Thailand coup: tension on the streets

SATURDAY 24 MAY 2014
Thailand's military says detaining political figures gives everyone time to "calm down" as anti-coup protesters join soldiers on the streets of Bangkok.

The military seized control in Thailand on Thursday, after talks between the government and anti-government groups broke down following months of sometimes violent unrest.

It has since detained around 150 leading political figures, including the recently deposed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, saying the detentions will last for up to 7 days to give all sides "time to think".

It has also banned large gatherings, a ruling ignored by a number of protesters on Saturday who took to the streets holding signs saying "junta get out" and chanting "no more revolutions" (watch the video above).

On Saturday, the military also dissolved the Senate and sacked the top three officials, who were seen as close to the ousted government, as it consolidated its grip on power.

Calm down 

Thai military spokesman Colonel Werachon Sukhondhadhpatipak said that all of the detained were being well-treated and the aim of the military was to encourage a political compromise.

He said: "This is a bid for everybody who is involved in the conflict to calm down and have time to think... We don't intend to limit their freedom but it is to relieve the pressure."

An aide to the former prime minister said on Saturday that she was in a "safe place".

"Now she's in a safe place... She has not been detained in any military camp. That's all I can say at this moment," the aide said, declining to be identified.

A source from her Puea Thai Party said Yingluck was not absolutely free because soldiers were monitoring her, and several former ministers from her cabinet were being held in army facilities in Saraburi.

John Sparks @c4sparks

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1/2 Thai army spokesman Col. Werachon tells @c4news that detention of main protest leaders, cab ministers was 'one of the planned scenarios'

4:52 AM - 24 May 2014

John Sparks @c4sparks

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2/2 ... on Thursday. The military wasn't playing the final meeting before General Prayuth seized power 'by ear' says the Colonel.

4:53 AM - 24 May 2014

The decision to step in by the army has received criticism from the international community.

On Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said there was "no justification" for the coup and that the US State Department would be stopping $14m (£8.3m) worth of aid to the country until "civilian rule was restored" and "democracy was returned."

The current coup is the thirteenth seen by Thailand since it became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

In 2006 Yingluck Shinawatra's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted by the military as leader in the last coup.

The current unrest started last year, when anti-government protesters began a campaign to oust Yingluck Shinawatra. An election was held in February, but after mass disruption it was annulled by the country's judiciary.