Thailand Live Saturday 24 May 2014

[Lite Beer]

AFTERMATH
Key figures report to NPOMC
The Nation

A van believed to be carrying former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at the Royal Thai Army auditorium in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Yingluck and Niwattumrong among politicians summoned; some TV broadcast allowed

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728686-key-figures-report-to-npomc/

[Lite Beer]

AFTER COUP
Junta wants sweeping reforms before election
The Nation

A soldier receives flowers outside the Army Club yesterday from a group of people supporting Thursday

BANGKOK: -- Payment of debt to rice farmers should be made in 20 days: Prayuth

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728689-junta-wants-sweeping-reforms-before-election/

[Lite Beer]

COUP
Pillay warns of human rights violation
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Friday warned Thailand on the possible breach of the international human rights law, concerning the restrictions on fundamental freedoms and the detention of senior politicians and civilians.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728690-pillay-warns-of-human-rights-violation/

[Lite Beer]

As TV screens go blank, social media works overtime
Asina Pornwasin,
Kornchanok Raksaseri
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Once the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) was formed after the seizure of power by Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday, normal broadcasting on all TV channels was stopped, and everyone stayed tuned to social media for minute-by-minute updates. Social-media timelines were flooded with new messages every second.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728692-as-tv-screens-go-blank-social-media-works-overtime/

[Lite Beer]

PROTESTERS
Last groups of protesters get marching orders
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The last groups of protesters from both sides of the political divide left their rally sites yesterday, as police and soldiers were sent to dismantle their barricades, bunkers and makeshift camps.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728694-last-groups-of-protesters-get-marching-orders/

[Lite Beer]

International community slams coup
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign leaders call for early elections; warn their citizens against travelling

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728697-international-community-slams-coup/

[Lite Beer]

Catch me if you can: red leader
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red Sunday Group leader Sombat Boonngam-anong is the first person on the list of 114 summoned by the military junta yesterday who has publicly refused to report, saying that staging a coup was illegitimate. He challenged the junta on Twitter and Facebook to catch him if they can.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728696-catch-me-if-you-can-red-leader/

[Lite Beer]

Reds under close scrutiny; borders closed
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The military is going after prominent red shirts by issuing summons, raids, detention and the closure of some border crossings in the wake of Thursday's power seizure.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728700-reds-under-close-scrutiny;-borders-closed/

[Lite Beer]

Military's decisive mood at stalled talks led to seizure
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Second Deputy Senate Speaker Peerasak Porchit sensed something unusual when he attended the second round of talks on Thursday between seven parties on how to resolve the country's political deadlock with Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728699-militarys-decisive-mood-at-stalled-talks-led-to-seizure/

[Lite Beer]

Troops clear out rally site on Aksa Road
The Nation

Not long after the Army announced its seizure of power at 4.30pm on Thursday, troops started getting the red-shirt crowd on Utthayan (Aksa) Road, to the west of Bangkok, to disperse.

Earlier, just before the soldiers arrived, red-shirt leader Prasit Chaisrisa announced on stage that he wanted the crowds to stay, but not put up a fight against the troops. After that the red-shirt leaders held an urgent, brief meeting, before deciding to "keep on fighting".

Later, a series of loud bangs were heard, with some people saying that unknown people had set off firecrackers. It was previously speculated that they were warning shots, but this happened before the troops arrived.

Upon hearing the loud explosions, many red shirts and members of the media began running away, though several others sat down before soldiers arrived and ordered them to lie down. Some red-shirt protesters were also seen kneeling with their hands behind their heads, depending on the orders given by the soldiers in charge. Members of the media were told to leave the area and were stopped from taking photographs or video clips of the military operation.

One of the red-shirt leaders, Thanawut Wichaidit, was later heard telling the troops to apprehend the leaders on stage and leave the ordinary protesters alone.

After a while, everybody was led out of Aksa Road through Buddha Mondhol 3 Road, before the road connecting to the nearby Thawee Watthana district canal was blocked to traffic.

-- The Nation 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

Several retired senior police officers summoned in move to curb influence
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The list of people summoned by the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) includes several retired senior police officers who are believed still to wield power and have the potential to recruit men and acquire weapons.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728702-several-retired-senior-police-officers-summoned-in-move-to-curb-influence/

[Lite Beer]

COUP
Coping with the curfew
The Nation

MRT train schedules

BANGKOK: -- Businesses have adjusted their schedules to meet the curfew, imposed during 10pm to 5am.

Bangkok Airways waives fees for rebooking and refunding

Bangkok Airways waives fees for rebooking and refunding for all passengers who wish to amend their travel plans or cancel flights. Rebooking flights or refunds can be processed without charges for passengers holding Bangkok Airways tickets for travel up to May 31.

Passengers can make any necessary changes by contacting their travel agent or call Bangkok Airways's Call Centre on 1771 or E-mail at [email protected]

THAI rebooking

Thai Airways International waives rebooking and refunding charges for travellers, whose travelling plans are booked for May 23-May 21. They can reschedule flights until the end of June.

The refunding charges may stay if the tickets were issued by overseas sales agents.

Contact Call Centre at 02-356-111.

MRT

Bangkok Metro announced today that MRT services will start from 7am to 9pm today, until further notice. (See the photo attached for the last train from each station for Mon-Fri, starting from today.)

Central Group

All department stores, speciality stores and shopping malls will be open as per normal hours and will close at 8pm. However, FamilyMart will be opening from 5am to 8pm.

Mall Group

All shopping complexes in Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima will be opened at normal opening hours and will close at 8pm.

Big C Supercentre adjusts opening hours

Big C Supercentre, Big C Extra, Big C Jumbo will open during 7am-8pm.

Big C Market opens during 8am-pm.

Mini Big C opens during 5am-10pm.

Branches at shopping complexes will open accordingly to the complexes’.

McDonalds’

For safety of its staff, all restaurants in Greater Bangkok will be open from 7am to 8pm.

Branches at shopping complexes will operate accordingly to the complexes’ opening hours.

The 24-hour branches in upcountry will open during 7am to 10pm.

-- The Nation 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

Tourism sector urges formation of new govt soon
Suchat Sritama
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The tourism sector has called for the urgent formation of a new government to lure back tourists so the industry can continue to grow.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728704-tourism-sector-urges-formation-of-new-govt-soon/

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Prayuth's 1st order of govt biz would most likely be to make the outstanding rice pledge payments to farmers still waiting

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Hypocrisy can amplify human rights problems
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Coup or no coup, Thais have a big problem with basic principles

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728706-hypocrisy-can-amplify-human-rights-problems/

[Lite Beer]

Consular affairs office on Chaengwattana road to resume normal services on 2 June

BANGKOK, 23 May 2014 (NNT) – The Department of Consular Affairs has announced that its office on Chaengwattana road will be officially opened on 2 June 2014 after the anti-government protesters vacated the road.

The department said the Chaengwattana consular affairs office would remain closed until 30 May for security check and system test. During that period, the general public can receive services from the department at the following places in Bangkok:

Temporary passport offices at Bang Na, Pinklao and the Government Complex, B Building, 7th floor, Monday – Friday from 8.30-3.30 PM.

For those who have booked a position in the queue online on www.consular.go.th, they can proceed with their passport application at Esplanade (3rd floor) on Ratchadaphisek road. The department also has an office on the G floor at Esplanade for relevant services.

-- NNT 2014-05-23

[Lite Beer]

Gen.Prayuth: Junta will not stay long

BANGKOK, 23 May 2014 (NNT) - Head of the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) Gen.Prayuth Chan-ocha informs foreign envoys that the council will not be in power for long and will help reform Thailand.

Gen.Prayuth on Friday invited ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Thailand to a meeting to explain the army's reasons to seize power from the government on 22 May. The army chief said a coup was necessary since there was no solution to the political conflicts and Thailand was unable to move forward. The army had decided to step in in an effort to administer the country and take care of pressing problems such as the rice pledging scheme.

The council performed government duties but did not intend to stay long, Gen.Prayuth reiterated.

Asked for how long the council would be in power, the NPOMC head said it depended on how long the conflicts would take before they were resolved. Gen.Prayuth confirmed international obligations would continue as normal and ensured security for foreigners in Thailand.

A reform council and the National Legislative Assembly would be set up simultaneously, the army chief said.

-- NNT 2014-05-23

[Lite Beer]

Baht rebounds fast after dip on news: BOT
Business Reporters
The Nation

Roong Mallikamas

BANGKOK: -- Thursday 'panic' short-lived, currency bounces back; SET closes down 0.6%

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728711-baht-rebounds-fast-after-dip-on-news-bot/

[Lite Beer]

Magazine editor, man arrested following protest against coup

BANGKOK: -- The editor of Fah Diew Kan magazine and another man have been arrested after they rallied against the coup.

Thanapol Iewsakul, the magazine editor, was arrested at 7:30 pm Friday after he joined a rally against the coup in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.

Earlier, Apichart Pongsawat was also arrested at the rally after he carried a sign in protest of the coup.

-- The Nation 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

Group rallies against coup

BANGKOK: -- A group of people rallied in front of Bangkok Art and Culture Gallery to protest against the military takeover.
Holding placards which read “100 years of Martial Law”, “Stop the Coup by Martial Law” “Martial Law = Coup In Disguise”, the protesters from the June 24 Democracy group shouted slogans against the coup.

About 20 army troops and policemen were deployed at the scene to observe the rally which was peaceful.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/group-rallies-coup/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=group-rallies-coup

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

Chaturon says he prefers to be picked up by the military

BANGKOK: -- Former Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng has voiced his opposition to the May 22 coup and said that he would not report to the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council as summoned.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728717-chaturon-says-he-prefers-to-be-picked-up-by-the-military/

[Lite Beer]

Thailand coup: Former leaders to establish government in exile, lawyer says

Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer has revealed Thaksin, recently ousted leader Yingluck Shinawatra and other leaders of the sharpening divide in Thailand will establish a government in exile.

Robert Amsterdam says so far there is no identifiable host state but it is believed by Red Shirts that there are a number of nations set to offer a safe place.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-24/former-thailand-pm-to-establish-government-in-exile-lawyer/5475648

--ABC 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

RT@panuw: Thai Junta is currently meeting with television executives at 1Regiment to sort out broadcast arrangement in post-coup Thailand

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Former Thai PM Yingluck 'detained by military'

BANGKOK, May 24, 2014 (AFP) - Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been detained by the military junta that seized power in a coup, a source in her Puea Thai party said on Saturday.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

RT@@tukky_nt [Graphic] Coup Administration #Coup2014 pic.twitter.com/nQ8h55ESYc

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: European Union Film Festival at SF World CentralWorld until 5 June. This weekend at 2:30pm, 4:30pm & 7pm. Free tickets 30 mins beforehand

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RT@tukky_nt: Coup maker has allowed all 24 digital TV stations including TrueVision resume their broadcast: pic.twitter.com/GIVfk4Dslo RT @kritchanuth

[Lite Beer]

Pattaya Curfew continues despite pockets of resistance from Pattaya Red Shirts

PATTAYA:--The Curfew imposed by the Royal Thai Army continues around Thailand and here in Pattaya. With some exceptions, including travel to-and-from airports for those with valid air tickets, everyone must remain off the streets between 10pm and 5am.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728734-pattaya-curfew-continues-despite-pockets-of-resistance-from-pattaya-red-shirts/

[Lite Beer]

RT@tulsathit: On TV resuming, a decision has been made. Give it some time.

[Lite Beer]

NPOMC invites digital TV operators for talks before permission to resume broadcast; Big clean up operation at Govt Complex, Chaeng Wattana /MCOT