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Thailand coup: Yingluck detained as roundup by military continues Thailand coup: Yingluck detained as roundup by military continues
(3 months later)
Thailand's army is holding the former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in a “safe place”, an aide said on Saturday as the junta summoned nearly 200 other prominent politicians and Thailand's army is holding the former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in a “safe place”, an aide said on Saturday as the junta summoned nearly 200 other prominent politicians and activists, while public resistance to the military takeover became increasingly assertive.
activists, while public resistance to the military takeover became increasingly assertive.
The round-up of figures from the country's months of political turmoil continued a day after Thailand's army chief seized power in a coup declared necessary to "restore order and normality".The round-up of figures from the country's months of political turmoil continued a day after Thailand's army chief seized power in a coup declared necessary to "restore order and normality".
On Friday General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand's acting premier, On Friday General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand's acting premier, ordered 155 political leaders, including the Shinawatra clan and both pro- and anti-government protesters, to report to him at Thai army headquarters in Bangkok. A further 35 activists and leaders were additionally summoned on Saturday — including prominent academics — under threat of a two-year jail sentence and 40,000 baht ($1,230) fine if they failed to turn themselves in.
ordered 155 political leaders, including the Shinawatra clan and both Military spokesman Colonel Werachon Sukhondhadhpatipak told the BBC the purpose was to give the detainees “time to think” and “find common ground” regarding their political differences.
pro- and anti-government protesters, to report to him at Thai army
headquarters in Bangkok. A further 35 activists and leaders were
additionally summoned on Saturday — including prominent academics —
under threat of a two-year jail sentence and 40,000 baht ($1,230) fine
if they failed to turn themselves in.
Military spokesman Colonel Werachon Sukhondhadhpatipak told the BBC the
purpose was to give the detainees “time to think” and “find common
ground” regarding their political differences.
While some have been released the whereabouts of many remains unknown. They have all been banned from leaving the country.While some have been released the whereabouts of many remains unknown. They have all been banned from leaving the country.
Local media reported on Friday that Yingluck had been taken to an army Local media reported on Friday that Yingluck had been taken to an army camp in Saraburi province, central Thailand, but a military aide would not confirm the location.
camp in Saraburi province, central Thailand, but a military aide would “She’s in a safe place,” the aide told Reuters. “She has not been detained in any military camp. That’s all I can say at the moment.”
not confirm the location. A source from Yingluck’s Pheu Thai party said: “We can’t say she is absolutely free because there are soldiers in the area monitoring her.”
“She’s in a safe place,” the aide told Yingluck’s sister and brother-in-law — both of whom have also held senior political posts — were being detained, as are several former ministers in the now-deposed Pheu Thai government. It is believed that they were all moved to different locations around the country to minimise the potential for any resistance to Thursday's military coup.
Reuters. “She has not been detained in any military camp. That’s all I Yingluck had arrived at a Bangkok base on Friday morning in a bulletproof vehicle surrounded by bodyguards, local media reported, but left after 30 minutes for another army facility, according to the Associated Press.
can say at the moment.” Friday's detention of such a large number of politicians and leaders is significant, not least because it involves the Shinawatra clan – a highly polarising family in Thailand. The 64-year-old leader of the family, Thaksin – a telecoms tycoon and former prime minister who was deposed in a 2006 military coup – was hugely popular among rural voters and lauded for his populist policies while in office. But he was equally derided by Bangkok's urban pro-royalist elites who accused him of cronyism and corruption.
A source from Yingluck’s Pheu Thai party said: “We can’t say she Despite being deposed eight years ago Thaksin is the catalyst for the political turmoil that has seen 28 people killed and 700 injured since November, when protests against the Yingluck-led Pheu Thai party were sparked by a proposed amnesty bill that would have ushered in Thaksin's return to Thailand.
is absolutely free because there are soldiers in the area monitoring The government has since been in a political deadlock, with anti-Thaksin forces fighting for the installation of a non-appointed leader who would oversee vague reforms, and pro-Thaksin forces calling for elections. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001.
her.” Now the army is at the helm and has promised to not only restore order but to institute the reforms. Just how, and under what circumstances, has not yet been made clear.
Yingluck’s sister and brother-in-law — both of whom have Thaksin's lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, issued a statement on Friday warning that the army's "illegal seizure of power" could result in a dramatic power divide.
also held senior political posts — were being detained, as are "The military coup carried out by the army of Thailand does not have any legitimacy nor does the army of Thailand have a mandate from the people of Thailand to govern the country," Amsterdam said. "Those who have the mandate of the people of Thailand, secured through free and fair elections, are now considering the formation of a government in exile."
several former ministers in the now-deposed Pheu Thai government. It is The coup has provoked a growing public resistance to the military takeover amid bans of public gatherings of five or more people. On Saturday morning roughly 100 people gathered at a mall in northern Bangkok with signs reading “Fuck the coup” and shouting “Election, election!”. They seemingly intended to march towards Thai army headquarters but were blockaded by soldiers in riot gear and army vans.
believed that they were all moved to different locations around the The defiance on the streets followed another gathering of protesters Friday evening, with as many as five people believed to have been detained by the military for participating in a candlelit vigil, according to reports on Twitter.
country to minimise the potential for any resistance to Thursday's Thursday's coup –the country's 19th since an absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932 – has been condemned by human rights group and nations including France, Japan, Australia, Germany, the EU, UN and US. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said there was no justification for the coup and called for the release of all detained politicians.
military coup.
Yingluck had arrived at a Bangkok base on Friday morning in a
bulletproof vehicle surrounded by bodyguards, local media reported, but
left after 30 minutes for another army facility, according to the
Associated Press.
Friday's detention of such a large number of politicians and leaders
is significant, not least because it involves the Shinawatra clan – a
highly polarising family in Thailand. The 64-year-old leader of the
family, Thaksin – a telecoms tycoon and former prime minister who was
deposed in a 2006 military coup – was hugely popular among rural voters
and lauded for his populist policies while in office. But he was equally
derided by Bangkok's urban pro-royalist elites who accused him of
cronyism and corruption.
Despite being deposed eight years ago Thaksin is the catalyst for the political turmoil that has seen 28 people killed and 700 injured
since November, when protests against the Yingluck-led Pheu Thai party
were sparked by a proposed amnesty bill that would have ushered in
Thaksin's return to Thailand.
The government has since been in a political deadlock, with
anti-Thaksin forces fighting for the installation of a non-appointed
leader who would oversee vague reforms, and pro-Thaksin forces calling
for elections. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001.
Now the army is at the helm and has promised to not only restore
order but to institute the reforms. Just how, and under what
circumstances, has not yet been made clear.
Thaksin's lawyer,
Robert Amsterdam, issued a statement on Friday warning that the army's
"illegal seizure of power" could result in a dramatic power divide.
"The military coup carried out by the army of Thailand does not have
any legitimacy nor does the army of Thailand have a mandate from the
people of Thailand to govern the country," Amsterdam said. "Those who
have the mandate of the people of Thailand, secured through free and
fair elections, are now considering the formation of a government in
exile."
The coup has provoked a growing public resistance to the military
takeover amid bans of public gatherings of five or more people. On
Saturday morning roughly 100 people gathered at a mall in northern
Bangkok with signs reading “Fuck the coup” and shouting “Election,
election!”. They seemingly intended to march towards Thai army
headquarters but were blockaded by soldiers in riot gear and army
vans.
The defiance on the streets followed another gathering of protesters Friday
evening, with as many as five people believed to have been detained by the
military for participating in a candlelit vigil, according to reports
on Twitter.
Thursday's coup –the country's 19th since an absolute monarchy was
abolished in 1932 – has been condemned by human rights group
and nations including France, Japan, Australia, Germany, the EU, UN
and US. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said there was no
justification for the coup and called for the release of all detained
politicians.
The US has since suspended $3.5m in military aid to Thailand, roughly one-third of its aid to the country.The US has since suspended $3.5m in military aid to Thailand, roughly one-third of its aid to the country.
Unverified reports circulated that the military was attempting to Unverified reports circulated that the military was attempting to detain "red shirts" – supporters of Thaksin – in the north and north-east of the country. According to online news portal Khaosod the army has also closed off a Thailand-Laos border crossing in an attempt to prevent them fleeing across.
detain "red shirts" – supporters of Thaksin – in the north and north-east of the country. According Like Thaksin, army chief Prayuth is no stranger to coups: he was part of the junta that helped depose Thaksin, a takeover that helped cement a massive pro-Thaksin support base known as the United Front for Democracy and eventually led to massive street battles between royalist yellow shirts and Thaksin supporters in 2010 that resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 people.
to online news portal Khaosod the army has also closed off a Thailand-Laos border crossing in an attempt to prevent them fleeing across. Prayuth claimed that the takeover would help restore peace to the nation but the Bangkok Post said in an editorial on Friday: "It's the very act of a military takeover that is likely to … provoke acts of violence and possibly cause more loss of life. This coup is not the solution." Most analysts have said the situation in Thailand is unlikely to improve soon.
Like Thaksin, army chief Prayuth is no stranger to coups: he was part
of the junta that helped depose Thaksin, a takeover that helped cement a
massive pro-Thaksin support base known as the United Front for
Democracy and eventually led to massive street battles between royalist
yellow shirts and Thaksin supporters in 2010 that resulted in the
deaths of nearly 100 people.
Prayuth claimed that the takeover would help restore peace to the nation but the Bangkok Post said in an editorial on
Friday: "It's the very act of a military takeover that is likely to …
provoke acts of violence and possibly cause more loss of life. This coup
is not the solution." Most analysts have said the situation in Thailand
is unlikely to improve soon.
"The 'hardliner' generals now run the show and we should expect [a] bad outcome," said a report by the Siam Intelligence Unit thinktank. "The new junta government will run the country for one to two years. The worst possible scenario is a chronic civil war.""The 'hardliner' generals now run the show and we should expect [a] bad outcome," said a report by the Siam Intelligence Unit thinktank. "The new junta government will run the country for one to two years. The worst possible scenario is a chronic civil war."
The new military administration has issued an order banning all media The new military administration has issued an order banning all media from reporting information deemed a threat to national security; a criticism of the acting government; or news that could incite confusion, conflict or unrest, according to online news portal Prachatai.
from reporting information deemed a threat to national security; a
criticism of the acting government; or news that could incite confusion,
conflict or unrest, according to online news portal Prachatai.