Find me on facebook www.facebook.com/shamshad.haider https://www.youtube.com/shamshad14
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Thai army invokes martial law to quell unrest
BANGKOK: Thailand's army declared martial law across the deeply divided kingdom Tuesday to restore order after months of deadly anti-government protests, deploying armed troops in the capital but insisting the move was “not a coup”.
Gun-wielding soldiers, backed by a military vehicle mounted with a machine gun, were seen in the heart of the city's retail and hotel district. Troops were also positioned at television stations and the army said the media would be censored.
The dismissal of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra earlier this month in a controversial court ruling has sent tensions soaring in the kingdom, which has endured years of political turmoil.
“Red Shirt” supporters of Yingluck and her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed as premier in a 2006 coup, have warned of the threat of civil war if power is handed to an unelected leader, as the opposition demands.
Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy and a key US ally, has been without a fully functioning government since December, disrupting government spending, spooking investors and deterring foreign tourists.
The country is now staring at recession according to latest growth figures this week and Japan, whose companies have some of the biggest foreign investment in Thailand, expressed its concern at the unfolding crisis.
“We have grave concerns about the situation in Thailand,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo. “We once again strongly urge all parties concerned to act in a self-restrained manner without using violence.”
The leader of a Red Shirts protest in Bangkok said soldiers had encircled them, and the government said the military was trying to convince them to disperse.
“We have been surrounded by troops on all sides,” rally leader Jatuporn Prompan told AFP.
'No need to panic'
An announcement on military-run television said martial law had been invoked “to restore peace and order for people from all sides” after seven months of protests that have left 28 people dead and hundreds wounded.
“This is not a coup,” it said. “The public do not need to panic but can still live their lives as normal.”Despite their assurances, concerns a military takeover was under way were fuelled by the troop presence and an order from army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Chaan that media would be censored in the interests of “national security”.
The country's embattled government was not consulted in advance about the imposition of martial law, said Paradorn Pattanatabut, chief security adviser to new prime minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.
“The caretaker government still exists with Niwattumrong as caretaker prime minister. Everything is normal except the military is responsible for all national security issues,” he said.
A top aide to the premier said they were holding a “mini-cabinet meeting now in a safe house” and would make an official announcement later in the day.
Troops report for duty
In a separate televised statement, the army chief announced that the government security agency overseeing the handling of the protests had been suspended.
“All army, air force and navy personnel should return to their respective units for duty,” Prayut added.
Under Thailand's constitution, the military has the right to declare martial law — which gives the armed forces control of nationwide security —if urgently needed.
The move risks angering supporters of the government if it is seen as tantamount to a coup.
But the movement gave a cautious initial reaction to the news.
“With the declaration of martial law the government still exists and the constitutional laws still exist, so basically it is not against our anti-coup stance,” senior Red Shirts leader Nattawut Saikuar told AFP.
Thailand's army previously declared martial law in September 2006 following the bloodless military coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra.
The kingdom has suffered years of political turmoil since his overthrow, which angered supporters of the billionaire tycoon-turned-populist politician.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
- Jun 21 - Jun 28 (1)
- Jun 14 - Jun 21 (3)
- Jun 7 - Jun 14 (3)
- Mar 15 - Mar 22 (8)
- Mar 8 - Mar 15 (53)
- Mar 1 - Mar 8 (20)
- Feb 23 - Mar 1 (10)
- Feb 16 - Feb 23 (19)
- Feb 9 - Feb 16 (17)
- Feb 2 - Feb 9 (38)
- Jan 26 - Feb 2 (9)
- Jan 19 - Jan 26 (9)
- Jan 12 - Jan 19 (23)
- Jan 5 - Jan 12 (14)
- Dec 29 - Jan 5 (10)
- Dec 22 - Dec 29 (14)
- Dec 15 - Dec 22 (9)
- Dec 8 - Dec 15 (6)
- Dec 1 - Dec 8 (14)
- Nov 24 - Dec 1 (30)
- Nov 17 - Nov 24 (36)
- Nov 10 - Nov 17 (6)
- Nov 3 - Nov 10 (16)
- Oct 27 - Nov 3 (36)
- Oct 20 - Oct 27 (21)
- Oct 13 - Oct 20 (44)
- Oct 6 - Oct 13 (17)
- Sep 29 - Oct 6 (14)
- Sep 22 - Sep 29 (30)
- Sep 15 - Sep 22 (17)
- Sep 8 - Sep 15 (24)
- Sep 1 - Sep 8 (41)
- Aug 25 - Sep 1 (24)
- Aug 18 - Aug 25 (28)
- Aug 11 - Aug 18 (15)
- Aug 4 - Aug 11 (13)
- Jul 28 - Aug 4 (8)
- Jul 21 - Jul 28 (2)
- Jul 14 - Jul 21 (7)
- Jul 7 - Jul 14 (3)
- Jun 30 - Jul 7 (8)
- Jun 2 - Jun 9 (7)
- May 26 - Jun 2 (1)
- May 19 - May 26 (14)
- May 12 - May 19 (12)
- May 5 - May 12 (21)
- Apr 28 - May 5 (41)
- Apr 21 - Apr 28 (25)
- Apr 14 - Apr 21 (38)
- Apr 7 - Apr 14 (38)
- Mar 31 - Apr 7 (17)
- Mar 24 - Mar 31 (26)
- Mar 17 - Mar 24 (12)
- Mar 10 - Mar 17 (26)
- Mar 3 - Mar 10 (10)
- Feb 24 - Mar 3 (39)
- Feb 17 - Feb 24 (19)
- Feb 10 - Feb 17 (23)
- Feb 3 - Feb 10 (44)
- Jan 27 - Feb 3 (15)
- Jan 20 - Jan 27 (25)
- Jan 13 - Jan 20 (26)
- Jan 6 - Jan 13 (4)
- Dec 30 - Jan 6 (12)
- Dec 23 - Dec 30 (22)
- Dec 16 - Dec 23 (1)
- Dec 9 - Dec 16 (12)
- Dec 2 - Dec 9 (32)
- Nov 25 - Dec 2 (40)
- Nov 18 - Nov 25 (24)
- Nov 11 - Nov 18 (48)
- Nov 4 - Nov 11 (20)
- Oct 28 - Nov 4 (29)
- Oct 21 - Oct 28 (39)
- Oct 14 - Oct 21 (32)
- Oct 7 - Oct 14 (41)
- Sep 30 - Oct 7 (25)
- Sep 23 - Sep 30 (26)
- Sep 16 - Sep 23 (34)
- Sep 9 - Sep 16 (29)
- Sep 2 - Sep 9 (40)
- Aug 26 - Sep 2 (20)
- Aug 19 - Aug 26 (10)
- Aug 12 - Aug 19 (21)
- Aug 5 - Aug 12 (46)
- Jul 29 - Aug 5 (10)
- Jul 22 - Jul 29 (2)
- Jul 15 - Jul 22 (8)
- Jul 8 - Jul 15 (13)
- Jul 1 - Jul 8 (16)
- Jun 24 - Jul 1 (24)
- Jun 17 - Jun 24 (6)
- Jun 10 - Jun 17 (38)
- Jun 3 - Jun 10 (46)
- May 27 - Jun 3 (30)
- May 20 - May 27 (17)
- May 13 - May 20 (29)
- May 6 - May 13 (10)
- Apr 29 - May 6 (31)
- Apr 22 - Apr 29 (50)
- Apr 15 - Apr 22 (16)
- Apr 8 - Apr 15 (37)
- Apr 1 - Apr 8 (48)
- Mar 25 - Apr 1 (36)
- Mar 18 - Mar 25 (40)
- Mar 11 - Mar 18 (38)
- Mar 4 - Mar 11 (14)
- Feb 25 - Mar 4 (34)
- Feb 18 - Feb 25 (34)
- Feb 11 - Feb 18 (15)
- Feb 4 - Feb 11 (46)
- Jan 28 - Feb 4 (16)
- Jan 21 - Jan 28 (10)
- Jan 14 - Jan 21 (11)
- Jan 7 - Jan 14 (24)
- Dec 31 - Jan 7 (10)
- Dec 24 - Dec 31 (11)
- Dec 17 - Dec 24 (21)
- Dec 10 - Dec 17 (27)
- Dec 3 - Dec 10 (19)
- Nov 26 - Dec 3 (22)
- Nov 19 - Nov 26 (18)
- Nov 12 - Nov 19 (30)
- Nov 5 - Nov 12 (54)
- Oct 29 - Nov 5 (47)
- Oct 22 - Oct 29 (28)
- Oct 15 - Oct 22 (45)
- Oct 8 - Oct 15 (41)
- Oct 1 - Oct 8 (38)
- Sep 24 - Oct 1 (40)
- Sep 17 - Sep 24 (99)
- Sep 10 - Sep 17 (18)
- Sep 3 - Sep 10 (9)
- Aug 27 - Sep 3 (26)
- Aug 20 - Aug 27 (28)
- Aug 13 - Aug 20 (19)
- Aug 6 - Aug 13 (41)
- Jul 30 - Aug 6 (4)
- Jul 16 - Jul 23 (22)
- Jul 9 - Jul 16 (23)
- Jul 2 - Jul 9 (9)
- Jun 25 - Jul 2 (4)
- Jun 18 - Jun 25 (10)
- Jun 11 - Jun 18 (13)
- Jun 4 - Jun 11 (40)
- May 21 - May 28 (31)
- May 14 - May 21 (41)
- May 7 - May 14 (34)
- Apr 30 - May 7 (33)
- Apr 23 - Apr 30 (32)
- Apr 16 - Apr 23 (38)
- Apr 9 - Apr 16 (47)
- Apr 2 - Apr 9 (19)
- Mar 26 - Apr 2 (37)
- Mar 19 - Mar 26 (20)
- Mar 12 - Mar 19 (32)
- Mar 5 - Mar 12 (32)
- Feb 26 - Mar 5 (26)
- Feb 19 - Feb 26 (63)
- Feb 12 - Feb 19 (20)
- Feb 5 - Feb 12 (2)
- Jan 29 - Feb 5 (16)
- Jan 22 - Jan 29 (24)
- Jan 15 - Jan 22 (31)
- Jan 8 - Jan 15 (20)
- Jan 1 - Jan 8 (11)
- Dec 25 - Jan 1 (30)
- Dec 18 - Dec 25 (48)
- Dec 11 - Dec 18 (44)
- Dec 4 - Dec 11 (74)
- Nov 27 - Dec 4 (50)
- Nov 20 - Nov 27 (39)
- Nov 13 - Nov 20 (73)
- Nov 6 - Nov 13 (51)
- Oct 30 - Nov 6 (56)
- Oct 23 - Oct 30 (33)
- Oct 16 - Oct 23 (52)
- Oct 9 - Oct 16 (70)
- Oct 2 - Oct 9 (56)
- Sep 25 - Oct 2 (66)
- Sep 18 - Sep 25 (52)
- Sep 11 - Sep 18 (21)
- Sep 4 - Sep 11 (44)
- Aug 28 - Sep 4 (25)
- Aug 21 - Aug 28 (27)
- Aug 14 - Aug 21 (27)
- Aug 7 - Aug 14 (43)
- Jul 31 - Aug 7 (24)
- Jul 24 - Jul 31 (24)
- Jul 17 - Jul 24 (2)
- Jul 10 - Jul 17 (6)
- Jul 3 - Jul 10 (23)
- Jun 26 - Jul 3 (38)
- Jun 19 - Jun 26 (14)
- Jun 12 - Jun 19 (14)
- Jun 5 - Jun 12 (24)
- May 29 - Jun 5 (29)
- May 22 - May 29 (69)
- May 15 - May 22 (81)
- May 8 - May 15 (35)
- May 1 - May 8 (21)
- Apr 24 - May 1 (31)
- Apr 17 - Apr 24 (25)
- Apr 10 - Apr 17 (23)
- Apr 3 - Apr 10 (38)
- Mar 27 - Apr 3 (50)
- Mar 20 - Mar 27 (7)
- Mar 13 - Mar 20 (41)
- Mar 6 - Mar 13 (24)
- Feb 28 - Mar 6 (18)
- Feb 21 - Feb 28 (20)
- Feb 14 - Feb 21 (1)
- Feb 7 - Feb 14 (51)
- Jan 31 - Feb 7 (30)
- Jan 24 - Jan 31 (24)
- Jan 17 - Jan 24 (5)
- Jan 10 - Jan 17 (17)
- Jan 3 - Jan 10 (36)
- Dec 27 - Jan 3 (23)
- Dec 20 - Dec 27 (16)
- Dec 13 - Dec 20 (39)
- Dec 6 - Dec 13 (37)
- Nov 29 - Dec 6 (48)
- Nov 22 - Nov 29 (42)
- Nov 15 - Nov 22 (29)
- Nov 8 - Nov 15 (17)
- Nov 1 - Nov 8 (11)
- Oct 25 - Nov 1 (27)
- Oct 18 - Oct 25 (7)
- Oct 11 - Oct 18 (26)
- Oct 4 - Oct 11 (54)
- Sep 27 - Oct 4 (21)
- Sep 20 - Sep 27 (63)
- Sep 13 - Sep 20 (25)
- Sep 6 - Sep 13 (16)
- Aug 30 - Sep 6 (11)
- Aug 23 - Aug 30 (12)
- Aug 16 - Aug 23 (11)
- Aug 9 - Aug 16 (17)
- Aug 2 - Aug 9 (37)
- Jul 26 - Aug 2 (16)
- Jul 19 - Jul 26 (10)
- Jul 5 - Jul 12 (38)
- Jun 28 - Jul 5 (20)
- Jun 21 - Jun 28 (9)
- Jun 14 - Jun 21 (24)
- Jun 7 - Jun 14 (60)
- May 31 - Jun 7 (69)
- May 24 - May 31 (97)
- May 17 - May 24 (35)
- May 10 - May 17 (28)
- May 3 - May 10 (42)
- Apr 26 - May 3 (24)
- Apr 19 - Apr 26 (2)
- Apr 12 - Apr 19 (16)
- Apr 5 - Apr 12 (31)
- Mar 29 - Apr 5 (1)
- Sep 21 - Sep 28 (1)
- Aug 17 - Aug 24 (2)
- Aug 10 - Aug 17 (130)
- Aug 3 - Aug 10 (220)
- Jul 27 - Aug 3 (170)
- Jul 13 - Jul 20 (5)
- Jul 6 - Jul 13 (149)
- Jun 29 - Jul 6 (171)
- Jun 22 - Jun 29 (231)
- Jun 15 - Jun 22 (153)
- Jun 8 - Jun 15 (133)
- Jun 1 - Jun 8 (102)
- May 25 - Jun 1 (140)
- May 18 - May 25 (171)
- May 11 - May 18 (155)
- May 4 - May 11 (205)
- Apr 27 - May 4 (220)
- Apr 20 - Apr 27 (155)
- Apr 13 - Apr 20 (201)
- Apr 6 - Apr 13 (218)
- Mar 30 - Apr 6 (209)
- Mar 23 - Mar 30 (248)
- Mar 16 - Mar 23 (255)
- Mar 9 - Mar 16 (272)
- Mar 2 - Mar 9 (340)
- Feb 23 - Mar 2 (311)
- Feb 16 - Feb 23 (237)
- Feb 9 - Feb 16 (229)
- Feb 2 - Feb 9 (98)
- Jan 26 - Feb 2 (91)
- Jan 19 - Jan 26 (14)
- Jan 12 - Jan 19 (82)
- Jan 5 - Jan 12 (46)
- Dec 22 - Dec 29 (95)
- Dec 15 - Dec 22 (7)
- Dec 8 - Dec 15 (78)
- Dec 1 - Dec 8 (33)
- Nov 24 - Dec 1 (40)
- Nov 17 - Nov 24 (61)
- Nov 10 - Nov 17 (14)
- Oct 27 - Nov 3 (42)
- Oct 20 - Oct 27 (238)
- Oct 13 - Oct 20 (269)
- Oct 6 - Oct 13 (284)
- Sep 29 - Oct 6 (204)
- Sep 22 - Sep 29 (220)
- Sep 15 - Sep 22 (257)
- Sep 8 - Sep 15 (164)
No comments:
Post a Comment