Martial Law declared in Thailand

[Love Mountain]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A4I0VV20140520

(Reuters) - Thailand's army declared martial law on Tuesday to restore order after six months of anti-government protests that have left the country without a proper functioning government, but denied that it was staging a military coup.
The caretaker government led by supporters of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was still in office, military officials and the country's justice minister said, following the surprise announcement on television at 3 a.m. (4 p.m. EDT on Monday).
Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha later said the military was taking charge of public security because of violent protests that had claimed lives and caused damage. Nearly 30 people have been killed since the protests began in November last year.

Well, it looks like another political situation akin to Ukraine. Should the Gov. abdicate and let the people have their day, or should the people learn their place? Leave your comments down below and I'll be happy to read them.

[Garbarsardar]

Yes, Thailand is totally like the Ukraine. I am pretty certain that the once mighty but presently corrupt Federation of Laos is behind all this.

But, on topic now, I wonder what is the real purpose behind this move. I find it worrying when the military offers reassurances that nothing changed and all is well, with army in the streets.

[Love Mountain]

Yes, Thailand is totally like the Ukraine. I am pretty certain that the once mighty but presently corrupt Federation of Laos is behind all this.

But, on topic now, I wonder what is the real purpose behind this move. I find it worrying when the military offers reassurances that nothing changed and all is well, with army in the streets.

It is in fact eerily similar to Ukraine's Maidan. Both in context and in conduct.

[Condottiere 40K]

The Thai military has upto this point refused to get involved, since their last attempt just resulted in a return to the status quo and a further staining of their reputation.

I'd say a closer comparison would be that of Turkey.

[hellheaven1987]

Oh look, another normal day in Thailand.

But, on topic now, I wonder what is the real purpose behind this move. I find it worrying when the military offers reassurances that nothing changed and all is well, with army in the streets.

Probably just to prevent the Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts fight a street war on Bangkok, something big brother USA would not want to see. The possible violence between two parties is quite real so I am not too surprised the military pull out this move.

[Condottiere 40K]

So the Thai military upper echelon is following a directive from the White House? Far more likely foreign investors who don't want their factories' output disrupted.

[hellheaven1987]

So the Thai military upper echelon is following a directive from the White House? Far more likely foreign investors who don't want their factories' output disrupted.

I would say both share same interest so why not? US certainly does not want to come out and criticizes its ally Thailand as a third world country that violating human rights.

IIRC, isn't there a significant minority of Thai people who want to see the monarchy fully restored? As it stands now, the king is a constitutional monarch and figurehead (with the power of granting pardons), but he is also titled as the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Perhaps some want him to take over.

The issue is current king is very old and the heir is quite unpopular, so even it is back to absolute monarchy it probably would be overthrown soon after current king die. Besides I remember US already said it would not want to see un-democratic things happen in Thailand a few years ago.

[YukonTrooper]

So the Thai military upper echelon is following a directive from the White House? Far more likely foreign investors who don't want their factories' output disrupted.

Huh? Washington elite and Wall Street have been backing the Shinawatra cartel.

[Roma_Victrix]

IIRC, isn't there a significant minority of Thai people who want to see the monarchy fully restored? As it stands now, the king is a constitutional monarch and figurehead (with the power of granting pardons), but he is also titled as the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Perhaps some want him to take over.

[Condottiere 40K]

It's mostly a clash between the urban middle class, egged on by the old political elites, against the majority rural destitute, manipulated by the populist Shinawatra clan and regional power brokers.

[hellheaven1987]

It's mostly a clash between the urban middle class, egged on by the old political elites, against the majority rural destitute, manipulated by the populist Shinawatra clan and regional power brokers.

Ya, I do want to see what Thai military would do this time, since it had twice supporting Yellow Shirts and twice the old political elites lost election fairly, so would Thai military learn some lessons from past, or try to support old elites again third time?

[Condottiere 40K]

The Thai generals are, of course, interested in looking after their own interests, which somehow do coincide with the monarchy and the old political elite. But they have to know that if they mess up and the Shinawatra clan or a similarly minded power bloc wins the next elections, their ranks are going to get purged.

[Papay]

Actually US has pressed the Thai military not to interfere.Till some days ago US officials claimed that no coup will occur in Thailand

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/us-hopeful-thai-military/1104660.html








I also think that Obama doesnt really want to see Thai pm being overthrown. The problem is the inner struggle betweem the royal house and the military and the populist party Thaksin represented

[Rijul.J.Ballal]

Man there's a lot of political upheavals happening these days huh?

[Papay]

Man there's a lot of political upheavals happening these days huh?

This is what always happens in times of global economic problems

[Dr Zoidberg]

This is what always happens in times of global economic problems

You're not familiar with the history of Thailand, are you? This is not a new event for Thailand; military coups have been pretty much part and parcel of its history for the past century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...s_by_country#T

[Dr Zoidberg]

Given the Thai military's predilection for seizing power on a semi-regular basis, I'm actually surprised it's taken it long to get around to it this time....

[Condottiere 40K]

1. That's because they screwed it up the last time they had a go.

2. It being described as a silent or creeping coup.

3. The time may be critical, since everyone wonders how long the old King has left, and if there is a succession, there may actually be a crisis.

[Denny Crane!]

Yeah Thailand isn't suffering from the economic crisis they are suffering from deep urban/rural relations and different visions for the country all exemplified in the love or hate for Thaskin who changed life and standards for a great deal of the country but also embezzled a few billion pounds for himself along the way.

And the military intervened after attacks like people throwing live grenades into shops, I guess it was probably time.

For the poster who said that some would like the monarchy restored to full power, the monarchy in Thailand is the national religion. If you dare say something wrong about their king, blaspheme if you will, there is a good chance someone could punch or stab you such is the level of feeling. I can't remember ever encountering that sort of fanaticism anywhere else (but it is I can imagine along the level of fanaticism of Islam in some countries) or cursing Jesus in bible belt country. That being said it is rather specific to this King and I am not sure it is transferable to his less charismatic descendants who haven't gone through the same transformative generations of Thailand that the current has (I won't try to spell his name). He on the other hand is in very poor health and late 80's.

I wouldn't be surprised to see civil war when he pops off this mortal coil.

[Geronimo2006]

Thailand for the last 10 yrs have been in the midst of a genuine class-struggle between the urban bourgeoisie and the rural working classes. They present the issue as being about Thaksin. But they also removed his replacements including in the Thai Rak Thai party Samak Sunderavej (for appearing in a cookery programme). This reminds me of 19th century Europe when the upper and later middle classes opposed extending the franchise to the working-classes, who were termed "the mob". i don't know what the answer is but am more persuaded than ever that some culture's are not suited to democracy. Decades of military rule has left a judiciary stacked with reactionaries as with Egypt and as long as that remains the case, and as long as civilian control of the military remains elusive, we will be back here again in a few years when one side of the yellow-red divide is not happen. I don't accept this is just about Thaksin.

It is however true that Thaksin's popularity with the rural masses frightens the royalists and the monied classes who fear an erosion of their influence. Pro-Thaksin governments are accused of buying off rural voters with rice subsidies, and there were also rumours about his ties with the Crown Prince, which could have meant years in the political wilderness for the opposition Democratic party which hasn't won an election in 20 yrs.

Basically Thailand is a country in transition like England in the 17th century, between king, army and parliament. Who wins the tussle is as yet unclear.