Thai junta lifts curfew, pledges government by August
Print Edition
THAILAND’S ruling military government lifted a nationwide curfew yesterday to bolster the country’s vital tourism industry and promised to install an interim government in August.
General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who heads the council that has overseen the country since taking over on May 22, said that power would be handed to a government in August. That, he said, was part of a three-phase plan of reconciliation, formation of a government and elections.
“A government will be set up by August, or at the very latest September,” Prayuth told a meeting devoted to the 2015 national budget. He did not say whether the government would be made up of civilians or military officials.
In an evening television announcement, the National Council for Peace and Order said conditions had improved enough — after months of periodically violent street demonstrations — to lift the curfew across the country.
“As the situation has improved and there have been no incidents that can lead to violence ... and in order to improve tourism, the curfew will be lifted in all remaining provinces,” the council announcement said.
The curfew, imposed throughout Thailand after the coup, was lifted over the past week in 30 provinces, including main tourist destinations. It had remained in place from midnight to 4am in 47 provinces, including Bangkok.
In a rambling 40-minute address to the nation, Prayuth issued a wide range of promises to make the economy more efficient, streamline energy policy and improve the lives of ordinary Thais.
The army staged a bloodless coup after six months of turmoil pitting mainly rural supporters of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra against her Bangkok-based, royalist opponents.
In his comments to military officials, Prayuth repeated that a temporary constitution would be drafted within three months. It would take at least a year until a new general election could take place.
“In the next three months we must do everything properly, whether it is the constitution or other matters. Everything for the first phase should be complete by August,” he said.
Taken in stride
Most Bangkok residents have taken the coup in their stride. Business has gone on more or less as usual in offices and restaurants.
Lifting the curfew was key to coaxing back hesitant tourists — an industry accounting for 10 percent of the economy.
The junta this week also made a concession to soccer fans as the World Cup got under way in Brazil, ordering broadcasting authorities to ensure all games were shown on free-to-air channels.
But the military has acted to curb dissent, with soldiers quickly mobilized to snuff out any bid to stage protests.
The military has rounded up at least 300 politicians, activists and journalists. Many are linked to exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 coup. Opponents claim he directed the government led by his sister Yingluck.
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