Thai military takes control in coup and disperses protesters
Print Edition
THAILAND’S military seized power yesterday in a bloodless coup, dissolving the government, suspending the constitution and dispersing groups of protesters from both sides of the country’s political divide who had gathered in Bangkok and raised fears of a violent showdown.
Army chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, announced the military takeover in a statement broadcast on national television. It was followed by additional announcements including a nationwide curfew from 10pm to 5am and an order for top government officials — including the ousted prime minister — to report immediately to the country’s new governing military commission.
There was no immediate sign of soldiers patrolling central Bangkok, but troops dispersed the two protest sites where competing groups were camped out — one backing the ousted government and one that had struggled for six months to unseat it. There were no signs of resistance or reports of violence.
Queues formed at the city’s elevated train and subway stations as workers tried to rush home before the curfew.
Flanked by the heads of the armed forces, Prayuth said the coup was launched “to quickly bring the situation back to normal, to let the people have love and unity as in the past, and to reform the political and economic systems — and to grant equality to every side.”
Prayuth said that the military would “provide protection” for foreigners.
An army spokesman said that it had dissolved the caretaker government and suspended the constitution but that the Senate would remain in place.
The pivotal developments came after Prayuth had declared martial law on Tuesday in what he called a bid to resolve the crisis and a day later summoned the country’s rival political leaders for face-to-face talks. After two days of talks, the meeting failed to break the impasse.
Shortly before the announcement, armed soldiers in military vehicles surrounded the military facility where the politicians were meeting, apparently to block those inside from leaving.
High-profile figures were summoned for the meeting. They included the acting prime minister — who sent four ministers in his place — and anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, as well as Suthep’s rival from the pro-government Red Shirt group, Jatuporn Prompan. Reporters said Suthep and Jatuporn were escorted out by soldiers.
Government official Paradorn Pattanathabutr said that the four ministers were still being held by the military.
“The rest of us who are outside are still fine and in safe places. However, the situation is very worrying,” he said.
Thailand has faced bouts of political instability for more than seven years.
The latest unrest started in November, when demonstrators tried to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down. They accused her of being a proxy for her billionaire brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence on a corruption conviction.
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