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Thailand army declares martial law

by Joe Mobley
26 replies
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The chief security advisor to the interim prime minister said the government had not been consulted about the army's decision.
Correspondents say that the deadlock in south-east Asia's second-largest economy has got worse since Ms Yingluck dissolved the lower house of parliament in December and a court ordered her removal and the removal of nine cabinet ministers earlier in May for abuse of power.
Oh boy, this could get interesting.

BBC News - Thailand army declares martial law

Joe Mobley
  • Profile picture of the author Angle Warrior
    The worlds getting crazier every day
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Ya know - it was no more than a decade ago or less that the Military went in and removed a gov that was crapping all over those people. What the heck is going on around this globe today?
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    • Profile picture of the author candoit2
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Ya know - it was no more than a decade ago or less that the Military went in and removed a gov that was crapping all over those people. What the heck is going on around this globe today?
      Wow time flies. I was in Bangkok when that happened, and having supper with some friends, one of whom was the ambassadors son. So he got a call from his parents telling him to come home because there was going to a coup in 3 hrs. He said they had to notify consulates or something like that if I recall correctly.(It's been awhile)

      Looks like this time there was no warning given.

      This has been simmering a long time and not getting resolved.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    A Libyan special forces unit just switched sides!!!!!!! From what I can see, they may finally try to do something that would have helped the US out a lot if it were done a bit over 2 YEARS ago!

    Libyan special forces unit joins rogue general Haftar | News | DW.DE | 19.05.2014

    That isn't all! It is just a taste! But after heysals post, I thought I would point out ANOTHER interesting change of events.

    I think, and have thought for a long time, that this is orchestrated worldwide.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
      The situation in Thailand is extremely complicated.

      The protests were started by "yellow shirts" protesters who wanted to overthrow the elected government and replace by an unelected council. The aim of the council would be to make sure that Thaksin's party (the majority) can never hold power again.

      The yellow shirts comprise mainly of the urban elite, Royalists and supporters of the opposition party. However, they are in the minority and has not won an election on their won for many years. Whereas Thaksin's party have been winning election after election supported by the urban poor.

      This is as if to say that the tea party would like to take over the US and make changes to the constitution so that the Democratic Party cannot come to power ever again. Their reason would be that the Democrats come to power illegally because they buy votes through various social programs including Obamacare.

      There is no mistake that Thaksin was a dictator who abused his position when he was in power. But he had been removed by a coup and reforms were introduced that put his parties at a great disadvantage. Still his parties won election after election but the elite just could not accept that.

      It must be a worrying time for IMers who live in Thailand, especially Bangkok. They are really looking at the abyss over there.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I don't understand why the people in red shirts in the picture on that link are all smiling? What's up with that?
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        • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          I don't understand why the people in red shirts in the picture on that link are all smiling? What's up with that?
          The red shirts are still in power although tenuously. That is why they are holding back. If the Thaksin backed government is dissolved by undemocratic means, that anything can happen. The red shirts set fire to many parts of Bangkok a few years ago.

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      • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
        Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

        The situation in Thailand is extremely complicated.

        The protests were started by "yellow shirts" protesters who wanted to overthrow the elected government and replace by an unelected council. The aim of the council would be to make sure that Thaksin's party (the majority) can never hold power again.

        The yellow shirts comprise mainly of the urban elite, Royalists and supporters of the opposition party.

        However, they are in the minority and has not won an election on their won for many years. Whereas Thaksin's party have been winning election after election supported by the urban poor.

        This is as if to say that the tea party would like to take over the US and make changes to the constitution so that the Democratic Party cannot come to power ever again.

        Their reason would be that the Democrats come to power illegally because they buy votes through various social programs including Obamacare.

        There is no mistake that Thaksin was a dictator who abused his position when he was in power. But he had been removed by a coup and reforms were introduced that put his parties at a great disadvantage. Still his parties won election after election but the elite just could not accept that.

        It must be a worrying time for IMers who live in Thailand, especially Bangkok. They are really looking at the abyss over there.

        Who is the military trying to help?

        The duly elected government or the elite of the country who probably want things to go back to the way they were?

        I see they already removed the Thaksin gov via a coup in the past.

        Have they declared martial law in another attempt to rest control of the gov from Thaksin party?

        Despite the abuses IYHO, is the Thaksin's Gov actually trying to improve the life of the average Thai?

        How was Thaksin abusive with his power?

        Thanks!!


        TL


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        • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
          Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

          Who is the military trying to help?

          The duly elected government or the elite of the country who probably want things to go back to the way they were?

          I see they already removed the Thaksin gov via a coup in the past.

          Have they declared martial law in another attempt to rest control of the gov from Thaksin party?

          Despite the abuses IYHO, is the Thaksin's Gov actually trying to improve the life of the average Thai?

          How was Thaksin abusive with his power?

          Thanks!!


          TL


          George Clinton - Martial Law - YouTube
          The upper ranks of the military is on the side of the elite whereas the lower ranks are on Thaksin's side. Thaksin did improve the lot of poor significantly when he was in power. But that was not the only reason why the urban elite hated him.

          Thaksin had a terrible human rights record when he was in power. There were up to 3000 extra-judicial killings during his "war on drugs". He also tried to appoint his cronies to various state institutions so as to monopolize power. There were also allegations of severe corruption that were difficult to prove. All the signs were that he was becoming a dictator.

          Since the 2006 coup, a constitution had been enacted which gave the judiciary and other non-elected state institutions vast powers that could be used to dissolve a government. Accordingly three Thaksin supported prime ministers had been dismissed on very slim grounds. The last one was Thaksin's sister whom everyone in Thailand thought was a proxy for Thaksin. There was a previous prime minister who was dismissed for taking part in a cookery show for which he was a paid a few hundred dollars.
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    Wow.

    A group of friends of mine from around Australia have organised a reunion in Thailand for later this week. Because of other commitments, I had to decline the invitation to join them.

    Wow.
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  • Profile picture of the author MachoMadness
    That's my next Holiday well and truly ruined
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    • Profile picture of the author The Content Professional
      Stuff like this is constantly happening in Thailand. The only expats who are concerned about this are those who haven't been there long and don't yet realize that this will have almost no affect on them.
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      • Profile picture of the author ThomM
        Originally Posted by The Content Professional View Post

        Stuff like this is constantly happening in Thailand. The only expats who are concerned about this are those who haven't been there long and don't yet realize that this will have almost no affect on them.
        I have a friend on a motorcycle forum who is an expat living in northeast Thailand.
        He didn't know any of this was happening.
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    • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
      Originally Posted by MachoMadness View Post

      That's my next Holiday well and truly ruined
      If anything, this might have defused the situation a bit. Although all bets are off if it becomes a full coup against the Thaksin backed government. In the past, both sides have no qualms in causing great damage to the tourist industry. The yellow shirts shut down Bangkok's main airport for several days. The red shirts rampaged through Bangkok setting fire to several main shopping centers.
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      • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
        Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

        In the past, both sides have no qualms in causing great damage to the tourist industry.
        Forgive me but what does destroying the tourist industry achieve for them?

        I'm not arguing, I just don't get it. I'd have thought that brought in a lot of money.

        Also do they just target the tourist industry or do they directly target tourists and foreigners?

        I'm just curious Derek and I can see you know a great deal more on the matter than most.
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        • Profile picture of the author The Content Professional
          Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

          Forgive me but what does destroying the tourist industry achieve for them?

          I'm not arguing, I just don't get it. I'd have thought that brought in a lot of money.

          Also do they just target the tourist industry or do they directly target tourists and foreigners?

          I'm just curious Derek and I can see you know a great deal more on the matter than most.
          Certain Thais like to blame all their problems on foreigners (when in actuality, their tourism industry is the backbone of their economy). In the midst of all this, they just recently enacted some tougher visa restrictions.

          But it's not really anything to be concerned about on a safety level. I know dozens of people currently living in BKK and not a single one is worried about this. Things like protests are restricted to certain areas and most won't even notice that they're going on.
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        • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
          Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

          Forgive me but what does destroying the tourist industry achieve for them?

          I'm not arguing, I just don't get it. I'd have thought that brought in a lot of money.

          Also do they just target the tourist industry or do they directly target tourists and foreigners?

          I'm just curious Derek and I can see you know a great deal more on the matter than most.
          I think it was just a tactic of putting pressure or revenge on the government of the day, Foreign tourists were never targeted.

          The army has enacted a 10pm to 5am curfew this time. This effectively kills all nightlife for tourists. The effect on tourism will be drastic this time if the curfew is not lifted soon.
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          • Profile picture of the author ThomM
            Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

            I think it was just a tactic of putting pressure or revenge on the government of the day, Foreign tourists were never targeted.

            The army has enacted a 10pm to 5am curfew this time. This effectively kills all nightlife for tourists. The effect on tourism will be drastic this time if the curfew is not lifted soon.
            Derek I just checked the other forum and here's what my friend living there had to say.
            Thanks for the concern, guys!

            Yep. Martial law ... and life goes on.

            BKK is about 500 km or so from where I am, and that's where all the focus is concentrated. They are imposing a curfew from 10pn until 5am countrywide, but that's no biggie either.

            Bike party next weekend in Rayong next to Pattaya and another in the west in Phitsanulok. I'll probably be at one of the two with some of my buddies.

            These coups and martial law things have been a part of Thailand's history and culture for quite awhile. Nothing dangerous or that has affected me up to this point as long as I stay out of BKK and do what they tell me.
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    Update: It is a full coup now!

    Thai military says it's taken over the country in a coup - CNN.com
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    What a planet.
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  • Profile picture of the author ErinWalsh
    Personally I'm leery of any government, or proposed government that has the stance of "No we don't want to have people vote! We want to assign our own people!" Sure there's a lot of countries that people don't vote in, but when your country regularly has voting and you have a group of people who want to come into power without a vote?

    Yeah no.

    When I first heard of the martial law, I thought "coup." Glad to see my gut reaction was right. Thing is which direction are they going to go with it?

    It's going to be interesting to see where the Thai military goes with it.
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    • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
      Originally Posted by ErinWalsh View Post

      Personally I'm leery of any government, or proposed government that has the stance of "No we don't want to have people vote! We want to assign our own people!" Sure there's a lot of countries that people don't vote in, but when your country regularly has voting and you have a group of people who want to come into power without a vote?

      Yeah no.

      When I first heard of the martial law, I thought "coup." Glad to see my gut reaction was right. Thing is which direction are they going to go with it?

      It's going to be interesting to see where the Thai military goes with it.

      I hope it doesn't go the same way as the United Arab Republic's (Egypt) military coup.

      Those military folks overthrew a democratically elected gov that served less than a year and now they're sentencing their political opponents for executions - hundreds at a time.

      Wow.
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      • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
        Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

        I hope it doesn't go the same way as the United Arab Republic's (Egypt) military coup.

        Those military folks overthrew a democratically elected gov that served less than a year and now they're sentencing their political opponents for executions - hundreds at a time.

        Wow.
        I don't think it will get anywhere as bad as Egypt. Unlike Egypt, democracy is fairly established in Thailand. It has been the freest country in SE Asia unlike the sham democracies in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries in that region.

        It is likely that the army will rule for at least a year and civilian rule restored with a draconian constitution. Thailand's experience will certainly give support to those who think that democracy is not that suitable for middle to low income country.
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        • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
          I do like you Derek. You know your stuff.

          I appreciate the learning experience too. It's quite something how it all works.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Erin - it bothers me just as much to see a country claim to have elections, but they are rigged from the get go so the real choice never gets in and people don't understand that it's not their choice.
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  • Profile picture of the author OMalley
    In all honesty, it may not be so bad... the media emphasized that there were peaceful female Thai students taking selfies on FB with Thai soldiers.

    I've always liked the Thai people's balance of globalization and retaining cultural integrity, though. It's a country that's never been subjected to Western imperialism, so they are definitely a proud asian nationality. Plus, it's always seemed like the former Thai Monarchy was absurd (like most monarchies), and the country has always had issues with political instability.
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