22 May 2014
Gen Prayut leads a military coup
The military seized power, dissolving the struggling Pheu Thai Party-led caretaker government, suspending the constitution and ordering protesters to return home in a bloodless coup on May 21, 2014. The power seizure took place after talks between the pro- and anti-government camps failed over two days. The army brought them together for talks to settle the country’s protracted political conflict, without success. Military sources said the negotiations were brought to an end after the government insisted on holding on to power.
Army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chaired the talks, left the Army Auditorium, the venue of the talks, as soldiers moved in to detain all negotiators and whisked them away in passenger vans. Representatives of the Senate and the Election Commission were later allowed to go free. Radio and television stations were ordered to suspend their normal broadcasts. A curfew between 10pm-5am was imposed and gatherings of more than five people banned. All schools nationwide were ordered closed. In its first coup statement, the military cited the eruption of violence in Bangkok and other provinces which resulted in many deaths and injuries in the past months as the reasons behind the power seizure.
Appearing on all television channels along with other armed forces leaders and the national police chief at about 4.30pm, Gen Prayut read the statement, saying the violence in the country had been escalating to such an extent that it stood to undermine national security and public safety.
The coup would help restore normalcy and national unity, ensure reform of political, economic and social institutions, and restore legitimacy to all sides, he added. The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC), which comprises the armed forces and the Royal Thai Police, took control of national administration. The council also issued an announcement suspending enforcement of the current constitution temporarily, while keeping the constitution’s chapters relating to the monarchy intact.
22 May 2014
Gen Prayut leads a military coup
The military seized power, dissolving the struggling Pheu Thai Party-led caretaker government, suspending the constitution and ordering protesters to return home in a bloodless coup on May 21, 2014. The power seizure took place after talks between the pro- and anti-government camps failed over two days. The army brought them together for talks to settle the country’s protracted political conflict, without success. Military sources said the negotiations were brought to an end after the government insisted on holding on to power.
Army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chaired the talks, left the Army Auditorium, the venue of the talks, as soldiers moved in to detain all negotiators and whisked them away in passenger vans. Representatives of the Senate and the Election Commission were later allowed to go free. Radio and television stations were ordered to suspend their normal broadcasts. A curfew between 10pm-5am was imposed and gatherings of more than five people banned. All schools nationwide were ordered closed. In its first coup statement, the military cited the eruption of violence in Bangkok and other provinces which resulted in many deaths and injuries in the past months as the reasons behind the power seizure.
Appearing on all television channels along with other armed forces leaders and the national police chief at about 4.30pm, Gen Prayut read the statement, saying the violence in the country had been escalating to such an extent that it stood to undermine national security and public safety.
The coup would help restore normalcy and national unity, ensure reform of political, economic and social institutions, and restore legitimacy to all sides, he added. The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC), which comprises the armed forces and the Royal Thai Police, took control of national administration. The council also issued an announcement suspending enforcement of the current constitution temporarily, while keeping the constitution’s chapters relating to the monarchy intact.