Thailand's army invokes martial law: military TV

[Tokay]

Oh...... and can we get some of Chalerm's paratroopers up in here?

[GeorgeO]

Martial law should never be invoked under any situation, an army that works against the people and becomes a police force completely misses the point they are meant to be the guardians of the country against outside forces, their role is to HELP Thai people not to fight against any of them.

The army have done NOTHING in the past few months and have been utterly ineffective in trying to stop violent attacks, let's see if they even have the balls to go and remove the few guards and the insane monk who have managed to hold onto a gigantic government complex for about 6 months. They have been getting destroyed in the south for years and were really outrageously stupid in 2010 as well.

Absent an effective police force, what choice do they have?

[sumtingwong]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[GeorgeO]

Coups, floods, extra judicial killing sprees, occupation and burning of buildings in capital, political chaos on the streets, rice policies, corrupt governments, civil war, irrational violence and now martial law.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in some sort of extra terrestrial soap opera rather than a country.

Probably 70% of those issues also apply to your home country.

Are you suggesting he comes from Colombia?

[chooka]

Why does Thailand even have a military? All they do is covert power and money.

The role of the military is to defend the country and we have seen what happens if someone attacks Thailand in the past. The military runs home to cry to their mums.

The Military in Thailand is a large corporation not a defence force, they own airlines, Television stations, hotels etc they have no time for all that silly marching up and down, saluting and that other stuff. This political turmoil has been interfering in their business arm.

[draftvader]

Webfact and Richard Barrow are about to become some of the busiest people in Thailand. Thank you guys for the day of hard work you are about to do for all of us. BTW Newbies (and be honest with yourselves as to whether you are) ThaiVisa news and Richard Barrow (on twitter) are the 2 places you will get accurate information. DO NOT depend on the mainstream media. In 2010 they were SO far off the mark that they described a live fire zone as safe.

[stickyrice2000]

It's a coup, and you want the world to know that this is not a coup. LOL

[TimCM]

Suthep, bad monk, Jatuporn and all their hardcore lackeys should go home and take some rest and think about the damage done so far.

Now the Army should be rounding up everyone from both sides who have warrants against them. Suthep and his guards will be no match against the military.

Is this the same military that could not defend their own airforce base. I seriously doubt they will touch the yellows as they have shown no desire to do this before.

[taotoo]

Is there a list of restrictions anywhere for what this actually means? I'm about to leave for Bangkok in two days.

Don't know - curfew at 9pm, not allowed to gather in groups over 5 people etc?

[GeorgeO]

So it is 6 AM and I am watching CNN. No mention of it.. Let's try BBC.

Johnathan Head has just said that people in Bkk are ' baffled " by the move and there are no details yet on what it will entail.

Just because Dick may be baffled by it, that doesn't mean that everyone else doesn't understand the need for it.

[binjalin]

BP headline? about a Beauty Pageant! Martial Law..? na that's not worth reporting... lol

[Mango Bob]

About time, now they can have elections and get reforms done the right way.

[singa-traz]

Capo has been dissolved? lots of updates on Richard Barrows twitter feed btw.

Is that the pseudo-journalist who lives in Red Samut Prakarn? Should stick to food review.

[sfbandung]

My missus is in BKK right now. Flying to Udon this morning staying at Best Western next to Bumrungrad. She is scared to death but she's like that.

I'd really like some info on traffic and whether the military is visible on the streets ...

[taotoo]

Coups, floods, extra judicial killing sprees, occupation and burning of buildings in capital, political chaos on the streets, rice policies, corrupt governments, civil war, irrational violence and now martial law.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in some sort of extra terrestrial soap opera rather than a country.

Probably 70% of those issues also apply to your home country.

Are you suggesting he comes from Colombia?

You should have gone for Ukraine or Syria - missed opportunity..

[draftvader]

Capo has been dissolved? lots of updates on Richard Barrows twitter feed btw.

Is that the pseudo-journalist who lives in Red Samut Prakarn? Should stick to food review.

That'll be the Richard Barrow that somehow seems to be many heartbeats ahead of the rest of the English language information.

[NongKhaiKid]

I live a few hundred meters from an army camp and there are lots of military families in the area but I don't see any unusual activity.

I should say the camp is for basic training so the young soldiers aren't ready for much, they stand guard with M16s but the magazine is empty.

In 2006 it took several days before the camp responded to .the coup by stationing extra sentries with full packs and Hummers fitted with .50cals but no ammunition belts. I'd hate to think what was or wasn't in the packs.

[TimCM]

Why does Thailand even have a military? All they do is covert power and money.

The role of the military is to defend the country and we have seen what happens if someone attacks Thailand in the past. The military runs home to cry to their mums.

The simple answer to your question is, given the state of the police force here, without the Army, Thailand would already be in a state of anarchy.

The Army is clearly paying attention to what you correctly state is their role and defending the country. Since it is now clear that the PTP is involved in providing weaponry, despite their best efforts to avoid this being revealed, they have now shown their true colours, and the Army must step in to prevent these weapons being used on innocent people.

They have shown no concern about the weaponry and violence of the yellow thugs that have been in BK for the last 6 months

[KhunNene]

I have been the last three months in Bangkok and the military were in every corner of Sathorn road

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[tominbkk]

Check out my nifty twitter links list. Subscribe if you like!

https://twitter.com/thomyates/lists/bangkok

[sumtingwong]

This is bound to ruin breakfast.

[Civil War]

I am imagining this has been done to take control of the national bully boy of CAPO.

They have gone too far by attempting to throw Surachai in prison, and all but saying that anyone in the kingdom coming out on strike is guilty of treason, an offense punishable by the death penalty.

They have went TOO FAR.... now they are nothing.

I had a feeling last night with the last 2 CAPO news releases that they pushed it way too far, and I am not surprised they have instigated military law.

Thank god.

[webfact]

Thai government not consulted about martial law: PM's aide

BANGKOK, May 20, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's embattled government was not consulted in advance by the military about the declaration of martial law but it is still in power, said the chief security adviser to Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.

"The caretaker government still exists with Niwattumrong as caretaker prime minister. Everything is normal except the military is responsible for all national security issues," Paradon Pattanatabut told AFP.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-20

[Stradavarius37]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

This is bound to ruin breakfast.

Why? I am having a delightful breakfast! Yum yum!

[Confuscious]

Another day in paradise ......

Thailand, never a boring day ........

[clockman]

Why does Thailand even have a military? All they do is covert power and money.

The role of the military is to defend the country and we have seen what happens if someone attacks Thailand in the past. The military runs home to cry to their mums.

The Military in Thailand is a large corporation not a defence force, they own airlines, Television stations, hotels etc they have no time for all that silly marching up and down, saluting and that other stuff. This political turmoil has been interfering in their business arm.

That is what everybody forgets!

[Bluespunk]

T News showing a military proclamation that CAPO is no longer to exist.

Also nobody in or out of Aksa

...can one speculate from this exactly who the senior figure was who owned the vehicle containing the cache of weapons...?!

Under martial law? I wouldn't.

[Stradavarius37]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Another day in paradise ......

Thailand, never a boring day ........

Yesterday was slightly boring.....come to think of it, Sunday wasn't a barn burner either...

[Thaiberius]

No soldiers on Sukhumvit Road.

[paymaster]

Martial law should never be invoked under any situation, an army that works against the people and becomes a police force completely misses the point they are meant to be the guardians of the country against outside forces, their role is to HELP Thai people not to fight against any of them.

The army have done NOTHING in the past few months and have been utterly ineffective in trying to stop violent attacks, let's see if they even have the balls to go and remove the few guards and the insane monk who have managed to hold onto a gigantic government complex for about 6 months. They have been getting destroyed in the south for years and were really outrageously stupid in 2010 as well.

Well you just can't have it both ways. In your fitst para you rail against martial law and backflip in the second to criticise the Army supposedly doing nothing.

The Army has acted responsibly yet again. Good work General Prayuth.