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Thai Army Declares Coup, Citing Need to ‘Reform’ Nation Thai Army Declares Coup, Citing Need to ‘Reform’ Nation
(about 4 hours later)
BANGKOK — Two days after declaring martial law the Thai military on Thursday seized full control of the country, the second time in a decade that the army has overthrown an elected government. BANGKOK — The Thai military seized control of the country on Thursday in a coup, the culmination of months of maneuvering by the Bangkok establishment to sideline the populist movement founded by a billionaire tycoon that has won every national election since 2001.
The military, which had invited political leaders Thursday for a second day of talks on how to resolve the country’s political deadlock detained the meeting participants instead. The head of the army, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha then announced the coup on national television, saying it was “necessary to seize power.” It was the second time in a decade that the army has overthrown an elected government and at least the 12th military coup since Thailand abandoned the absolute monarchy in 1932. The takeover came two days after the military declared martial law.
Mr. Prayuth said the coup was launched “in order to bring the situation back to normal quickly” and to “reform the political structure, the economy and the society.” In a series of announcements Thursday, the military declared the Constitution invalid, dissolved the Cabinet, banned gatherings of more than five people, imposed a curfew and shut schools. But it said the courts would continue operating, as would the Senate, half of whose members are appointed and are friendly to the Bangkok elite.
Six months of debilitating protests in Thailand have centered on whether to hold elections. The governing party dissolved Parliament in December in an attempt to defuse the crisis and set the election for February. The opposition Democrat Party, which has not won a national election since 1992, refused to take part. Protesters called for an appointed prime minister and blockaded polling stations, leading to a court ruling that the election was unconstitutional. Television stations were ordered to replace their regular programming with messages from the military and patriotic songs.
The country’s democracy was in deadlock. Thailand, with one of Southeast Asia’s largest economies, has long been a potent draw both for foreign investment and tourists attracted by its reputation as “the land of smiles.” But in recent months, the country has made headlines worldwide for a protest movement seeking to suspend democracy, at least in the short term, as it struggled to unseat a ruling party it has been unable to defeat at the polls.
General Prayuth made the coup announcement Thursday flanked by senior military officers. The military began the day by hosting rival political leaders for what was billed as a second round of talks on how to resolve the country’s political deadlock. After several hours, however, soldiers detained the participants, including the heads of the country’s two largest political parties and Cabinet ministers.
Supporters of the former government of Yingluck Shiniwatra, a group known as red shirts, who were holding a demonstration Thursday on the outskirts of Bangkok, were dispersed by soldiers in black masks. The Thai media reported that their leaders were arrested. The head of the army, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha then announced the coup on national television, saying it was “necessary to seize power.” Mr. Prayuth said the coup was conducted “in order to bring the situation back to normal quickly” and to “reform the political structure, the economy and the society.”
The last coup in Thailand was in 2006 and was followed by more than a year of military rule. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was “disappointed” by the decision to overthrow the country’s leaders. He urged that civilian government be restored immediately and said that the United States was reviewing military and other assistance to Thailand.
Thousands of antigovernment protesters remained on the streets at dusk but leaders warned the crowds that the military was on its way. “The military is coming but do not panic,” said Samran Rodpetch, a protest leader. “There is no justification for this military coup,” he said in a statement that also called for the release of detained political leaders and a return of press freedom. “While we value our long friendship with the Thai people, this act will have negative implications for the U.S.–Thai relationship, especially for our relationship with the Thai military.”
Six months of debilitating protests in Thailand have centered on whether to hold elections to end political unrest. The governing party dissolved the House of Representatives, a fully elected body, in December in an attempt to defuse the crisis and set an election for February. The opposition Democrat Party, which has not won a national election since 1992, then disrupted the vote and refused to take part, calling instead for an appointed prime minister.
The courts later ruled that the election was unconstitutional, and this month dealt the government a more serious blow by removing Yingluck Shinawatra, the prime minister, from office.
Although the leader of the anti-government movement, Suthep Thaugsuban, was detained Thursday, his supporters praised the coup after months of chiding the military for not stepping in.
“This is a victory day for the people,” Samdin Lertbutr, an anti-government protest leader said in an interview. “The military has done their job. And we have done our job.”
While the military said it would be fair to both sides in the continuing political dispute, it allowed anti-government demonstrators to remain in their protest site overnight even as soldiers in black masks dispersed crowds loyal to the deposed government. The Thai media reported that the loyalist group’s leaders were also arrested.
At the heart of the political upheaval is a longstanding struggle between the rural masses in the north who support the Shinawatra family and its most famous member — the tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra — and the elites who say his populist movement puts too much power in the hands of people they describe as less educated.
Many describe Mr. Thaksin’s political movement as the most successful in the country’s history. He gained the allegiance of voters in the provinces by implementing universal health care, microloans and a more efficient bureaucracy before being ousted in a military coup in 2006.
He now lives overseas, though many critics have complained of what they see as his undue influence on the government of his younger sister, Ms. Yingluck.
The coup announcement was made after the Thai stock market was closed, and it remains unclear how the latest turmoil will affect an economy that already contracted in the first quarter amid the unrest.
Although Thailand has been burdened with tumultuous politics for decades, it has also been, by many measures, an economic success story and a well-functioning society, consistently outperforming almost all of its neighbors. Close to 100 percent of the population has running water and electricity. The unemployment rate is only around 1 percent. And American and Japanese automotive factories together export more than a million cars a year from the country. Thailand is also one of the world’s largest producers of computer hard drives.
In Thailand’s turbulent political history, the king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, has on at least one occasion helped resolve political disputes. But he is 86 years old and ailing.In Thailand’s turbulent political history, the king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, has on at least one occasion helped resolve political disputes. But he is 86 years old and ailing.
General Prayuth said in his announcement that the king was “above the entire conflict.” General Prayuth said in his announcement that the king was “above the entire conflict.” The military “will protect and worship the monarchy,” he said.
The military “will protect and worship the monarchy,” he said. There have been so many coups in Thailand’s history that scholars have not arrived at a definitive number.
General Prayuth referred to the people staging the coup as the “The national peacekeeping committee.” Nicholas Farrelly, a specialist on Southeast Asia at Australian National University, posted a message this week on New Mandala, a website dedicated to studies on Thailand and its neighboring countries. Mr. Farrelly tallied 11 “successful” coups and nine “unsuccessful” ones. But he wrote that he also found “obscure references to aborted military interventions.”
Antigovernment demonstrators have sought to eradicate the country’s most powerful political family, the Shinawatras. The country’s politics have been turbulent since 2006, when the military removed Thaksin Shinawatra, the patriarch of the family, who founded a populist movement that has won every election since 2001. “Please share your knowledge to help us count Thailand’s military coups once-and-for-all,” he wrote.
Mr. Thaksin, whose power base was in the provinces, challenged the power of the Bangkok establishment, a clash that was at the root of the conflict. Mr. Thaksin lives overseas but remains very influential in Thai politics.
The coup announcement was made after the Thai stock market was closed.