-media operators to cooperate in stopping messages that “incite violence, break the law or criticize the coup council.”Domestic and international television networks returned to the air Friday. But the military asked social-media operators to cooperate in stopping messages that “incite violence, break the law or criticize the coup council.”
Social-media networks Twitter, Facebook and others remained accessible.Social-media networks Twitter, Facebook and others remained accessible.
On the streets of Bangkok, vendors still cluttered the sidewalks and cars clogged the streets, and there was little noticeable military presence. But normalcy disappeared in the evening as Thais rushed home to beat a 10 p.m. curfew instituted Thursday.On the streets of Bangkok, vendors still cluttered the sidewalks and cars clogged the streets, and there was little noticeable military presence. But normalcy disappeared in the evening as Thais rushed home to beat a 10 p.m. curfew instituted Thursday.
During business hours, Thais drove, biked, taxied and took public transport to work, unfazed by the change from democracy to military autocracy.During business hours, Thais drove, biked, taxied and took public transport to work, unfazed by the change from democracy to military autocracy.
Locals and foreigners alike were out and about, many seemingly oblivious to the coup — a comfort zone boosted by the almost complete absence of soldiers on the streets. A trio of camouflage-garbed soldiers loitered and rode a motorcycle near the major Ratchaprasong intersection, but appeared uninterested in civilians, other than allowing them to snap a few photos.Locals and foreigners alike were out and about, many seemingly oblivious to the coup — a comfort zone boosted by the almost complete absence of soldiers on the streets. A trio of camouflage-garbed soldiers loitered and rode a motorcycle near the major Ratchaprasong intersection, but appeared uninterested in civilians, other than allowing them to snap a few photos.
The general behind the coup has become a familiar figure on Bangkok’s streets and on television since last November, when Suthep and his People’s Democratic Reform Committee launched their drive to unseat Yingluck and the Pheu Thai government. Prayuth is a no-nonsense army man who is accorded all the respect and privilege of being not just the top military officer, but a ruling-class Brahmin.
Despite his move against Yingluck and her party, he is said to regard the ousted premier as bright and capable. “They get along fine; I think he likes her,” said Boonpracong. Some insiders even say that Prayuth called her ahead of staging his coup — even though he did not alert Niwattamrong, the caretaker prime minister.
For a while, the general was well-regarded by “populist” Thais — typically among the “red shirts” loyal to the Shinawatras — who appreciated his oft-stated refusal to intervene in the country’s political tug-of-war, although he talked tough when confrontations turned violent.
Now, however, Prayuth is anathema to those who believe there was no need for him to stage a coup, which came two days after he declared martial law, and that his action is merely the latest tactic in an ongoing effort to disenfranchise a big chunk of the Thai electorate — namely, those who regularly vote for the Shinawatras and their associates.
“If the army chief was so intent on finding a solution, the period of martial law would have gone on, and he would have pursued a peaceful solution,” said Thitinan, the analyst.
Moreover, Prayuth, 60, was expected to retire in October. He has now been quoted as saying that if the strife is not resolved before his scheduled departure from military service, he will stay on.
“That’s bad news not just for the next guy in line, but also for Thailand,” said the former U.S. diplomat.
Lennox Samuels in Bangkok and William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report.Lennox Samuels in Bangkok and William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report.