Selfies with soldiers as Thai martial law creeps into force

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Selfies with soldiers as Thai martial law creeps into force
by Aidan JONES

BANGKOK, May 20, 2014 (AFP) - Some snatched selfies with armed soldiers but most passers-by barely blinked as troops and jeeps mounted with machine-guns took to Bangkok's streets early Tuesday, a peculiarly pragmatic Thai response to political upheaval.

Traffic-halting marches, sandbagged bunkers and sporadic violence have become commonplace in a struggle lasting almost seven months to overthrow the government, leaving the majority of Bangkok residents broadly inured to the turmoil.

Three soldiers wearing flak jackets and carrying machine guns stood by a military jeep at one downtown intersection early Tuesday, politely posing for photographs with commuters as news spread of the military's declaration of martial law.

A smattering of bemused tourists peered at the troops at the Ratchaprasong junction, a major shopping district which includes high-end hotels.

It is also a highly symbolic site after a military crackdown on a "Red Shirt" protest in 2010 left scores dead there. Monday was the fourth anniversary of the crackdown.

A man on a motorcycle sped by shouting "Su, Su!" (Fight,Fight!) a Thai phrase of encouragement, in a sign that some welcome the military intervention.

The army has staged 18 coups or attempted coups since 1932 and is seen by some as a stabilising force within the kingdom's febrile politics.

Small groups of armed soldiers were stationed along main roads throughout the capital. But for most of the city it was business as usual.

While the presence of armed soldiers on the streets raises the stakes for a caretaker government whose authority appears fatally undermined, it did not appear to ruffle many Thais.

Teenager Pongtawat Lanlerdphonboon told AFP martial law was an "issue for adults".

"My parents told me to go about my life as normal," the 17-year-old added as he travelled to school.

Several others who spoke to AFP were unaware of the decree by Tuesday afternoon even though it gives authorities sweeping powers -- including the right to disperse protest groups, search and detain people, censor the media and enforce a curfew.

Bangkok has for several weeks seen unarmed troops stationed in dozens of sandbagged bunkers across the capital.

And demonstrators at different times have occupied major traffic junctions, a central park and the government headquarters in a noisy, colourful carnival of protest which has become a fixture in the city.

Their rallies have also been targeted by gun and grenade attacks which have left 28 dead and hundreds wounded.

Bangkok has seen several rounds of sometimes bloody protests since a bloodless military coup deposed then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

His Red Shirt supporters, who have massed for a rally for several days in a Bangkok suburb, reported Tuesday that soldiers had encircled them.

But there were no immediate reports of tension, although Red Shirt guards thoroughly searched vehicles entering the area.

Instead the day was punctuated by television announcements on all channels by the newly-formed Peace and Order Maintaining Command, with army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha as its head.

Several satellite channels were ordered to stop broadcasting -- especially the round-the-clock media outlets representing both sides of Thailand's divide.

But with the army denying that its martial law declaration was tantamount to a coup, it was unclear what the hours and days ahead would hold.

"I am not worried but let's wait and see," said Win, a manager for an IT company who gave only one name.

"Now there is deadlock. I'm OK with martial law, it is a way to control the two sides. In a few days, the situation will be clearer."


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

[Now or Never]

While the presence of armed soldiers on the streets raises the stakes for a caretaker government whose authority appears

fatally undermined, it did not appear to ruffle many Thais.

YES

[DrTuner]

Ah, yes. Almost forgot about this, I missed the 2006 photo shot. Gotta get one this time.

[FangFerang]

The General told all the brats of all colors to play nice.

One TVF poster called him the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

I lean more toward a two metric ton guerrilla.

If you saw the announcement the General made on television, the man was not happy he is doing this.

[Payboy]

Teenager Pongtawat Lanlerdphonboon told AFP martial law was an "issue for adults".

What's foreigners got to do with this?

[Suradit69]

Teenager Pongtawat Lanlerdphonboon told AFP martial law was an "issue for adults".

What's foreigners got to do with this?

Surprisingly, not everything in Thailand has something to do with foreigners.

[wlcart]

i must be a loser, i have taken a total of 2 selfies my entire life!

[tonglen]

i must be a loser, i have taken a total of 2 selfies my entire life!

I beg to differ. You must NOT be a loser BECAUSE you have NOT taken an excessive number of selfies. I hate selfies.

[EricBerg]

It's the age of taking selfies I suppose. But the fact that many, Thais and tourists, take them with soldiers means that they feel safe with the army around.

This, very unlike when the police were supposed to be in control under command of Tarit and Chalerm.

Where is good ole Chalerm by the way? Not heard of him for a while. In Dubai perhaps?

[peterquixote]

I would like to see a prolonged period of Martial law.

By this I mean years not months.

The word democracy is floated in almost all institutions that Thailand has.

PDRC, PAD, UDD and so on.

And the rot and stench of corruption is your way of life Thailand.

and that is not democracy.

Democracy is not just the vote purchased , it is a way of Governing

where the people of you country are the highest priority, and a goodness is given.

Thaksin fails in every way on this assessment.

He ruled the country for himself.

The very fact that the army was so reluctant to impose martial law, gives me hope.

There is no doubt in my mind that the army should relieve Thaksin

from the burden of Thailands treasury, and maybe let Yingluck out with a few less travel cases containing

Thailand's wealth

It would be good if the King would take his final strength and tell his people what must be

Edited May 20, 2014 by peterquixote

[englishoak]

I would like to see a prolonged period of Martial law.

By this I mean years not months.

The word democracy is floated in almost all institutions that Thailand has.

PDRC, PAD, UDD and so on.

And the rot and stench of corruption is your way of life Thailand.

and that is not democracy.

Democracy is not just the vote purchased , it is a way of Governing

where the people of you country are the highest priority, and a goodness is given.

Thaksin fails in every way on this assessment.

He ruled the country for himself.

The very fact that the army was so reluctant to impose martial law, gives me hope.

There is no doubt in my mind that the army should relieve Thaksin

from the burden of Thailands treasury, and maybe let Yingluck out with a few less travel cases containing

Thailand's wealth

It would be good if the King would take his final strength and tell his people what must be

Then your a total

[beautifulthailand99]

The Facebook Coup - what's not to like ?

[neverdie]

Ah, yes. Almost forgot about this, I missed the 2006 photo shot. Gotta get one this time.

I thought you would have learnt your lesson last time u cracked a lense by pointing it at yourself

[indyuk]

i must be a loser, i have taken a total of 2 selfies my entire life!

erm what's a selfie?

[Dap]

i must be a loser, i have taken a total of 2 selfies my entire life!

Wow! How vain can one person get