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Thailand coup: Military says many detainees freed | Thailand coup: Military says many detainees freed |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thailand's army says it has now released 124 people, including politicians and activists, who were taken into custody after the coup. | Thailand's army says it has now released 124 people, including politicians and activists, who were taken into custody after the coup. |
An army spokesman said a total of 253 people had been summoned. Fifty-three did not report and 76 were in custody. | An army spokesman said a total of 253 people had been summoned. Fifty-three did not report and 76 were in custody. |
Conditions for the release appear to include agreeing to avoid political activity and informing the army of travel, a BBC correspondent said. | Conditions for the release appear to include agreeing to avoid political activity and informing the army of travel, a BBC correspondent said. |
Coup leaders, who took power last week, received royal endorsement on Monday. | Coup leaders, who took power last week, received royal endorsement on Monday. |
Thailand's former prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has been released but remains under some restrictions. | Thailand's former prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has been released but remains under some restrictions. |
Aside from politicians and activists, academics have also been detained. | Aside from politicians and activists, academics have also been detained. |
The military seized power in Thailand on 22 May, saying it wanted to return stability to the country after months of unrest. | The military seized power in Thailand on 22 May, saying it wanted to return stability to the country after months of unrest. |
The move followed six months of political deadlock as protesters rallied against Ms Yingluck's government. At least 28 people were killed and hundreds injured over the course of the protests. | The move followed six months of political deadlock as protesters rallied against Ms Yingluck's government. At least 28 people were killed and hundreds injured over the course of the protests. |
But the coup, which removed an elected government, has drawn widespread international criticism. | But the coup, which removed an elected government, has drawn widespread international criticism. |
Leaders of the anti-government movement have been released from custody but representatives of those who support the government remain in detention. | Leaders of the anti-government movement have been released from custody but representatives of those who support the government remain in detention. |
Correspondents say there is also a degree of scepticism about the total number of people in custody, with reports of more widespread detentions. | Correspondents say there is also a degree of scepticism about the total number of people in custody, with reports of more widespread detentions. |
Rights groups have expressed alarm over the detentions, as well as the tight restrictions on media. | |
Television stations on Wednesday aired footage from the military showing five detainees, including pro-government "red-shirt" leader Jatuporn Prompan, at an unidentified location, in an apparent move to show they were being treated well. | |
Experts have said that the coup is unlikely to heal highly polarised political divisions in the country. | |
The current deadlock dates from 2006, when the military ousted Ms Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, in a coup. | |
Both have strong support in rural and northern areas, propelling them to successive election wins. | |
However, many in the middle class and urban elite, who comprise the heart of the anti-government movement that began in November 2013, oppose them bitterly. |