Thai prime minister declares end of military rule

By Panu Wongcha-um and Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

Prayut Chan-O-Cha speaks after the royal endorsement ceremony appointing him as Thailand's new prime minister at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand June 11, 2019. Lillian Suwanrumpha/Pool/via REUTERS

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha formally resigned as the head of the military government on Monday, saying the country would function as a normal democracy after five years of military rule.

 

Prayuth stays on as prime minister with the backing of pro-military parties in parliament and a military-appointed upper house under a constitution that critics say stifles democracy and enshrines a political role for the military.

 

Prayuth, in a televised address to the nation, said military rule had brought success in many areas, from fixing the problem of illegal fishing and human trafficking, to the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave last year.

 

The former army chief who seized power in a 2014 coup, said the intervention then had been necessary to restore order after six months of street protests and violent clashes, but things were getting back to normal after a March 24 election.

 

"Thailand is now fully a democratic country with a constitutional monarchy, with a parliament whose members are elected," Prayuth said.

 

"All problems will be addressed normally based on a democratic system with no use of special powers," he said, referring to sweeping powers the military government wielded.

 

Last week, Prayuth used those powers for one last time to end various restrictions on media. He also transferred civilian legal cases from military to civilian court though he retained the power to let security forces carry out searches and make arrests unchallenged.

 

King Maha Vajiralongkorn last week endorsed Prayuth's new civilian cabinet, drawn from a 19-party coalition government that holds a slim majority in parliament.

 

Thailand has seen intermittent bouts of political turmoil and violence - as well as two military coups - over the past 15 years as new political forces drawing support from the countryside have challenged the Bangkok-based military-royalist establishment.

 

People are generally cautious about what the new set-up might bring.

 

"We have to see their work first," Noppawan Hiranpruk, 47, a market vendor told Reuters.

 

"It's OK to have old faces provided they have new ideas to make new things happen," she said.

 

The new government will officially take power after a swearing in ceremony on Tuesday. It is due to present its policies to parliament next week.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Jiraporn Kuhakan; Editing by Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-16

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3 minutes ago, webfact said:

All problems will be addressed normally based on a democratic system with no use of special powers," he said, referring to sweeping powers the military government wielded.

????

He's been reading that famous book again..

 

'Prayuth in Wonderland'

I suppose that means people are free to take up their protests again? Provided of course one can remember what one was protesting against after all this time, personally I forget what it was I wanted when I walk into the kitchen or whatever:-)

The end of military rule,  says the man in a uniform. 

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayuth, in a televised address to the nation

Damn .! Missed it .. had some paint to watch dry .. 

 

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Thailand is now fully a democratic country with a 

backstop of another overthrow .. just in case this democracy thing don't work out .. 

But not the end of military control.

 

The people of Thailand now have the PM and democracy they allowed to happen.

Who is he trying to fool? Another lie.

Sent from my SM-J730F using Tapatalk

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

"It's OK to have old faces provided they have new ideas

A true optimist statement.

 

Did the wolf really look like grandma?

 

Pro military parties, military appointed Senate, military drafted constitution.

Yes. Military rule has finally ended.

"said military rule had brought success in many areas, from fixing the ..............to the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave"

 

Yes, Khun Prayut (being a plucky cave diver himself), swam, without any kind of assistance, all the way into the dark, dangerous waters, grabbed the young lads by the scruff of their necks, & whisked them all to safety in a trice.

 

A modern hero.

 

 

 

End of military rule That is until the next time.

No worries though, he has stockpiled lots of teddies from the crane machines, ready to throw out the pram next time he throws a tantrum.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"All problems will be addressed normally

So Same Same...we get it now.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

after five years of military rule.

It is this, of course, that needs to be challenged. A law or rule from 100 years ago that allows the military to intervene in such a way and for such a time needs to be removed as soon as possible. Nothing can change while this lurks in the background.

11 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

It is this, of course, that needs to be challenged. A law or rule from 100 years ago that allows the military to intervene in such a way and for such a time needs to be removed as soon as possible. Nothing can change while this lurks in the background.

If the people finally got together and dealt with a junta leader, past or present, in a manner and fashion they deserve, and did so open to public viewing, i would suggest all future similar problems would be removed.

Is this the end of his nightly speeches if so I will sorely miss them, not!.

1 hour ago, leeneeds said:

A true optimist statement.

 

Did the wolf really look like grandma?

 

No, but certainly kept the sheep inline. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

to the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave last year. 

Is he implying that a civilian government would have left the boys in the cave?  I believe the main man in the rescue was one of those dreaded ex-pats!

2 minutes ago, Prairieboy said:

Is he implying that a civilian government would have left the boys in the cave?  I believe the main man in the rescue was one of those dreaded ex-pats!

The expats only assisted in the rescue

So there are no army officers in the senate/cabinet?

Too busy for all this back to page 2 of Animal Farm; great reading!

"Thailand is now fully a democratic country with a constitutional monarchy, with a parliament whose members are elected," Prayuth said.

 

????

 

and as for trying to take credit for the rescue of the Mu Pa kids..... unbelievable.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"Thailand is now fully a democratic country with a constitutional monarchy, with a parliament whose members are elected," Prayuth said.

Slight mistake here should it not read "with a parliament whose members are "SELECTED"

No protesters still!

If they don't protest now they never will
It's game over, nothing more to see folks

Horrible but it must be said... enabled by the Thai people who do nothing. Ship in some from Hong Kong who have balls. 

Although the right to detain up to 7 days without charges, disclosure of location of incarceration or access to lawyers family etc for ‘attitude adjustment’ will remain. “Read Animal Farm” he said. Is it still an offense to read 1984 in public?

Where's Steven100 when we need him; he'll clarify the situation?

12 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Horrible but it must be said... enabled by the Thai people who do nothing. Ship in some from Hong Kong who have balls. 

 

Cool. So people can protest again?

Just now, lemonjelly said:

 

Not coup related