Thai army chief announces military coup

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

bad, very bad, very depressing news

During the army's control, new politicians will appear and will be selected and when the time is right the army will agree to create a general election, and when positively completed the army will remove itself from the current position as they have done in the past, then Thailand will politically be a new democratic country with beneficial activities for Thailand and its population.

Well, it didn't quite work out that way last time... based on the years from the last coup until the new one today. But hope springs eternal.

[Dario]

Chalerm and son arrested.

Made my day!

What's your source??? Son, which one? He's got two.

Check the TVF Live Feed.

Turns out both sons.

Yes, saw it on Thai PBS. Also seen there: "May 22, 2014 9:14 pm The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council issued a statement ordering all schools in the country to close for three days from May 23-25." Good to know for parents of school going children.

[SanSaiExPat]

It is obvious that idiots on both sides couldn't find the middle ground. Prayuth was simply forced into it. Those anti-coup posters haven't got the clue what was going on behind the scenes. Pathetic individuals who support UDD/Red mob militants would rather a start civil war in Thailand instead of compromising. Anyway I hope the general takes tough approach and wipes off militants and terrorists on both sides completely off the Thai political landscape. I'm certain that the majority of Thais will back up Prayuth and the army.

"I'm certain that the majority of Thais will back up Prayuth and the army". Really? What makes you so cock sure of that? Most of the Thai's I know are aware that Prayuth was behind the crackdowns on the Red Shirt uprisings of April 2009 and April/May 2010.

[Changoverandout]

 

a wonderful reporter

That's debateable.

 

Mas'debateable

[djjamie]

Yes, saw it on Thai PBS. Also seen there: "May 22, 2014 9:14 pm The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council issued a statement ordering all schools in the country to close for three days from May 23-25." Good to know for parents of school going children.

It is possible that some international schools will open tomorrow. The army spokesman just said private & public schools #Thailand #ThaiCoup

<EDIT> Apologies…Update

RT @jplotnick: Message from Bkk Prep Headmaster is that all schools including International must close #ThaiCoup #Thailand

Edited May 22, 2014 by djjamie

[Piichai]

What's with the debate about the US denying it's a coup? The army has already said it's a coup.

Some people really do think too much.

As far as US aid is concerned, it doesn't matter what Thailand says; it only matters what the US says.

Nothing to debate really.

Think about Obama's response to some recent coups.

[SanSaiExPat]

It is obvious that idiots on both sides couldn't find the middle ground. Prayuth was simply forced into it. Those anti-coup posters haven't got the clue what was going on behind the scenes. Pathetic individuals who support UDD/Red mob militants would rather a start civil war in Thailand instead of compromising. Anyway I hope the general takes tough approach and wipes off militants and terrorists on both sides completely off the Thai political landscape. I'm certain that the majority of Thais will back up Prayuth and the army.

Really? What makes you so cock sure of that? Most of the Thai's I know realize that Prayuth was behind the crackdowns on the "Red Shirts'" uprisings of April 2009 and April/May 2010

[Piichai]

Former head of the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order Chalerm Yoobamrung and his sons were arrested by soldiers and escorted to the First Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guards.

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-22

How long was this one in coming????

Wonder what they found in his house.

[HUAHIN62]

USA will need a new statement tomorrow? US says no coup in Thailand

Don't hold your breath until today according to the US there have been no coup in Egypt and the Ukraine.

[esprit]

most international schools stated their half termbreak today

Yes, saw it on Thai PBS. Also seen there: "May 22, 2014 9:14 pm The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council issued a statement ordering all schools in the country to close for three days from May 23-25." Good to know for parents of school going children.

It is possible that some international schools will open tomorrow. The army spokesman just said private & public schools #Thailand #ThaiCoup

<EDIT> Apologies…Update

RT @jplotnick: Message from Bkk Prep Headmaster is that all schools including International must close #ThaiCoup #Thailand

[SanSaiExPat]

Honestly, I am not sure that at this moment it's advisable to post opinions on a public forum.

Or as my Thai wife would say, "Daddy, you talk too much." 555

[monkeycountry]

Internet will not close down. Remember banks, ATMs, the stock exchange etc. will not function without internet, so internet stays on.

[chrisrazz]

It's tempting to call this the death of democracy in Thailand, but you can't kill what was never alive.

Several people on the forum are using the analogy of the army as a 'father' intervening to break up a squabble between the 'children', and of course that is exactly right. In real democracies the army comes under the control of the elected government, whereas in the sham 'democracy' of Thailand it is the other way round.

This system will never and could never work. Thailand is fated to have coup after coup after coup, and as a country it will slowly sink further into the mire, as other countries which have stable systems of government - either democracies or autocracies - continue to progress.

Thailand: the country that just can't make up its mind.

Thailand makes it mind up at elections. Indecision is not the issue. It's the people who are elected and/or not elected that provide the problem. And, Thailand has done better than many countries in recent years despite this.

[telldem]

Clowns

[Dario]

Yes, saw it on Thai PBS. Also seen there: "May 22, 2014 9:14 pm The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council issued a statement ordering all schools in the country to close for three days from May 23-25." Good to know for parents of school going children.

It is possible that some international schools will open tomorrow. The army spokesman just said private & public schools #Thailand #ThaiCoup

<EDIT> Apologies…Update

RT @jplotnick: Message from Bkk Prep Headmaster is that all schools including International must close #ThaiCoup #Thailand

I dunno. The order reads, I quote" all schools". That means all schools, private and public, even the most prestigious like ISB and the like. My little daughter goes to a private school, she will remain at home tomorrow.

[mania]

Thailand 2014 Coup: Expect for the Worst

[city]

CNN just did a live interview with a former CIA spook based in Bangkok who runs a political risk consultancy. He said this coup is quite different from the 2006 coup in that the army deployment is truly broad nation-wide, and that his sources tell him the army has mobilized in a big way in Khon Kaen, NE Thailand, and in the north.

This one might just be more serious and last longer than the last one.

Khon Kaen is open for business in some of the town... Here a couple of fingers Prayuth

[Sheryl]

What's with the debate about the US denying it's a coup? The army has already said it's a coup.

Some people really do think too much.

As far as US aid is concerned, it doesn't matter what Thailand says; it only matters what the US says.

Nothing to debate really.

Think about Obama's response to some recent coups.

What "US aid" are you referring to? Thailand gets little or no US foreign assistance AFAIK.....

[rreddin]

man, what happens now? So there will be an interim government installed, elections in say 6-9 months, some red/Thaksin proxy party back in blah blah rinse and repeat

As I understand it, the constitution has been suspended. Technically, Thailand is just an area drawn on a map. The law of unintended consequences may come into play.

[mania]

What "US aid" are you referring to? Thailand gets little or no US foreign assistance AFAIK.....

Military Aid

Also in such a case if coup was deemed to have occurred economic sanctions could be set in place

Older article

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/09/reinvigorating-the-u-s-thailand-alliance

The military coup in 2006 weakened the relationship,

but the return of a newly elected civilian government may

present an opening for the U.S. to reinvigorate economic,

political, and military relations with Thailand.

Edited May 22, 2014 by mania

[Kooweerup]

Yes, saw it on Thai PBS. Also seen there: "May 22, 2014 9:14 pm The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council issued a statement ordering all schools in the country to close for three days from May 23-25." Good to know for parents of school going children.

It is possible that some international schools will open tomorrow. The army spokesman just said private & public schools #Thailand #ThaiCoup

<EDIT> ApologiesUpdate

RT @jplotnick: Message from Bkk Prep Headmaster is that all schools including International must close #ThaiCoup #Thailand

I dunno. The order reads, I quote" all schools". That means all schools, private and public, even the most prestigious like ISB and the like. My little daughter goes to a private school, she will remain at home tomorrow.

Yes true. Only military announcements all all t.v channels in chiangmai and all schools ordered closed until further notice. Appears children and thier education are going to suffer under this dictatorship. Edited May 22, 2014 by Kooweerup

[Jip99]

Social media saying schools closed until Monday.

[jmccarty]

The dog's gotta pee still and its 10:00, do I dare challenge the army on this one?

[Piichai]

Weird... we have Happy Home Cable in Bangkok... 80 some channels.

Of those, all the Thai channels and some of the international channels are gone... except for periodic Army announcements.

But maybe 10 or so international channels are still coming thru -- Arirang, Animax, SyFy, Universal Channel, Fox News, BBC News and even Channel News Asia.

You get Syfy?

&lt;deleted&gt; True...

[airconsult]

I missed this earlier until it turned up in newsfeed...

RT@sunaibkk: Protest camp at Chaengwattana cleared by soldiers. Monk Buddhaisara is military custody. #coup #Thailand

[Lite Beer]

Army chief seizes power when government insists to stay on in power

BANGKOK: -- Army commander-in-chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha decided to seize power after head of the caretaker government's team in the dialogue insisted to stay on in power and would not resign.

Kom Chad Luk newspapers quoted an informed source as saying that Gen Prayuth has asked the caretaker Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri if the caretaker would step down or not to pave the way for the smooth nomination of an interim prime minister with full power to run the country, he was replied that at the moment the caretaker cabinet wouldn’t resign.

The army chief was then heard to tell the caretaker minister that then he would seize power.
He then told the Election Commission and the Senate to leave the meeting room and other representatives escorted to another room.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-seizes-power-government-insists-stay-power/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=army-chief-seizes-power-government-insists-stay-power

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-22

[fab4]

What's with the debate about the US denying it's a coup? The army has already said it's a coup.

Some people really do think too much.

As far as US aid is concerned, it doesn't matter what Thailand says; it only matters what the US says.

Nothing to debate really.

Think about Obama's response to some recent coups.

What "US aid" are you referring to? Thailand gets little or no US foreign assistance AFAIK.....

I'll think you'll find they're talking military aid. For example a quick google found that the US gave $5,695,000 to Thailand in military aid in 2010 (mmm) Don't how many generals that equates to though................................

[deepcell]

Very bad news! I hope the country recover from this turmoil ASAP. I love this Thailand, and of course I do not want to see all this happening.

[pedro01]

Thailand 2014 Coup: Expect for the Worst

Just more speculative nonsense.

[Kooweerup]

Chalerm and son arrested.

Made my day!

What's your source??? Son, which one? He's got two.

Check the TVF Live Feed.

Turns out both sons.

Yes, saw it on Thai PBS. Also seen there: "May 22, 2014 9:14 pm The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council issued a statement ordering all schools in the country to close for three days from May 23-25." Good to know for parents of school going children.

what have the children done to have education cancelled. Is this the new future in Thailand?