Thailand's army invokes martial law: military TV

[whiteman]

it was about time!

Correct

[Civil War]

There is still one thing missing here..... DSI

Everything pro-gov has been neutered in one blow of the axe, but no mention of what is happening with the DSI, which was also a very aggressive department of the PTP / Thaksin lacky club.

The last I read, Tarit was after senate speaker Surachai... wondering what will come of that now.

If the situation with respect to that upgrades to the DSI being told to wind it's neck in also, then we can all safely assume there will be a newly appointed PM and cabinet and Suthep wins.

[TimCM]

Looks like the military is stopping TV stations from reporting on the rallies.

A couple Thai stations are discussing a possible coup, but a quick search showed no rallies or troop reports.

Only soap please.

That will keep my wife happy.

Stop all (army announcement) news.

Good point, how scary would it be if millions of housewives started to protest the removal of their soaps.

The true tragedy in all of this

Edited May 20, 2014 by TimCM

[Globalist]

The British newspaper The Economist provided seemingly very good concrete advice to Thailand in an article on May 10th, worth repeating here perhaps:

"...The starting point is the devolution of Thailand’s highly centralised system of governance. At the moment only the capital has a democratically elected governor, yet all 76 provinces should also have one..."

Note that this would allow some constituencies to be "red" and some "yellow" without any obvious national conflict, just as the situation is in many other countries, like e.g. the UK and US. It would also help to solve the problems in the southern provinces, as also pointed out by The Economist.

[dcpo]

Who has the POWER

so power has not been handed to an unelected leader but taken - does that mean jutaporn is going to call his red army to the streets or is he in jail already

Have Surapong Charlerm and Tarit foregone their 5 star breakfast

I did hear that Surapong, Chalerm and Tharit have been asked to account for all the money that the CAPO spent.

I guess they will be slogging away with their spreadsheets.

Martial Law means that the police now fall under the army. Not sure where Tharit now stands.

That being the case, the army could take the oportunity to remove Thaksin and Chalerm of their police rank and even restructure the police force to a politically neutral entity that actually does it's job.

But who's going to restructure the army into a politically neutral entity?

[Dogmatix]

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.

Waiting for the Skype call to give him his official response. LOL.

[Gonzo the Face]

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

Idiotic - martial law all over the country!

There is only a small group of trouble makers in Bangkok! And they are obviously not able / willing to handle them!

Declare martial law in Bangkok and send Suthep where he belongs into in a prison cell!

Great message to send out to the world we can not handle a bunch of loonies roaming around in Bangkok so we declare martial law all over the country!

Next thing is of course the military will ask for a "special budget" of billions to cover their "expenses" to enforce martial law hahaha!

So now political gatherings of more than 5 people are outlawed does Suthep care? - of course not!

Will the military in force the law? Of course not!

Back to square one - after sending the message to the world that we are to stupid to handle a bunch of demonstrators!

Put the criminal Suthep in prison and hold elections!

Just your opinion, and one sided at that. But your entitled to your opinion, many would disagree.

Exactly my opinion is based on the fact that the Thai military has been incredibly "successful" in establishing peace in the far south with something like 5000 people killed for more than a decade now - they seem really qualified to try the same now all over Thailand!

Funny how some folks minds work..... usually using randomly selected facts to fit their own perceived or not, version of the true facts. I note by your above comment that all the problems in the south are the results of actions of the military. Nowhere do you even acknowledge that just perhaps the many, many [non existant] trips down south by the politicans, [the boss of the military] have done what ????? If you want to twist the truth to make the problem down south caused by the military.....go ahead if it seems to you to fit you biased argument better......But how do you resolve in your own mind the actions, or rather non actions by the boss of the military.... the politicans, the government, why they didn't brag about all they were doing to solve the problems?????

Too many posters use their own made up opinions as facts to further their tilt of the debate , and be damned it they are facts or not....... they are my thoughts so they must be facts..... misplaced self importance.....Shame. Shame

Edited May 20, 2014 by Gonzo the Face

[piersbeckett]

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.

You know what you should do.

Sell the story to Hollywood or is this just another disguised 'if you don't like it leave' statement. Ah the old ways, don't think, don't comment, so quaint..

I live here, I work here, I pay taxes here. I can express an opinion and will do so whenever I choose to.

'king right an' all - that old saying, " if you haven't got anything nice (i.e. positive) to say, then don't say anything. I disagreed with it then when it was current in the 1950's and still do - how can one discuss or comment on anything properly with a limitation that large!? How are people to express their opinions, broaden their views, consider alternative viewpoints, change anything or even get to know each other? You could say, 'just read' but then you'd have to keep it quiet if you disagreed or had a negative view towards anything you'd read - it's getting a bit facist!

Admittedly the post could have ended with, 'tit' but then the poster is expressing a 'feeling' so it doesn't need to be 'balanced' and just because we can't be politically active here doesn't mean we have to go back to the fifties.

P.S. As I said in a previous post, George will tell us when it's time to go home and he hasn't yet.

[iancnx]

Thank God I left this screwed up country last year....sold my 27 rai of land and my 12 mil baht house 3 weeks ago......my banker said I must have good karma...whatever it was my timing was great!!!!

Good luck to all you who have to endure all the shit.

you be lucky to get a bed sitter for just 12mill bht where your going now...enjoy it lol

Hahahah +1. You might get a good double garage lock up in Chelsea without electric nor running water though....LMAO

[balford]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

[Baerboxer]

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.

Very constructive - not.

Don't think you'd have been keen messing with the guys in full combat attire operating at the motorway way junction near my house this morning, even with a few beers inside.

When was the last time someone attacked Thailand?

[simple1]

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

it means dear lads that you are going to have to be very careful what you speak here BIG BROTHER watching

Rubbish! The military monitor TV? As a friend of mine said on another forum: They couldn't monitor milk!

The security forces and agencies now report to the the military. I have been advised by PM from a Mod is response to one of my posts that was removed, that security agencies do monitor internet traffic, that includes TV, in Thailand & whilst it is rare, action is taken.

All your posts should be removed because all you do is criticize every single Government in the World. Why don't you go on holiday to Africa or Afghanistan and tell them to stop mutilating the genitals of per-pubescent girls? You'll have a great time. Oh I forgot they may just beat the crap out of you. You should be concerned about yourself because you are probably on ISOC's list of undesirables for spreading anti-Thai propaganda.

Off topic: I do post comment on government policy I disagree with and especially in response to over the top hate / bigoted posts that you specialise in, such as the above personal attack

Edited May 20, 2014 by simple1

[Dogmatix]

To all Expats just relax let the military do it's job stay away from trouble spots, and be respectful you will be fine But act like Satish you might be shot. Moving on not changing plans flying in July, Save me some Phad Thai Gai.

Will Robert Amsterdam be shot too?

[Baerboxer]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

Totally agree. He's a disgrace to the traditions of British journalism. A complete Shin sycophant who romanticizes them into some kind of people loving benevolent political dynasty that wants a fair and just society for all. Unfortunately their actions are different which he conveniently doesn't "report" on. His reports reflect his own political leanings and the society he wishes for rather than the realities around him,

Come on BBC - wakey wakey!

[Dogmatix]

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

Hopefully an official announcement will be made that Chalerm and Tarit have also been dissolved.

If CAPO has been dissolved does it mean Chalerm will now have to drink on his own time and his own bin ?

Can't wait for him and Tarit to threaten the army.

I suspect that they are both up North already, somewhere close to the Cambodian border...!

Wine merchants will be upset at the cancellation of those lucrative orders for cases of 1982 Chateau Rothschild Lafite to be delivered to CAPO HQ as fuel for the government strategy and reinvoiced as boxes of Khao Phat for policemen. Chalerm may be facing serious ear and balance problems going cold turkey from his meds or, perish the thought, may have to pay for it himself. Lucky import duty on wine is much less in Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Laos, Dubai etc. Hope he is taking Suraphong with him for treatment of his Napoleonic schizoid delusion that he is still a deputy prime minister.

[ATF]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

Unfortunately all they have to choose from is JH or that Irish woman who has never been to a hairdressers in her life. She's a bit butch too IYNWIM. LOL!

[sweatalot]

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

it's the action that is appropriate

[binjalin]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

Totally agree. He's a disgrace to the traditions of British journalism. A complete Shin sycophant who romanticizes them into some kind of people loving benevolent political dynasty that wants a fair and just society for all. Unfortunately their actions are different which he conveniently doesn't "report" on. His reports reflect his own political leanings and the society he wishes for rather than the realities around him,

Come on BBC - wakey wakey!

The BBC has very high and exacting standards which are monitored very closely.

Jonathan Head is an excellent reporter and you don't like him because he doesn't take any notice of the yellow propaganda and reports fairly and squarely. Good for him and proud of the BBC.

[Robby nz]

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.

Very constructive - not.

Don't think you'd have been keen messing with the guys in full combat attire operating at the motorway way junction near my house this morning, even with a few beers inside.

When was the last time someone attacked Thailand?

It would be great if those who post attacking the military took a few moments to look at what they actually do for this country.

Any time there is an emergency who is there to help ?, Be it flood the recent earthquake or anything else the military is always there.

Have you ever been in a military hospital in this country ? Probably don't even know they exist, they treat all comers including farang and have some of the top specialists in the country in all fields, these specialists are called on by public and private hospitals when needed.

They have a medical school and nursing collage that trains hundreds of doctors, dentists and nurses every year to a high standard.

If you don't believe that go have a look at one of the military hospitals in your area, if you are in BKK look at Pramonkutklau which I understand is the 5th or 6th biggest hospital in the country.

These hospitals, and there are many of them, must save the health budget billions each year.

They also train drivers, engineers, pilots and many others who get good jobs when they leave the military.

Sure there is waste of money with things like a submarine base, aircraft carrier and no doubt corruption along the way.

But they are not all bad and do a lot for the country.

Right now they are in the process of getting it out of the clutches of the criminal on the run and back on track.

[Dogmatix]

Who has the POWER

so power has not been handed to an unelected leader but taken - does that mean jutaporn is going to call his red army to the streets or is he in jail already

Have Surapong Charlerm and Tarit foregone their 5 star breakfast

I did hear that Surapong, Chalerm and Tharit have been asked to account for all the money that the CAPO spent.

I guess they will be slogging away with their spreadsheets.

Martial Law means that the police now fall under the army. Not sure where Tharit now stands.

That being the case, the army could take the oportunity to remove Thaksin and Chalerm of their police rank and even restructure the police force to a politically neutral entity that actually does it's job.

Restructuring of the police by decentralisation of the command structure was tried by Sarayud after the 2006 coup but he gave up in the face of withering police opposition. The Abhisit govt was set to remove Thaksin's Pol Lt Col rank (he actually only finished as a captain but was promoted 2 ranks about 20 years after retirement) and his royal decorations but lost their bottle. No one has ever suggested removing Chalerm's police rank - perhaps because he never got the post retirement promotion and has remained below the radar as a lowly captain.

The futility of all of these half measures (e.g. confiscating only half of his assets and removing only a part of his nominee cabinet) proves that the traditional Thai compromise is not effective with Thaksin because he doesn't have much of Thai culture in him and thinks purely as a Chinese trying to accumulate as much cash and assets in his lifetime as he can. Whether right or wrong those opposed to him and his regime need to either need to have the resolve to take full measures to crush him completely or just grin and bear him and his regime for the next generation or two and leave everyone in peace, as far as that may be possible with a kleptocracy in charge.

[ginjag]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

Totally agree. He's a disgrace to the traditions of British journalism. A complete Shin sycophant who romanticizes them into some kind of people loving benevolent political dynasty that wants a fair and just society for all. Unfortunately their actions are different which he conveniently doesn't "report" on. His reports reflect his own political leanings and the society he wishes for rather than the realities around him,

Come on BBC - wakey wakey!

The BBC has very high and exacting standards which are monitored very closely.

Jonathan Head is an excellent reporter and you don't like him because he doesn't take any notice of the yellow propaganda and reports fairly and squarely. Good for him and proud of the BBC.

To speak like that you must drink the same brew as Chalerm.

Dick Head runs the same rhetoric as the once big time red sympathizer Rachael Harvey.

[StevieH]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

Totally agree. He's a disgrace to the traditions of British journalism. A complete Shin sycophant who romanticizes them into some kind of people loving benevolent political dynasty that wants a fair and just society for all. Unfortunately their actions are different which he conveniently doesn't "report" on. His reports reflect his own political leanings and the society he wishes for rather than the realities around him,

Come on BBC - wakey wakey!

The BBC has very high and exacting standards which are monitored very closely.

Jonathan Head is an excellent reporter and you don't like him because he doesn't take any notice of the yellow propaganda and reports fairly and squarely. Good for him and proud of the BBC.

agree about jonathan head, he's about as objective as can be on bangkok issues. it does only ever seem to be pro-PDRC people who shriek about him being biased. he really isn't.

that said the BBC in the UK is not what it was. very compromised these days.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Looks like the military is stopping TV stations from reporting on the rallies.

A couple Thai stations are discussing a possible coup, but a quick search showed no rallies or troop reports.

10:24 am

The Peace Keeping Directorate issued the sixth announcement ordering temporary closure of the Thaicom earth station, and broadcast suspension of all anti government and redshirt TV station for security reasons. All community radio stations which went on air without official licences are also ordered to stop broadcasting immediately.

Banned on air by the announcement include Blue Sky, TG News, ASTV, UDD, Asia Update, FM TV, MP5

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/category/breakingnews/

Edited May 20, 2014 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Humberstone]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

Totally agree. He's a disgrace to the traditions of British journalism. A complete Shin sycophant who romanticizes them into some kind of people loving benevolent political dynasty that wants a fair and just society for all. Unfortunately their actions are different which he conveniently doesn't "report" on. His reports reflect his own political leanings and the society he wishes for rather than the realities around him,

Come on BBC - wakey wakey!

Do you really, honestly believe that a BBC journalist is, as you strongly imply in your post, in the pay of TS ?

Criticise his journalism by all means, but what you are saying here is frankly silly.

[iancnx]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

Totally agree. He's a disgrace to the traditions of British journalism. A complete Shin sycophant who romanticizes them into some kind of people loving benevolent political dynasty that wants a fair and just society for all. Unfortunately their actions are different which he conveniently doesn't "report" on. His reports reflect his own political leanings and the society he wishes for rather than the realities around him,

Come on BBC - wakey wakey!

The BBC has very high and exacting standards which are monitored very closely.

Jonathan Head is an excellent reporter and you don't like him because he doesn't take any notice of the yellow propaganda and reports fairly and squarely. Good for him and proud of the BBC.

Utter twaddle. Reporting fairly and squarely by most media news organisations is an optimistic ideal to say the least. JH has just got it consistently wrong here and many have evidently followed up with complaints. The wiki article detailing his previous reporting (alleged) might be perceived by some as a reason why his reporting is perhaps ....... jaded!

[Redhawk]

If an Army invokes the Martial Law it looks more like a Coup D'Etat to me because to my understanding invoking this law is to the parliament i.e. government?! Sugarcoating won't help to cover that! Suggestions!

[silent]

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.

Absolutely. No mention of chemical weapons or attacking of US Embassies, but rice, it has to be Thailand. Happy to know that I'm not the only one feeling like ET sometimes though

Edited May 20, 2014 by silent

[LevelHead]

This was to be totally expected.

The caretaker government people were talking about the need for martial law a few days back, so there should be no surprise (apart from some fake surprise..........)

There was a stalemate !!

The fake monk and Suthep's very small but armed and dangerous PDRC (PDRC guards) were blatantly breaking the law, innocent people were getting injured by PDRC guards, why even off duty military people were beaten up by PDRC. They were seizing television stations.

Now in a real country the government would invoke the Emergency Decree (ED) and the Police could deal with it - however what we saw here was the Judiciary getting involved and preventing the police from doing their work. Even though its well known the PDRC are armed it was claimed they were not and there illegal actions were strangely legal - and the ED was revoked.

This left the country with no way of stopping Suthep and the fake monk.

Suthep and the fake monk were threatening all sorts of illegal actions this week and next. Appointed senators were talking of illegal acts such as appointing an interim PM (against the constitution).

The only way to regain control is to invoke Martial Law.

Now, this is the trump card for the moment. The Judiciary is now out of power, they can do nothing while Martial Law is in effect. Martial law now stops Suthep and the PDRC from doing their illegal things, the fake monk can do nothing.

The caretaker government is still in power (for now) and so all that has happened today is that the PDRC/Suthep/fake monk are all grounded. The red shirts have been well behaved and rallying outside Bangkok and by default they are also grounded.

Hopefully elections can now take place as Martial Law is country wide and the PDRC now can no longer interrupt the process.

The military can regain a lot of their lost image from 2010, if they now oversee an election and prevent the PDRC from disrupting it.

So, Martial Law was very much expected - as the Judiciary had knee capped CAPO and the Police by revoking the Emergency Decree - therefore the only way to regain order was Martial Law, as this grounds the Judiciary as well so they cannot revoke it, they are now powerless, like Suthep and the fake monk and the Senate and the EC and the PDRC etc.........

What happens next is the defining point - will there be an election (peace returns to Thailand) - or will their be full scale coup via an appointed Army man as new PM - which will lead down a path of perhaps all out violence.

One hopes Prayuth will return power to the people, by an election and as soon as possible, by ordering the EC to now hold an election asap.

Edited May 20, 2014 by LevelHead

[Tatsujin]

Jonathon Head is a reporter who doesn't report the news but distorts it to sensationalise the issue for his own ends. We saw how the BBC and NBC, among others including Australia's ABC, misreported the 2010 situation so I believe him about as far as I could kick a big rock.

Bob A. Now totally relaxed in Lampang

Totally agree. He's a disgrace to the traditions of British journalism. A complete Shin sycophant who romanticizes them into some kind of people loving benevolent political dynasty that wants a fair and just society for all. Unfortunately their actions are different which he conveniently doesn't "report" on. His reports reflect his own political leanings and the society he wishes for rather than the realities around him,

Come on BBC - wakey wakey!

The BBC has very high and exacting standards which are monitored very closely.

Jonathan Head is an excellent reporter and you don't like him because he doesn't take any notice of the yellow propaganda and reports fairly and squarely. Good for him and proud of the BBC.

Utter twaddle. Reporting fairly and squarely by most media news organisations is an optimistic ideal to say the least. JH has just got it consistently wrong here and many have evidently followed up with complaints. The wiki article detailing his previous reporting (alleged) might be perceived by some as a reason why his reporting is perhaps ....... jaded!

When it comes to "reporting" on Thailand by most major news outlets (BBC, CNN etc), they don't "investigate" or "report" . . . they (for the most part) simply repeat the mantra or message of whatever Govt is in power here at the time. Jonathan Head is certainly not impartial, and from what I've seen of his (and others) reporting, it's very slanted/biased one way and one way only. Al Jazeera was always fairly good at being (relatively) impartial, but even they are slipping into the same corporate ways of the other news agencies.

[than]

After Army found war weapons in car of reds MP, it's normal ML has been invoke.......