Thailand: What the martial law entails

[KOZMO]

Very strange timing for the army to enforce martial law.

The talks are deadlocked but they have been for months now so I wonder why now?

Maybe suteps threat for his last final push to get a million on the streets which was just another hollow threat however the reds reaction of heading to bangkok might have swayed them to act but why now?

Quite clearly the bias is once again been shown by the army shutting the red tv channel while the yellow channels are free to operate .

The reaction from the reds is going to be interesting as sutep has been allowed free reign in bangkok for 6 months now and all his allies or what he thought were allies in the end did not back so it upped the ante once again.

I don't know why the military moved now as I don't see what's going to achieve in the long run instead of making a bad situation worse.

The people of Thailand once again see demroracy hijacked.!

What do you expect? The Royal Thai Army is a "ROYALIST" organization they apparently acted when war weapons were allegedly discovered in a vehicle belonging to a "red"MP in Bangkok.

Watch out!!! The real Thai Army is coming from KORAT!!!!

[soalbundy]

Congratulation on both Anti and Pro-government, you and any other innocent bystander have officially lost your rights for a peaceful democratic life for the next centuries.

Both sides including their greedy leaders got what they asked for, to the dismay if us innocent bystanders.

Do we need any permission to go to the toilet or for grocery shopping?

There'll be a curfew, and we get attacked because we didn't know?

Don't exaggerate, remember the last coup? if you weren't in Bangkok,and i wasn't, you wouldn't have known anything was happening,afterwards things went back to the normal chaos that is Thai politics.This isn't even a coup,unfortunately, something or someone had to stop this chaos.Thais are like little children,they need a big daddy to put his foot down sometimes and this, in my opinion was long over due.

[h90]

What? No ban on booze?

No one can predict what would happen if the usual bar farangs get sober....They may stage a farang coup.

[japanic13]

CAPO dissolved? So we will no longer get daily updates of arrests that will never happen?

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[crazykopite]

A very sad day yet again for Thailand , started by a bitter old man who hates the Shin family . Martial law will have an adverse effect on the tourist industry as a lot of travel insurance does not cover countries that are under the Military . I can only see the country getting into more debt with the baht getting weaker which for us Falangs could be a good thing. I hope that tensions can be kept under control but I fear deep down that blood will be spilt once more on the streets of Bangkok.

[CaptainPeacock]

This is VERY serious. Pandora's Box has officially been opened.

Take heed of the "searches" part of the list - your premises are now the property of the military.

Prepare yourselves - the knock may come on your door soon.

...what planet are you on?

[sweatalot]

The OP details what martial law entails very well.

I would like to see more TV posts discussing the legal contortions involved declaring this particular state of martial law.

How did they do it, and on who's authority, legally?

What is the legal framework used to get a state of martial law declared?

Obviously, the situation in Thailand is quite unique. Most developed countries would have the government inform the military that martial law has been declared and instruct them to carry out their duties as required by law. What's the deal here?

Isn't this really a coup? (If it walks like a duck?)

Most developed countries would have the government inform the military that martial law has been declared

usually in most developed countries the government is not the problem

Edited May 20, 2014 by sweatalot

[SICHONSTEVE]

A very sad day yet again for Thailand , started by a bitter old man who hates the Shin family . Martial law will have an adverse effect on the tourist industry as a lot of travel insurance does not cover countries that are under the Military . I can only see the country getting into more debt with the baht getting weaker which for us Falangs could be a good thing. I hope that tensions can be kept under control but I fear deep down that blood will be spilt once more on the streets of Bangkok.

Cheer up!!!

This is a joyous day that is long overdue. They can start to get Thailand back to normal now - disperse the red shirts and send them packing with their tails between their legs!!!!

[In Town]

Yes, sad. Thailand is now officially the least democratic country in Southeast Asia.

[CaptainPeacock]

What? No ban on booze?

No one can predict what would happen if the usual bar farangs get sober....They may stage a farang coup.

...Oh boy

[Stan7444]

hmmm...first martial law, then probably a new PM appointed by the Senate...this is all playing out nicely and more or less as expected.

Doubt the Senate will now move on anything with the Army in control, no Royal Decree to confirm the acting Senate president, no Constitutional and therefore legal ability on part of the Senate to remove any gov't, and seems the Army has now "frozen" the status quo, which is bad for the PDRC since they ran out of steam and were painted into the corner with no other options available unless they "hunted" down the current ministers and forced them to resigne by death threats. What fun and better than a soap opera.

[SICHONSTEVE]

This is VERY serious. Pandora's Box has officially been opened.

Take heed of the "searches" part of the list - your premises are now the property of the military.

Prepare yourselves - the knock may come on your door soon.

...what planet are you on?

The shock is clearly too much for him to take!!!

[Old Man River]

The OP details what martial law entails very well.

I would like to see more TV posts discussing the legal contortions involved declaring this particular state of martial law.

How did they do it, and on who's authority, legally?

What is the legal framework used to get a state of martial law declared?

Obviously, the situation in Thailand is quite unique. Most developed countries would have the government inform the military that martial law has been declared and instruct them to carry out their duties as required by law. What's the deal here?

Isn't this really a coup? (If it walks like a duck?)

All good questions.

It isn't a coup and I wrote about this somewhere on TV just last week. It is the step nearest a coup and can only be ended by Royal decree.

Normally, as you have written, it is called by the government, but in Thailand's case it has no normally operating government since YL dissolved it and then adding to this, the CC removed the Caretaker status of YL and several other Caretaker MP's. Legally, I don't know if a Caretaker parliament has the authority to give up and turn things over to the Army. They refused to resign so perhaps this is the direction they took. Yesterday CAPO had an emergency meeting, most probably after discussions with the Army.

Don't get scared by this turn of events. One way or another, it was always headed in this direction. Several months ago, the infrastructure for a coup was put in place, but Prayuth refused to authorize it. If the Army can control Suthep's protestors and Jatuporn's protestors, the threat of a large confrontation will be avoided.

Going forward depends on how they deal with Thaksin and more importantly, how they deal with the Thai people who don't support Thaksin or Suthep, or Abhisit.

.

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[Eric Loh]

hmmm...first martial law, then probably a new PM appointed by the Senate...this is all playing out nicely and more or less as expected.

In fact, it means no such thing. The govt remains in office even in the context of martial law. This simply removes from the streets the groups in conflict.

First of all, there is no legitimate Government, at the moment. Secondly, declaring martial law, pulled the last few teeth (CAPO and the ability of the Reds to mobilize) from Thaksin and his cronies. The logical next step, is for the Senate to appoint a Prime Minister (who of course will not be a paid puppet of the man in Dubai)

Looks like you have your choice of either the Upper House (Senate) or the military making the decisions, but it will definitely not be the past Government (Thaksin)

Just one itsy bitsy detail of Prayuth declaring that the caretaker government and the constitution stay so the senate coup will not take place as it is against the constitution and will be illegal. Doubt these senate coupers have the balls to do an illegal act. Not a coup too so no military appointed PM.

[bigbamboo]

If martial law can only be ended by a Royal Decree then would it be correct to say that it can only be enforced by royal endorsement too? Surely you can't have one without the other... even in Thailand.

Edited May 20, 2014 by bigbamboo

[bibik]

Even with all this unrest the economy is going down the shitter but still the baht stays high the hell

Edited May 20, 2014 by bibik

[tpiety2]

Could the Army know something we don't and want to be prepared for potentially violent reactions.

Maybe a change of government or something else that may cause civil strife and unrest or worse.

I don't think they're doing it for fun. Just thinking out loud.

[Old Man River]

hmmm...first martial law, then probably a new PM appointed by the Senate...this is all playing out nicely and more or less as expected.

In fact, it means no such thing. The govt remains in office even in the context of martial law. This simply removes from the streets the groups in conflict.

First of all, there is no legitimate Government, at the moment. Secondly, declaring martial law, pulled the last few teeth (CAPO and the ability of the Reds to mobilize) from Thaksin and his cronies. The logical next step, is for the Senate to appoint a Prime Minister (who of course will not be a paid puppet of the man in Dubai)

Looks like you have your choice of either the Upper House (Senate) or the military making the decisions, but it will definitely not be the past Government (Thaksin)

Just one itsy bitsy detail of Prayuth declaring that the caretaker government and the constitution stay so the senate coup will not take place as it is against the constitution and will be illegal. Doubt these senate coupers have the balls to do an illegal act. Not a coup too so no military appointed PM.

The senate has the legal right to ban YL, Niwattunrong and several others based on a 60% majority vote. In other words they can affirm the NACC's indictments, but I cannot see where they can appoint a PM. A PM must be elected by other elected MP's.

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[rametindallas]

This is not good news for the Puea Thai politician caught with assault rifles in his car. The police can't cover for him now. I think this was precipitated by the M-79 and drive-by attacks at Democracy monument that left three dead and twenty two injured. Ko Tee and his bunch are not being pursued by the police and the police have been afraid to go after Thaksin supporters. It won't take much, on Jatuporn's part, to give a reason for the army to escalate their control. Thaksin has now been given a very clear warning after ignoring previous, more subtle warnings. The army is not on the side of the PTP government (what's left of it) nor the UDD or Red Shirts. They are 'on notice' and better watch their step and their mouths. Many other generals would have stepped in already. Gen. Prayuth has been very patient and has take a lot of personal abuse but he take his responsibilities seriously.

[soalbundy]

Yes, sad. Thailand is now officially the least democratic country in Southeast Asia.

Hey!! wait, explain, there is democracy in southeast Asia ? They can't even get that right in the west.

[HeavyDrinker]

More importantly how will this affect one's chances to queue up for One direction tickets for one's niece and her pals on Friday?

[HooHaa]

Very strange timing for the army to enforce martial law.

The talks are deadlocked but they have been for months now so I wonder why now?

Someone elsewhere spoke of rumours of another momentous event that sparked this.. I hope not.

Unfortunately I think you could be right. There are plenty of rumours flying around my Bangkok office.

well, now with your help they are flying around here.

of course he could be right, just like he could be very wrong.

[Jimbolai]

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Very strange timing for the army to enforce martial law.

The talks are deadlocked but they have been for months now so I wonder why now?

Maybe suteps threat for his last final push to get a million on the streets which was just another hollow threat however the reds reaction of heading to bangkok might have swayed them to act but why now?

Quite clearly the bias is once again been shown by the army shutting the red tv channel while the yellow channels are free to operate .

The reaction from the reds is going to be interesting as sutep has been allowed free reign in bangkok for 6 months now and all his allies or what he thought were allies in the end did not back so it upped the ante once again.

I don't know why the military moved now as I don't see what's going to achieve in the long run instead of making a bad situation worse.

The people of Thailand once again see demroracy hijacked.!

Red TV is still running, so there is your first red supporter lie.

I also would not feel too confident about being critical of the army during a state of martial law.

A lot of farangs actually have connections with army officials, through their Thai families (I am one) and they may well take an exception to such comments.

Who appointed you a Mod.

Watch it, he is not just a moderator but he has connections with army officials. You have been warned.

[Crushdepth]

If martial law can only be ended by a Royal Decree then would it be correct to say that it can only be enforced by royal endorsement too? Surely you can't have one without the other... even in Thailand.

The army has the authority to declare martial law under (I think its) section 188 of the constitution.

[Jimbolai]

Lets have martial law in the USA starting tomorrow. Lock oBamma and his stooges in the basement and have the military put the country back on track. Take about 2 years to restore sanity.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Jimbolai

[Suradit69]

The OP details what martial law entails very well.

I would like to see more TV posts discussing the legal contortions involved declaring this particular state of martial law.

How did they do it, and on who's authority, legally?

What is the legal framework used to get a state of martial law declared?

Obviously, the situation in Thailand is quite unique. Most developed countries would have the government inform the military that martial law has been declared and instruct them to carry out their duties as required by law. What's the deal here?

Isn't this really a coup? (If it walks like a duck?)

"What is the legal framework used to get a state of martial law declared?" "What is the legal framework used to get a state of martial law declared?"

In the US the President just sends in troops to shoot people. Maybe it's like that.

And in London the police just shoot anyone who looks like he could be a problem to state security because of his suspicious black hair.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Suradit69

[japanic13]

If martial law can only be ended by a Royal Decree then would it be correct to say that it can only be enforced by royal endorsement too? Surely you can't have one without the other... even in Thailand.

The army has the authority to declare martial law under (I think its) section 188 of the constitution.

The army has the authority to declare whatever the hell it wants. Section "we have the biggest guns" of the Constitution.

Edited May 20, 2014 by japanic13

[Jimbolai]

Hi guys and girls, anything interesting happening in Thailand?

[username1]

Very strange timing for the army to enforce martial law.

The talks are deadlocked but they have been for months now so I wonder why now?

Someone elsewhere spoke of rumours of another momentous event that sparked this.. I hope not.

Unfortunately I think you could be right. There are plenty of rumours flying around my Bangkok office.

well, now with your help they are flying around here.

of course he could be right, just like he could be very wrong.

Okay, spit it out, what rumors?

[davehowden]

Hi guys and girls, anything interesting happening in Thailand?

No man, just the usual sh..t .

BUT, maybe this has been triggered by an event of which we are not yet aware?