Thailand under Martial Law

[crosby]

http://news.yahoo.com/thailands-army-invokes-martial-law-military-tv-230852983.html

Bangkok (AFP) - Thailand's army on Tuesday declared martial law across the crisis-gripped kingdom to restore order following months of anti-government protests that have left 28 people dead and hundreds wounded.
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An announcement on military-run television said martial law had been invoked "to restore peace and order for people from all sides", stressing that the move "is not a coup".

"The public do not need to panic but can still live their lives as normal," it added.

It was not immediately clear if the move -- which gives the military control of nationwide security -- had been approved by the country's embattled prime minister.



I have just now heard of this, and did not see any threads posted. Sorry if it is already here. Trial run?

[crosby]

4 minutes ago..... from the BBC

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27480845

The Thai army says that it is imposing martial law amid a political crisis "to preserve law and order".

The army has also granted itself wide-ranging powers to enforce its decision.

The military, which last took power in 2006, stated that the move, which gives the army control of nationwide security, was not a coup.

Martial law comes after a long-running political crisis, and months of escalating tensions between the government and the opposition.

The chief security advisor to the interim prime minister said the government had not been consulted about the army's decision.

"Everything is normal except the military is responsible for all national security issues," said Paradorn Pattanatabut.
Thai anti-government protesters wave national flags as they rally at parliament in Bangkok (May 2014) The move came after six months of anti-government demonstrations aimed at ousting the government
Pro-government red shirt supporters react to a speech during a large rally on the outskirts of the Thai capital Red shirt supporters of deposed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have warned of the threat of civil war if power is handed to an unelected leader, as demanded by the opposition
'No need to panic'

Earlier this month a court ordered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several cabinet ministers to step down.

Reports on social media say soldiers have taken over television stations.

An announcement on military-run television said that martial law had been imposed "to restore peace and order for people from all sides".

"The public do not need to panic but can still live their lives as normal," the announcement said.

Thailand is mired in political mayhem, with the opposition demanding that power be handed over to an unelected administration charged with rewriting the constitution.

The military statement was signed by army chief Prayuth Chan-Ocha, citing a 1914 law that allows it to intervene during times of crisis.

It said that the move had been taken because mass rallies between political rivals "could impact the country's security and safety of the lives and properties of the public".

On Monday acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan insisted his government would not resign, resisting pressure from anti-government protesters.

Correspondents say that the deadlock in south-east Asia's second-largest economy has got worse since Ms Shinawatra dissolved the lower house of parliament in December and a court ordered her removal and the removal of nine cabinet ministers earlier in May for abuse of power.

The imposition of martial law could enrage supporters of the government, especially if it is seen as amounting to a coup, correspondents say.

The army has staged at least 11 coups since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932.

Are you in Thailand? What's your reaction to this ruling? You can share your views and pictures with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Martial law' in the subject heading.

Alternatively you can contact us using this form:

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

wow..... i can't believe it is being published.

[Bob]

Let's please send Jim over in Thailand some love and light, support for safety..

BANGKOK — The head of Thailand’s army declared what he described as nationwide martial law early Tuesday and urged protesters who have paralyzed the government and blocked elections to “stop their movement.” The order also appeared to apply to pro-government demonstrators who are leading a separate protest.

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/20/world/asia/general-declares-martial-law-across-thailand-amid-paralyzing-protests.html?_r=0

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

I suspect I might not visit Thailand again... GD :(

Was missing it too -- nothing like floating down a river on a raft and riding an elephant back :) lol

But reminisces aside, /pray for thailand!

[Bob]

You know our Forum member http://projectavalon.net/forum4/member.php?16940-jiminii Jiminii is over in Thailand. Feel free to merge my thread in Current events with this one if you want... I was asking for Avalon to send Jim some love and light, peace and stability and safety thought.. Thanks

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Did not know he lived there... poor fella. Stay safe and eat some American Fried Rice for me lol ;)

[gripreaper]

I thought Jiminii moved to Equador.

[ThePythonicCow]

Feel free to merge my thread in Current events with this one if you want
ไม่เป็นไร :)

[Bob]

I thought Jiminii moved to Equador.

Jim's been in Thailand - in the middle of it all.. Sure wish he was able to be back with us all here - anyone second that?

[crosby]

wall street journal spin:

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140519-713577.html

Army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha issued a pair of statements at 3 a.m. and later appeared on television to say that martial law was necessary across the country to address the worsening security situation. The army later said it would censor media it deemed inflammatory. Thailand is bitterly divided between supporters of its populist government and its conservative opponents who have been massing on the streets for over half a year in a bid to topple the administration.

In the military's first announcement, Gen. Prayuth said the escalating violence related to political protests in and around Bangkok have "a tendency to stir riot and serious chaos in several areas, which affect national security and people's safety."

Before Gen. Prayuth went on air, Army-run television station Channel 5 ran a ticker message across the bottom of its screen urging the public not to panic.

"The army aims to keep peace and maintain the safety and security of the people of all sides," it said. "Please do not be alarmed and carry on with business as usual. This is not a coup."

The network also broadcast a series of patriotic ballads--in some cases with English subtitles--featuring scenes of soldiers doing good deeds, or declaring their love for their country, as troops stepped up their presence in the city. Soldiers appeared at key intersections and also mobilized outside some television stations. Some broadcasters showed troops inside network control rooms.

In a statement later Tuesday, the army said it would prohibit the broadcast or publication of "distorting" information that could instigate public disorder or compromise security measures. The army said it ordered the suspension of 10 satellite television channels run by pro- and anti-government groups.

Some analysts questioned whether the army's maneuver foreshadowed more severe measures, such as the appointment of a new, interim government. Since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand's armed forces have staged 18 coups, most recently in 2006.

So far, Thailand's civilian leaders haven't appeared in public or made any comment and their precise locations are unknown. They weren't informed beforehand about the military's plan to declare martial law, a Thai official said.

Paul Chambers, a professor and military analyst at Thailand's Chiang Mai University, said Thailand's martial law act of 1914 provides the army with sweeping powers, effectively giving the army chief control of the kingdom without the assent of the prime minister.

"Gen. Prayuth can now say he has not carried out a coup," Mr. Chambers said, adding that the army chief could use the cover of the 1914 act as a means to bring in a 'neutralist' prime minister or step in himself.

Over 24 people have been killed in political violence since the current wave of protests began in November, deepening the fissures in a country where the memory of the coup that removed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra from power in 2006 remains vivid.

The crisis reached a fresh peak earlier this month when Thailand's Constitutional Court removed Mr. Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, from her post as the country's prime minister for improperly removing a top bureaucrat after her election win in 2011, a move that exasperated many of her supporters.

Antigovernment protesters, meanwhile, are now attempting to remove the rest of her administration and install a new, unelected government to pursue a series of reforms.

Acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan has been working from a series of remote locations after protesters surrounded and then occupied parts of the main government complex amid the temples and monuments of Bangkok's historic quarter. Mr. Niwattumrong didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Only junior officials have attended a meeting of government officials called by the army at one of its facilities in central Bangkok.

The declaration of martial law effectively removes the government and the police from the process of enforcing the law in Thailand. In his statement, Gen. Prayuth said the army would take over the government's special security command center--established last year to oversee the protests--and also ordered other security forces, including the police, to report to the army.

He said the army has the authority to summon officials and individuals for investigation.

So far, the government's supporters appear to be taking a cautious view of the latest developments. A leader of the pro-government Red Shirt faction, which has been holding its own counter-demonstrations in a suburb of Bangkok, urged its followers to be patient and wait to see how the situation unfolds.

"I'm asking our people not to panic, but say good morning to troops in a friendly way. Our intention to fight for the survival of this government hasn't changed," Jatuporn Prompan said in a Facebook post.

Antigovernment protesters, meanwhile, said they would suspend their rallies for the time being.

Corrections & Amplifications

Yingluck Shinawatra was elected in 2011. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said she was elected in 2001.

Write to James Hookway at james.hookway@wsj.com and Warangkana Chomchuen at warangkana.chomchuen@wsj.com

=============================================
this is strange to me: they have declared martial law, but they want everyone to have a nice day....... hmmmmm........

[Tyy1907]

Its like a movie with a happy ending isn't it!:popcorn:

[crosby]

government wasn't informed.......

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/20/world/asia/thailand-martial/

Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- The Thai army declared martial law throughout the country Tuesday in a surprise move that an aide to the embattled Prime Minister said the government didn't know about beforehand.

"They took this action unilaterally. The government is having a special meeting regarding this. We have to watch and see if the army chief honors his declaration of impartiality," the aide said, describing the situation as "half a coup d'etat."

Lt. Gen. Nipat Thonglek told CNN the move was not a coup.

"The army aims to maintain peace, order and public safety for all groups and all parties," a ticker running on the army's television channel said.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

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so, if the gov., wasn't informed - - then it was a coup. a real coup TA-DA!

[crosby]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27517591

The BBC's Jonah Fisher, in Bangkok:

What we're hearing is that soldiers have moved rapidly to consolidate their position, moving in on the "red shirt" camp, the broad protest movement linked to the government, on the outskirts of Bangkok. They are also moving towards the anti-government demonstrators' camp in the centre of town.

A curfew has just been declared, so the military is obviously making efforts to make sure there is no immediate response to its announcement. Those people who voted for what is still the elected government here will feel extremely annoyed and frustrated by what has happened.

Most people are expecting the "red shirts" to rally now and are extremely concerned about the possibility of confrontation.

===============================================================
so, it was a coup d'etat. and nobody was looking.
crosby

[crosby]

53k0D8hDOAA


Thai coup leaders summon ousted premiers, leading politicians for talks



BANGKOK — Thailand’s military junta summoned scores of political leaders, including two ousted prime ministers, to an army compound Friday as it sought to resolve the country’s long-running political conflict a day after taking over in a coup.

The military leadership did not immediately explain why it ordered more than 100 people — notably ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra; her temporary replacement, Niwattamrong Boonsongpaisan; and several members of the influential Shinawatra family — to appear at a meeting, saying only that the talks were intended “to keep peace and order and solve the country’s problems.”


========================================================

one has to wonder what is going to take place next. a silent coup occurs and nobody is really talking.
crosby

[Bob]

Jim had posted a PM from his point of view being in the thick of it over there. I don't think I can post it here.. Possibly Ulli would have a thought on that or one of the mods..

[ThePythonicCow]

Jim had posted a PM from his point of view being in the thick of it over there. I don't think I can post it here.. Possibly Ulli would have a thought on that or one of the mods..

PM's may be posted with the permission of their author. Lacking that, we don't allow posting PM's.

[crosby]

Hi Bob, i would be very interested to hear what Jim is witnessing. If you have his permission to post this PM, please do. I feel that this is a big issue and that people should be paying close attention. Let us know if you can.
crosby

[Bob]

Hi Bob, i would be very interested to hear what Jim is witnessing. If you have his permission to post this PM, please do. I feel that this is a big issue and that people should be paying close attention. Let us know if you can.
crosby

Hi Crosby, after talking with the mods, and Jim, it appears that his post can be posted here. Here is his report from a few days ago when I asked him, what was happening:


"well I go to school today and everyone is still doing their work but no classes. everyone looks ok and happy and appear to brush it all off as another day in the life of thailand. in other words they are not too serious about it. So it just appears as though these coups happen like the last one. It was found in the last protest red shirts were dressed in police uniforms and military uniforms and were spotted and they tried to make the military look bad by pretending they were police and were apparently rioting or making trouble. So it appears this is just another red shirt backed group that the international bankers or cabal setups and usually in the past they found this stuff out but it doesn't really change the situation with peasant poor farmers and islam people in the south willing to take money to try to break down the government.

"Taksin is one of PM's the that stole millions and put it in his own offshore bank account before they floated the baht and he made billions so that is why he is not liked. And the red shirts were told by him he would pay all a million baht to support him. this is bull****. he was trying to overthrow the King and the people of thailand love the king and the king has his own army to defend him and taksin failed in trying to take over the government.

"so I assume since he owns a large percentage of the internet he has his money and even though he was kicked out of thailand he can still control it from the outside.

"so I just assume he is just another cabal member ...

"not too worried about the situation. The government knows what is going on and they KNOW the news will LIE and try to distort the truth like always like they are doing now. and they are just not going to let it happen.

"i see no problem here. that is why they are shutting down all the news because they KNOW this NEWS is paid for and against them.

"jim

"¤=[Post Update]=¤

"oh one more thing. even though they proved that some of the police were just red shirts in police uniforms, none of this information went to world news. only the negative stuff and not the proof it was setup by outside sources

jim"

I haven't heard any more first hand data from Jim about what is happening over there at the time of this post.

[crosby]

thank you so much Bob (and Mods) for allowing this pm to be shared. it is very interesting!!!
warmest regards,
crosby

[AuCo]

Thaksin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaksin_Shinawatra is know amongst South East Asia political factions as China's pawn in Thailand. The military take-over in Thailand may be caused by China's recent news:

1. China is moving troops and armor tanks to Vietnam's Northern border http://chinadailymail.com/2014/05/18/large-number-of-chinese-troops-seen-heading-for-china-vietnam-border/
2. Lao high-rank officials [friendly to the Vietnamese government] were purged in plane crash http://rt.com/news/159576-laos-plane-crash-top-brass/

The red shirt opposition is known to be the extended arm of China.

[AuCo]

China is getting restless. http://www.businessinsider.com/r-china-fighters-within-meters-of-japan-military-planes-minister-2014-24.

[crosby]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/05/28/netizen_report_thai_military_blocks_more_than_100_websites_under_martial.html

"Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. This week's report begins in Thailand, where the army, now in the second week of its “coup without a coup,” has ordered Internet service providers to “monitor and stop any information dissemination that could breed disorder within the Kingdom or would negatively impact the stability of the state and the morale of the people.” In meetings with Thailand’s largest newspapers and 108 ISPs, the military generals requested their “cooperation” in culling unfavorable coverage of the coup from the Internet."

"Since imposing martial law on May 20, the Thai army has blocked more than 100 websites and shut down or taken over numerous television and radio stations. Military officials have detained at least two prominent political journalists, one of whom was summoned to the Army Conference Center in a public television broadcast. Journalists and activists are rallying behind calls from the Southeast Asia Press Alliance for an end to military censorship and the release of detained journalists."

"Political scientist and Global Voices author Aim Sinpeng writes that in Thailand’s “Information War,” the fear of “propaganda to elicit violence by ill-intent individuals” is driving military censorship and media intimidation. She continues: “The military believes there are ‘underground’ groups in Thailand determined to wreak havoc on the country. They worry that unless they control and centralize the dissemination of information, they will not win this battle.”

less and less is being reported about this. hmmm...... makes me wonder...... inside job?
cros.

[Wind]

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