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Thai military detains politicians and activists Thai military detains politicians and activists
(about 4 hours later)
Thailand's military has detained more than 150 politicians and activists and banned them from leaving the country, a day after the army chief seized power in a coup declared necessary to "restore order and normality" in the politically divided nation.Thailand's military has detained more than 150 politicians and activists and banned them from leaving the country, a day after the army chief seized power in a coup declared necessary to "restore order and normality" in the politically divided nation.
The group includes members of the prominent Shinawatra family, including former premier Yingluck Shinawatra, who was forced to step down two weeks ago.The group includes members of the prominent Shinawatra family, including former premier Yingluck Shinawatra, who was forced to step down two weeks ago.
Those disobeying the army's summons were warned that they would be arrested and prosecuted, the army's new governing body, the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC), said. Those disobeying the army's summons were warned that they would be arrested and prosecuted, the army's new governing body, the National Peace and Order Maintenance Council (NPOMC), said.
Yingluck arrived at the Royal Thai Army base on Friday morning in a bulletproof vehicle surrounded by bodyguards, local media reported, but left after 30 minutes for another army facility, according to the Associated Press.Yingluck arrived at the Royal Thai Army base on Friday morning in a bulletproof vehicle surrounded by bodyguards, local media reported, but left after 30 minutes for another army facility, according to the Associated Press.
It is unclear what the army's summons entail, as media are not allowed inside the base and reporting has been highly restricted, with many Thai and international TV channels off-air. It was unclear what the army's summons entailed, as media were not allowed inside the base and reporting has been highly restricted, with many Thai and international TV channels off-air.
Some leaders have since been released but others are still being held in an undisclosed Bangkok safehouse. Some were later released but by Friday evening, the whereabouts of those still in detention remained unclear. Thaksin's lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, issued a statement warning that the "illegal seizure of power" could result in a power divide.
Foreign ambassadors have been invited to meet with the new POMC at 4pm local time. "The military coup carried out by the army of Thailand does not have any legitimacy, nor does the army of Thailand have a mandate from the people of Thailand to govern the country," Amsterdam said. "Those who have the mandate of the people of Thailand, secured through free and fair elections, are now considering the formation of a government in exile."
The chief of the army,General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who staged Thursday's coup and is acting prime minister, has also summoned a number of other high-ranking anti- and pro-government leaders for talks, among them the recently deposed premier Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, as well as former labour minister Chalerm Yubamrung. The chief of the army,General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who staged Thursday's coup and is acting prime minister, also summoned a number of other high-ranking anti- and pro-government leaders for talks, among them the recently deposed premier Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, as well as former labour minister Chalerm Yubamrung. Foreign ambassadors were also invited to meet with the new NPOMC at 4pm local time.
The detention of such a large number of politicians and leaders is significant, not least because it involves the Shinawatra clan — a highly polarising family in Thailand. The 64-year-old leader of the group, Thaksin – a telecoms tycoon and former prime minister who was deposed in a 2006 military coup – was hugely popular among rural voters and lauded for his populist policies while in office. But he was equally derided by Bangkok's urban, pro-royalist elites, who accused the politician of cronyism and corruption. The detention of such a large number of politicians and leaders is significant, not least because it involves the Shinawatra clan – a highly polarising family in Thailand. The 64-year-old leader of the group, Thaksin – a telecoms tycoon and former prime minister who was deposed in a 2006 military coup – was hugely popular among rural voters and lauded for his populist policies while in office. But he was equally derided by Bangkok's urban, pro-royalist elites, who accused the politician of cronyism and corruption.
Despite having been deposed eight years ago, Thaksin is still at the forefront of the political turmoil during which 28 people have been killed and 700 injured since November – when protests against the Yingluck-led Pheu Thai party were sparked by a proposed amnesty bill that would have ushered in Thaksin's return to Thailand. Despite having been deposed eight years ago, Thaksin is still at the forefront of the political turmoil, during which 28 people have been killed and 700 injured since November – when protests against the Yingluck-led Pheu Thai party were sparked by a proposed amnesty bill that would have ushered in Thaksin's return to Thailand.
The government has since been in a political deadlock, with anti-Thaksin forces fighting for the installation of a non-appointed leader, who would oversee vague reforms, and pro-Thaksin forces calling for elections. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001. The government has since been in a political deadlock, with anti-Thaksin forces fighting for the installation of a non-appointed leader who would oversee vague reforms, and pro-Thaksin forces calling for elections. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001.
Now the army is at the helm and has promised to not only restore order, but to also institute the reforms – but just how, and under what circumstances, has not yet been made clear. Now the army is at the helm and has promised not only to restore order but also institute the reforms – although just how, and under what circumstances, has not yet been made clear.
On Friday, unverified reports also circulated that the military was attempting to detain pro-Thaksin "Red Shirts" in the north and north-east of the country. According to online news portal Khaosod, the army has also closed off a Thai-Lao border crossing in an effort to prevent them from fleeing the country. On Friday evening, hundreds of protesters held a candlelit vigil in downtown Bangkok with banners reading "No coup!", "Let people vote" and "Military junta – get out!". A large group of soldiers initially attempted to disperse the crowd, before allowing them to hold the sit-in at the central MBK shopping centre, local media reported.
Like Thaksin, army chief Prayuth is no stranger to coups: he was part of the junta that helped depose Thaksin in 2006, a takeover that helped cement a massive pro-Thaksin support base known as the United Front for Democracy, and eventually led to massive street battles between royalist "Yellow Shirts" and pro-Thaksin supporters in 2010, resulting in the deaths of nearly 100 people. Earlier, unverified reports circulated that the military was attempting to detain pro-Thaksin redshirts in the north and north-east of the country. According to online news portal Khaosod, the army has also closed off a Thai-Laos border crossing in an effort to prevent them from fleeing the country.
Like Thaksin, army chief Prayuth is no stranger to coups: he was part of the junta that helped depose Thaksin in 2006, a takeover that helped cement a massive pro-Thaksin support base known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, and eventually led to massive street battles between royalist yellowshirts and pro-Thaksin supporters in 2010, resulting in the deaths of nearly 100 people.
While Prayuth claimed that the takeover would help restore peace to the nation, "it's the very act of a military takeover that is likely to … provoke acts of violence and possibly cause more loss of life", said the Bangkok Post in an editorial on Friday. "This coup is not the solution."While Prayuth claimed that the takeover would help restore peace to the nation, "it's the very act of a military takeover that is likely to … provoke acts of violence and possibly cause more loss of life", said the Bangkok Post in an editorial on Friday. "This coup is not the solution."
Thursday's coup – the country's 19th since an absolute monarchy was abolished here in 1932 – has been condemned by a number of nations, including France, Japan, Australia, the EU, UN and US. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said there was no justification for the coup and called for the release of all detained politicians.Thursday's coup – the country's 19th since an absolute monarchy was abolished here in 1932 – has been condemned by a number of nations, including France, Japan, Australia, the EU, UN and US. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said there was no justification for the coup and called for the release of all detained politicians.
Most analysts have said the situation in Thailand was unlikely to get any better any time soon.Most analysts have said the situation in Thailand was unlikely to get any better any time soon.
"The 'hardliner' generals now run the show and we should expect [a] bad outcome," said a report by the Siam Intelligence Unit thinktank. "The new junta government will run the country for one to two years. The worst possible scenario is a chronic civil war.""The 'hardliner' generals now run the show and we should expect [a] bad outcome," said a report by the Siam Intelligence Unit thinktank. "The new junta government will run the country for one to two years. The worst possible scenario is a chronic civil war."
With the military shutting down all TV and radio stations, and the detention of major political leaders, observers have questioned how long it would take for anti-coup resistance to build up. On Friday morning, a small group of activists demonstrated against the coup, defying a ban against public gatherings of five or more people. By 6pm, some television channels had returned to normal broadcasting after a full 24 hours of military programming. All television and radio stations in Thailand, including foreign channels such as the BBC and CNN, had been off-air, resulting, in some circumstances, in endlessly repeated scenes of Prayuth declaring the military coup, played over and over in bizarre loops. In a comedic act of defiance, Thais took to the Facebook page of the NPOMC to request new singles be played over the airwaves, complaining that the nationalist bandstand songs – which hail from the first and second world wars and the cold war, and sport titles such as The Motherland's Cancer – had begun to grate a little. They also requested their favourite television shows be aired again.
"Please put the soap operas back on!" said one Facebook user. "I'm so bored. 7-Eleven has been closed because of the curfew. Nothing to eat."
The junta issued an order banning all media from reporting information deemed a threat to national security, any criticism of the NPOMC, or news that could incite confusion, conflict or unrest, online newspaper Prachatai reported.
A popular Bangkok bookstore, Kinokuniya, also told Reuters that it had been ordered to remove copies of nearly 10 books from its shelves, some related to Thailand's political divisions.
A special committee has been established to help monitor online news, with all internet service providers required to monitor, and block, reports that could lead to unrest or "contravene public morals".
Some feared that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which are hugely popular in the kingdom, would be shut down as a result. But hashtags like #ThaiCoup and #CoupMovies – a poke at possible coup-inspired film titles – were still trending late on Friday, allowing people to keep apprised of the latest news developments.