Thai army chief calls meeting of political rivals

[webfact]

Thai army chief calls meeting of political rivals

by Boonradom Chitradon

BANGKOK, May 21, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's military called crisis talks Wednesday between warring political rivals, vowing to stop the kingdom degenerating into another "Ukraine or Egypt" after imposing martial law to suppress months of street bloodshed.

US-led pressure grew for a return to civilian control but the Thai military, which has intervened repeatedly in politics down the decades, said it would respect international law and use force "only for issues of security".

General Prayut Chan-O-Cha called a meeting between top officials of the ruling and opposition parties as well as the election commission, the Senate and the heads of the pro- and anti-government protest camps, an army spokeswoman said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, who replaced ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra after a controversial court ruling earlier this month, was also invited.

Niwattumrong has called for fresh elections on August 3. But the opposition wants vaguely defined reforms first to tackle graft and has vowed to stay on the streets until it has eradicated the "regime" represented by Yingluck's elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra.

Prayut invoked martial law Tuesday, saying that he had to act because political tensions have spiralled following the extended and deadly anti-government protests -- a move critics branded a "de facto coup".

"This must be resolved swiftly before I retire, otherwise I won't retire," Prayut, who is due to step down at the end of September, said according to a transcript of remarks released by the military.

"I will not allow Thailand to be like Ukraine or Egypt."

In a new sign of its weakening hold on power, the caretaker cabinet was barred from using its emergency headquarters at a defence ministry office in the north of the capital.

"The government is now using a safe house," said a government official who did not want to be named.

The capital Bangkok was calm Wednesday, with nonplussed Thais going about their business and the city's bustling street life carrying on amid a noticeably lighter military presence compared to the day before.

- 'Protect civil liberties' -

But Tuesday's dispatch of armed troops to the streets, the shutdown of more than a dozen television stations, and the sweeping powers assumed by the military have raised concerns over civil liberties.

The military can now ban public gatherings, restrict people's movements, conduct searches, impose curfews and detain suspects for up to seven days.

Late Tuesday, four more satellite television stations were ordered to suspend broadcasts, bringing to 14 the number shut down.

Social media and other websites were instructed to halt the distribution of "provocative" material or criticism of martial law.

The military also issued an order that appeared to ban media outlets from interviewing anyone other than current government or military officials.

Thailand's longtime ally the United States said it did not believe the army had staged a coup -- avoiding sanctions required under US law -- but urged the military to respect democracy.

"The army has stated publicly that it would be a temporary action. We expect them to abide by their commitment," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.

She said the United States was "encouraging calm, encouraging protection of civil liberties and freedom of speech and freedom of media".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement urging "full respect for democratic principles and engagement in democratic processes", while the European Union called for "a clear timetable" for a snap election.

The generals intervened after nearly seven months of protests that have left 28 people dead and hundreds wounded.

They have left in place the caretaker government in office since the dismissal of Yingluck, whose brother Thaksin was himself ousted as prime minister in a 2006 coup.

Parties led by Thaksin or his allies have won every election over the past dozen years, to the dismay of an entrenched Bangkok-based elite who accuse him of corruption and posing a threat to the monarchy.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-21

[webfact]

POMC invites Senate speaker-elect, Election Commission, Pheu Thai and Democrat party leaders, Suthep, Jatuporn to meet with Gen Prayuth this afternoon /MCOT

[marcusd]

Fantastic. Now they might talk. Its about time. School children antics... I want, no,I want... Blah blah is destroying Thailand.

At least now they will be forced to come up,with at least something.

It is just a shame, despite all the warnings, the General had to finally act.

So where is the love of the people and the country?. Certainly not in the parliament.

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

[JoeThePoster]

All in favour say "aye". Okay, 4 against 2 overruled.

[webfact]

Prayuth calls meeting of Pheu Thai, Democrat, PDRC, UDD

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Wednesday called a meeting of representatives from the Pheu Thai, the Democrat, the red-shirt movement and the anti-government movement.

The meeting is scheduled at 1:30 pm.

The Democrat, the Pheu Thai, the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship and the People's Democratic Reform Committee can send five representatives each to the meeting.


-- The Nation 2014-05-21

[Scamper]

All of sudden a meeting has been arranged between the parties, the Election Commission and the Senate. It's not happening in two weeks, or next week, or being subject to venue changes or cancellations. It's happening in about an hour. Why ? Because Prayuth has arranged it. As simple as that. And that is how quickly it should happen. These people should have spoken together a long time ago. There has been so much posturing no one's actually taken that step. It's now being taken. And Prayuth will chair the meeting. That means that these people will get down to basics very, very quickly. It's the latest indication that Prayuth is sincere that his top priority is bringing peace and stability to the country.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Scamper

[pkspeaker]

Sounds like he's trying to cram an appointed dictator down everyone's throat, and he didn't invite the caretaker PM? Now we know for sure bthis is a coup. he's going to say an election is not possible because this big army he called out cannot secure a few election venues from 'protesters'.

Edited May 21, 2014 by pkspeaker

[binjalin]

simple answer - election

[seajae]

it would seem that the only ones bitching are those that want to see a civil war break out, they are not interested in seeing Thailand sort all this sh*t out. They simply want the ptp/reds to start shooting and killing people but then what else can we expect from these dropkicks, they dont understand peoples rights or true democracy, they just want total rule the thaksin way, screw what the people of Thailand want.

[Thai at Heart]

No Yingluck?

[hands22]

Why do I have a premonition that Suthep will not turn up. I hope I am wrong though.

[pedro01]

Sounds like he's trying to cram an appointed dictator down everyone's throat, and he didn't invite the caretaker PM? Now we know for sure bthis is a coup. he's going to say an election is not possible because this big army he called out cannot secure a few election venues from 'protesters'.

He's invited PTP leaders - what makes you think he's excluded the acting caretaker PM?

[marko kok prong]

Suthep and Jutaporn in the same room,hope they bring the boxing gloves.

[pedro01]

OK- so a sweepstake on who walks out first?

My bet is on PTP - but only to go out to call Thaksin.

Be funny if the army have a cell phone signal blocker in the room.

[webfact]

PDRC leader Suthep, UDD leaders Jatuporn & Nuttawut agree to 1.30pm meeting with POMC director Gen Prayuth at Army Club /MCOT

[smutcakes]

Sounds like he's trying to cram an appointed dictator down everyone's throat, and he didn't invite the caretaker PM? Now we know for sure bthis is a coup. he's going to say an election is not possible because this big army he called out cannot secure a few election venues from 'protesters'.

He's invited PTP leaders - what makes you think he's excluded the acting caretaker PM?

Umm the fact the opening post says he was believed not to have been invited duhh....

[pedro01]

Sounds like he's trying to cram an appointed dictator down everyone's throat, and he didn't invite the caretaker PM? Now we know for sure bthis is a coup. he's going to say an election is not possible because this big army he called out cannot secure a few election venues from 'protesters'.

He's invited PTP leaders - what makes you think he's excluded the acting caretaker PM?

Umm the fact the opening post says he was believed not to have been invited duhh....

"believed" to have not been invited.

An invitation is pretty clear cut - you are or you aren't.

Sounds like he's ducking it to me.

[webfact]

Jatuporn, four red-shirt leaders to meet Prayuth at Army club at 1:30pm

BANGKOK: -- Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship, said he and four other UDD leaders would meet the Army chief at the Army Club at 1:30 pm.

He said he would be accompanied by Thida Thavornset, Nuttawut Saikuar, Veerakarn Musigapong and Korkaew Pikulthhong.

Jatuporn said the UDD would insist on its stand to have the people made decisions in the conflicts through an election.


-- The Nation 2014-05-21

[phosphorescent]

Finally, an adult to control the children. "Shake hands and make up or you'll get no ice cream".

[webfact]

Army chief invites seven disputed sides to 1.30 p.m. meeting today



BANGKOK: -- The Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC) issued a statement on TV at noon inviting seven parties and groups to the 1.30 p.m. meeting Wednesday at the Army Club to resolve the political impasse that has stricken the country over six months.

Signed in the invitation statement is Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Each party or group will be represented by five members, it said.

Invited to the meeting are acting Prime Minister, Election Commission, acting Senate speaker, Pheu Thai party, Democrat party, PDRC leader and UDD leader.

Gen Prayuth also said in the statement that supporters of both the PDRC and the UDD are requested to stay where they are and must not accompany their leaders to the meeting place.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-invites-seven-disputed-sides-1-30-p-m-meeting-today/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-21

[webfact]

Gen. Prayuth to meet PDRC and UDD leaders

BANGKOK, 21 May 2014 (NNT) The army's deputy spokeswoman Col Sirichan Ngathong , and Army Chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha as the director of Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC), has convened a meeting at the Royal Army club, to seek solutions to the political conflict.

All relevant authorities attending the meeting this afternoon, including the Pheu Thai party leader, the Democrat Party leader, the Election Commission (EC) president, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general, and the president of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

The spokeswoman confirms that martial law was imposed under the 1914 Martial Law Act to restore order and to create a safe environment.

Meanwhile, the army deputy spokesman Col. Winthai Suwaree said that martial law is being imposed nationwide, because there are protester movements in several areas, not only in the Bangkok Metropolitan area.


-- NNT 2014-05-21

[GuestHouse]

The problem for both sides of this conflict is, there is not going to be a winner takes all result.

The question then remains, are the actual individuals who are controlling this conflict in the room?

[h90]

he could invite all...red shirt, yellow shirt, democrat, ptp leader and all the shinawatras.

Than he shoot them all. These who are innocent are collateral damage.

Thailand can move forward peacefully.

[sjjmmi]

The problem for both sides of this conflict is, there is not going to be a winner takes all result.

The question then remains, are the actual individuals who are controlling this conflict in the room?

One of them is playing with sand some where

[neverdie]

The first thing the chief should do when everyone is in the room is to put each one of them over his knee, one at a time, and give them a real good spanking. This would serve merely as a warning. Then the meeting should proceed with the newly inducted spankees being on their best behaviour.

Jokes aside,

I just hope, if there's any decency within these men, that they grow up and get on with what they are being paid for as opposed to the utter rubbish and nonesense that has occurred in recent times.

[webfact]

PDRC ready to send representatives to hold talk with Prayuth: spokesman

BANGKOK: -- The People's Democratic Reform Committee is ready to participate in a talk of all parties in the conflicts which will be mediated by the Army chief, the PDRC spokesman said.

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha called a meeting of the Pheu Thai, Democrat, PDRC and United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship at the Army Club at 1:30 pm.


-- The Nation 2014-05-21

[pmugghc]

Sounds like he's trying to cram an appointed dictator down everyone's throat, and he didn't invite the caretaker PM? Now we know for sure bthis is a coup. he's going to say an election is not possible because this big army he called out cannot secure a few election venues from 'protesters'.

There is no caretaker PM, just an acting caretaker PM. He is invited.

[smutcakes]

The problem for both sides of this conflict is, there is not going to be a winner takes all result.

The question then remains, are the actual individuals who are controlling this conflict in the room?

The only winners in all this will be the army and the old boys club in BKK.

Then they will be oh so shocked when in the next 5 years we have the same problem but much more violent.

[casualbiker]

The problem for both sides of this conflict is, there is not going to be a winner takes all result.

The question then remains, are the actual individuals who are controlling this conflict in the room?

Well if a private jet lands and a large cream designer car with a little old lady with bouffant hair turns up then ..maybe!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[chainarong]

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

All of sudden a meeting has been arranged between the parties, the Election Commission and the Senate. It's not happening in two weeks, or next week, or being subject to venue changes or cancellations. It's happening in about an hour. Why ? Because Prayuth has arranged it. As simple as that. And that is how quickly it should happen. These people should have spoken together a long time ago. There has been so much posturing no one's actually taken that step. It's now being taken. And Prayuth will chair the meeting. That means that these people will get down to basics very, very quickly. It's the latest indication that Prayuth is sincere that his top priority is bringing peace and stability to the country.

Each party has spoken to each other in the early part and reasonably regular of late, this meeting will not alter anything and is a complete waste of time, they know it ,Thailand knows it and everybody else.