Thailand Live Friday 23 May 2014

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COUP
Army chief Prayuth seizes power
The Nation



Remaining 18 ex-ministers ordered to report to npomc; senior govt official Kittipong denies he is pm candidate; curfew imposed nationwide from 10pm to 5am until further notice; all protesters dispersed by soldiers

BANGKOK: -- Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday staged a coup to seize power after warring parties failed to reach a compromise to bring the country out of the months-long political crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728384-army-chief-prayuth-seizes-power/

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Thai army summons ex-PM Yingluck, others in Thaksin clan

BANGKOK, May 23, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's new junta ordered former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and three other relatives of controversial billionaire-turned-politician Thaksin Shinawatra to report to military authorities on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728386-thai-army-summons-ex-pm-yingluck-others-in-thaksin-clan/

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Thai army says will block social media over critical content

BANGKOK, May 23, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's new ruling junta on Friday warned it would block any social media platforms in the country found to carry content that incites violence or is critical of its military leaders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728387-thai-army-says-will-block-social-media-over-critical-content/

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POLITICS
All protesters dispersed by soldiers; PDRC jubilant
The Nation


Soldiers go on the stage to detain red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn and persuade all followers of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship to go home yesterday after the Army seized power. The UDD had been rallying on Utthayan (Aksa) Road in Na

Gunshots heard on Aksa road as red shirts, PDRC told to go home

BANGKOK: -- Pro-government red-shirt protesters at Aksa Road rally site began returning home yesterday after the Army seized power and soldiers were sent in to take control of the situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728388-all-protesters-dispersed-by-soldiers;-pdrc-jubilant/

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ARMY SMUGGLING
New cache of arms found
The Nation



Woman held on Wednesday admits redshirts links, says she armed herself after Rajamangala clash

BANGKOK: -- A JOINT military-police team launched two more raids and seized a cache of war weapons under the martial law as ordered by Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728389-new-cache-of-arms-found-in-bangkok/

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COMMENT
Let us not waste this opportunity for lasting change

BANGKOK: -- Whatever it is called, yesterday's "power seizure" - as termed by Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha - was not right under democratic principles. This seizure should not be allowed to continue for too long and power should be returned to the people as soon as possible.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728391-let-us-not-waste-this-opportunity-for-lasting-change-thai-comment/

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BAHT
Baht unlikely to weaken to 37 if political woes ease: CLSA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Forecasts that the baht could weaken to 37 per US dollar by the end of the year will prove wrong if Thailand's political problems ease and a temporary government is formed to improve fiscal policy, according to CLSA Securities (Thailand).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728392-baht-unlikely-to-weaken-to-37-if-political-woes-ease-clsa/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
To the world: Please don't become part of Thailand's internal affairs problem
Pornpimol Kanchanalak

BANGKOK: -- On Wednesday morning - the day after the Army Chief declared the martial law - Thailand was bombarded with criticism and warnings from overseas. The UN Secretary General, the US State Department, the European Union, etc, all decided to assume the role of big brother.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728393-to-the-world-please-dont-become-part-of-thailands-internal-affairs-problem/

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EDITORIAL
Time to declare truce in 'war on drugs'
The Nation

We need a new approach to stem the damage being done by the narcotics trade

BANGKOK: -- At roughly the same time the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime released its annual report on the narcotics trade, the London School of Economics (LSE), backed by five Nobel Prize-winning economists, issued another, calling for a change in mindset on the way the trade is handled.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728395-time-to-declare-truce-in-war-on-drugs-thai-editorial/

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Coup makers shut down schools from 23-25 May

BANGKOK, 23 May 2014 (NNT) – The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council orders all academic institutions to close from 23 – 25 May 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728397-coup-makers-shut-down-schools-from-23-25-may/

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Canadian gunshot victim seeks funding to help return to a normal life
WATCHARAPONG JINGKHAOJAI
THE NATION
CHIANG MAI



CHIANG MAI: -- SPEAKING FROM a wheelchair, a former Canadian teacher laments how stray bullets turned his life upside down last June.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728399-canadian-gunshot-victim-seeks-funding-to-help-return-to-a-normal-life-chiang-mai/

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Antibiotics spending to be halved
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has set a target to reduce spending on prescription antibiotic drugs by half in the next two years as a result of an increase in drug resistance among patients and a higher cost burden on the government, the National Drugs Development Board said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728400-thailand-antibiotics-spending-to-be-halved/

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EXCLUSIVE: Royal Thai Navy seize control of Pattaya Police Station



PATTAYA: -- In the hours after the Curfew was imposed in Pattaya and the rest of Thailand, reports came in of a seizure of Pattaya Police Station by members of the Royal Thai Navy, based in Sattahip, late on Thursday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728401-royal-thai-navy-seize-control-of-pattaya-police-station/

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GAS CUT-OFF
Egat readies
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) yesterday called a meeting of officials to work out preparatory measures to cope with a lengthy break in the supply of natural gas used in electricity production at a plant in Songkhla's Chana district.

The 28-day break was prompted by major maintenance at the plant until June 13, Egat official Woraphoj Inthong said.

He added that the break would mean a daily absence of 700 megawatts while the overall output in the Southern region was 2,300 megawatts, or 100MW short of the actual demand each day.

Egat said the demand of electricity would reach 3,000MW by 2017, when more power plants would be needed.


-- The Nation 2014-05-23

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Military man among suspects over mine-linked clashes
BOONCHU SRITRAIPOP
THE NATION



LOEI: -- POLICE HAVE sought arrest warrants for two suspects - including a military officer - for their alleged role in the recent attack on villagers engaged in a long dispute with a Loei-based mining firm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728402-loei-military-man-among-suspects-over-mine-linked-clashes/

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US denounces Thai coup, warns on relations

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 (AFP) - The United States warned Thursday it was reconsidering cooperation with ally Thailand after a military coup, which Secretary of State John Kerry denounced as having "no justification."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728403-us-denounces-thai-coup-warns-on-relations/

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Thai military coup draws international censure
by Boonradom Chitradon

BANGKOK, May 22, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's army chief seized power in a military coup Thursday, deposing its beleaguered civilian government in a bid to end deadly political turmoil but triggering US-led international censure.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728404-thai-military-coup-draws-international-censure/

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UPDATE:

NPOMC orders YIngluck, 23 others to report themselves

BANGKOK: -- The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council issued an order early Friday, summoning former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and 22 other persons to report themselves to the coup makers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728386-thai-army-summons-ex-pm-yingluck-others-in-thaksin-clan/page-2?p=7868255#entry7868255

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RT @RichardBarrow: Q&A @legriceur: Is it safe to go running in Lumpini? => Yes, plenty of people already there. Life goes on despite the #ThaiCoup #Bangkok

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Forty-one politicians including ex-PM Yingluck, key Pheu Thai Party members, ordered to report to NPOMC at Army Convention Hall at 10am /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: Q&A @JoAnnGraceSapio: Can I catch inter-provincial vans at Victory Monument? => All transport is running as normal #ThaiCoup #Bangkok

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UPDATE:

NPOMC orders YIngluck, Yaowapa, 21 others to report themselves
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council issued an order early Friday, summoning former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and 22 other persons to report themselves to the coup makers.

The order was issued at 1:30 am. It asked the persons on the list to turn up a the Army Auditorium in Theves at 10 am.

The full list is:

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728386-thai-army-summons-ex-pm-yingluck-others-in-thaksin-clan/page-6?p=7868879#entry7868879

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RT @RichardBarrow: 9:20am Workers are clearing bunkers & other obstacles left on Ratchadamnoen (Pic @7_preysor) http://t.co/rQC70RWbEX #Bangkok #ThaiCoup

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Thai Baht drops after announcement of coup



BANGKOK, 23 May 2014 (NNT) – Within half an hour of General Prayuth Chan-ocha's announcement of the declaration of the coup on national television yesterday (22 May 2014), the baht fell 0.3 percent against the U.S. dollar, down to 32.56 baht.

However the currency did not break recent lows, suggesting that some investors believe that the military's action could be a force in stabilizing the country.

Earlier this month, the currency hit its lowest point in three months at 32.63 per dollar. The baht, however, has still strengthened by 0.4 percent against the dollar this year.


-- NNT 2014-05-23

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UPDATE:

Junta summons Shinawatra clan to report today

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728386-thai-army-summons-ex-pm-yingluck-others-in-thaksin-clan/page-7?p=7869022#entry7869022

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BANGKOK: -- The military junta issued the latest announcement at 9 a.m. ordering 107 retired military officers, former ministers, hardcore redshirt leaders, PDRC core leaders, and top government officials to report to the junta at its Theves headquarters today at 10.00 a.m.

Summoned to report included former Defense Minister and Air Force chief ACM Sukampol Suwannathat, Sudarat Keyuraphand, THAI former board chairman Ampol Kitti-ampol, redshirt leader Kwanchai Praipana, redshirt chief security guard Aree Krainara, and Suporn Attawong.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/42626/

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-23

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National Peace, Order Maintaining Council urged pro / anti-govt protesters to end rallies and return home /The Nation

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RT @BTS_SkyTrain: Tonight the BTS SkyTrain operate services until 9.00 p.m.

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Airports still in service; Air Asia, Thai Airways say all flights operated

BANGKOK, 23 May 2014 (NNT) – The management of Suvarnabhumi Airport has already cooperated with the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council to ensure normal service for passengers, while management of Air Asia and Thai Airways have confirmed that the airlines are operating all flights as normal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728430-airports-in-thailand-still-in-service;-air-asia-thai-airways-say-all-flights-operated/

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Announcements no. 11 & 16: Cabinet terminated, permanent secretaries assigned ministers' duties

BANGKOK, 23 May 2014 (NNT) – The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council announced it was suspending the Constitution of Thailand B.E. 2550 but was leaving Article 2 intact, while the permanent secretaries of government ministries have been temporarily tasked with performing the functions of their respective ministers.

Announcement number 11 of the council supersedes the previously released announcement no. 5, which concerned the temporary suspension of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand. In accordance with the later announcement, the status of the caretaker Cabinet is terminated, while the Senate will continue to perform its functions with the existing number of senators.

All courts of law maintain their power in deliberating cases and issuing judgements based on the law and the announcements of the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council. All independent organizations and other agencies stipulated by the B.E. 2550 charter shall continue to function.

In order to ensure orderly procedure and continuation in national administration, the permanent secretary of each ministry has been assigned to conduct duties in place of his/her respective minister until further notice, according to announcement number 16 from the council.


-- NNT 2014-05-23