Thai army chief announces military coup

[mccw]

Sky news top story right now:

""David Moyes arrested after wine bar assult""

[Cuchulainn]

Yes yes yes yes

Rid the old guard

Make way for the new guard

Soo Soo Soo!!!

[FinChin67]

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

They can cut it off. It is pretty easy to control all internet traffic. Just think of China.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Based on the news report above, it sounds like the coup wouldn't necessarily have happened if the current "government" ministers had been willing to step down. But obviously, they weren't.

[bkkjames]

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?

Its one day unless you send your kids on sat and sunday?

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[seajae]

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

obviously you have a lot of red mates, the ones that killed and burnt Bangkok in 2010 then tried to blame the army because they actually stopped them and dared to shoot back and not run and hide like all the red leaders.

[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.

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................................

It's not just the cash;it's also "education." Quite a bit goes on when the big boats come to town.

[Fat Haggis]

One mustn't forget the position a lot of these young Thai Army soldiers find themselves in, as in they're now having to face the prospect of a Thai on Thai escalation of violence, due to today's event, something many are not looking forwards to, they're now between a rock and a hard place, loyalty to their Commanders, or to their villages, that is unless Prayuth was clever enough to make sure all the units in Bangkok were specifically chosen due to their hometown locations.

Soldiers typically are not trained for Internal Security roles, this is probably as hard on them as it is on the overall population.

[Piichai]

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

Just keeping them safe in case the 3rd hand tries anything.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Sorry Dr. Weng... your speaking engagement has been canceled!

Edited May 22, 2014 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[seajae]

hahahahahaha, the so called temporary part time pm has run off again into hiding and is refusing to go to meet the army, maybe he knows that he will have to answer for all the corruption he was involved in,

Edited May 22, 2014 by seajae

[Crushdepth]

Hey Jatuporn, beware of the coup

What a numpty.

Edited May 22, 2014 by Crushdepth

[MaxLee]

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.

To bloody h******ll with Commission called Election-Collection!!!!

[airconsult]

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................................

It's not just the cash;it's also "education." Quite a bit goes on when the big boats come to town.

I believe it also calls into question arms deals - spare parts, ammunition - I remember the RTA was buying Ukranian(?) APCs with german engines last time, when suddenly the german company wasn't allowed to supply the engines - couldn't get the export license from the german government.

Anyone know what deals could be affected this time?

[djjamie]

BREAKING NEWS NOW GUNFIRE IN BANGKOK

Link please? Nothing on twitter?

[Tatsujin]

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................................

About $1 for each of them, there are a lot of "chiefs" in all the services and Police lol

[lardyboy]

best way to solve this is split it up

[dotx]

Reading/hearing lots of rumors about internet connectivity being reduced or cancelled... That can't be right.

[djjamie]

BREAKING NEWS NOW GUNFIRE IN BANGKOK

Link please? Nothing on twitter?

Why do people demand a link !!

Because I have family in Bangkok mate and I want to ensure their safety.

Rumours on TVF are common though against rules.

Is that too much to ask?

[kimamey]

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

obviously you have a lot of red mates, the ones that killed and burnt Bangkok in 2010 then tried to blame the army because they actually stopped them and dared to shoot back and not run and hide like all the red leaders.

To be fair in the few cases that have been investigated the ruling was that they were shot by the army but as far as know none of them were engaging in anything that would give permission under the ROE for them to be shot. I've no idea what's happened to the other cases. It would be good to find out what happened.

[dcpo]

Yet again, the political crisis pits a Bangkok-based royalist elite against the billionaire family of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. It's amazing how many foreign media continue to refer to this mysterious elite, as though Thailand's problems really are that black and white. As though no other Thais could possibly reject Thaksin, his cronies, and all they stand for.

There are plenty of reasons why ordinary Thais would dislike Thaksin, just like there plenty of reasons for ordinary Thais to support him. But the ordinary Thais aren't going to be in power, whoever wins. The media tends to focus on the players rather than the pieces.

Edited May 22, 2014 by dcpo

[dudopode]

I have just been told that one of my student s friend as been shot dead today. I don't know how it happened but it was related to the red shirts and the army. All I know. The girl was having her bd tomorrow.

It s safe and sage to close the schools tomorrow as we have NO idea what is happening now.

Poor girl. Sad times ahead again for Thailand. Hopefully it is not all on vein to see the same shit happening again.

Am very pessimistic though.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[taony]

bangkok is a big place. either post some details or hold on until you do.

[djjamie]

MESSAGE COMES FROM FRIENDS IN BANGKOK VIA LINE

Thank you. I will keep an eye out on twitter.

If you have any locations or updates I am sure we would all appreciate it due to family and friends in Bangkok that I can inform.

Thanks again.

[chotthee]

Social media saying schools closed until Monday.

Education is secondary to Thais.

[philw]

Based on the news report above, it sounds like the coup wouldn't necessarily have happened if the current "government" ministers had been willing to step down. But obviously, they weren't.

Army officer tells elected and constitutionally empowered Government to resign.

Er, why should they ?

[fab4]

Sorry Dr. Weng... your speaking engagement has been canceled!

PS1373.jpg PS1374.jpg

Those images are going to go down well in the international community. The French and German governments have already condemned the coup. Don't expect to hear much from that tw@t in the UK.

[DrTuner]

Reading/hearing lots of rumors about internet connectivity being reduced or cancelled... That can't be right.

If anything, seems to have improved. Was totally stuffed before 10pm.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

BREAKING NEWS NOW GUNFIRE IN BANGKOK

Link please? Nothing on twitter?

Why do people demand a link !!

Because I have family in Bangkok mate and I want to ensure their safety.

Rumours on TVF are common though against rules.

Is that too much to ask?

It's pretty darned quiet outside right now in my little part of central BKK...

But it's a big city...Who knows what's going on out there.

[seajae]

live newsasia in Bangkok are saying nothing about any shooting and they are on a live feed, probably just sh*t stirring