Thailand under martial law: army denies ‘coup’

Above: a Thai soldier stands outside the Government Public Relations Department on 20 May.

In order to restore law and order to the country, we have declared martial law. General Prayuth Chan-ocha

The military declared martial law in a television address at 3am (8pm GMT) – and had not told government ministers before it made the announcement.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said: “We are concerned this violence could harm the country’s security in general.

“In order to restore law and order to the country, we have declared martial law. I’m asking all those activist groups to stop all activities and cooperate with us in seeking a way out of this crisis.”

The army has denied that the move is tantamount to a coup.

Troops are now patrolling the streets of Bangkok and the military has taken a number of measures in order to “preserve peace and order”.

• In the area where martial law is imposed, the army assumes command over civilian authorities including the police and other state agencies.
• The military has full power to search citizens, vehicles, homes and buildings; it can inspect messages, letters, parcels, books and other publications.
• It can prohibit meetings or gatherings, restrict print and broadcast media and limit movement by land, water or air.
• It can seize assets that might be used to help “the enemy”.
• It can bar the possession or use of weapons and “communication devices”.
• If there are reasonable grounds to suspect a person is an enemy or has violated martial law, the military has the power to detain that person for investigation for up to seven days.
• While civilian courts still function, a military court may oversee cases involving offences committed while martial law is in place.
• The military has the power to enlist citizens to support its endeavours.
• So far, under the current martial law, the army has forced 10 satellite television channels to stop broadcasting, including stations run by pro- and anti-government groups.
• It dissolved the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), the security body handling the protests that was overseen by the government, and replaced it with the army-controlled Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC).
• Martial law is overseen by the supreme commander of the armed forced, the heads of the army, navy and air force, and the national police chief.

The interim government, peopled by supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been allowed to remain in office.

This caretaker government, left in place following the ousting two weeks ago of Thailand’s most recent prime minister, Thaksin’s sister Yingluck, has said the government “doesn’t have a problem with this [coup]”.

However, the Shinawatra supporters will remember the last military coup in Thailand – in 2006 – which led to Thaksin’s exile – he now lives In Dubai.

Fundamental differences between the two sides of Thailand’s protests remain, however.

Martial law Thai-style, implemented with a smile on the streets of Bangkok. pic.twitter.com/iXVlmysYrQ

— John Sparks (@c4sparks) May 20, 2014

Anti-government protesters want a “neutral” prime minister appointed to oversee electoral reforms aimed at ending Thaksin’s influence.

The leader of Thaksin’s pro-government “red shirt” loyalists, who are rallying in Bangkok’s western outskirts and who have warned of violence if the government was ousted, appealed for calm.

“Our stance is the same. (We) will not accept a neutral prime minister. If soldiers appoint a prime minister then we will escalate our rally,” Jatuporn Prompan told a news conference.

“Stay calm, there has been no coup yet.”

But on the streets of Thailand it was calm on Tuesday – with Thai people posing for pictures alongside the military.

The army has repeatedly played down suggestions that it could stage a coup – but one analyst thinks the military may be “testing the water”.

“There was no consultation with the government and I think the military will slowly expand its powers and test the waters,” said Kan Yuenyong at the Siam Intelligence Unit think-tank.

“For this to be a success the army needs to act like a neutral force and not be seen to side with the anti-governmennt protesters. It needs to offer an election date and start a political reform process at the same time.”