Thailand Army Declares Martial Law

[waerth]

Saksith Saiyasombut â€@Saksith 6m

6th army TV announcement calls several TV satellite channels incl. political ones like DNN, ASTV and Blue Sky to STOP broadcasting.

 

Sunai â€@sunaibkk 6m

Satellite TVs from Red & Yellow camps are taken off air by army. #MartialLaw #Thailand pic.twitter.com/itNRipHFYb

 

MCOT English News â€@MCOT_Eng 7m

Stock Exchange of Thailand applies Business Contingency Plan, closes headquarters but trading can carry on normally

 

Richard Barrow â€@RichardBarrow 7m

10:05am Thai army now listing TV channels that must cease broadcasting. These include ones belonging to Red Shirts & PDRC

 

SEAPA â€@seapabkk 15m

#MartialLaw in #Thailand: MT @PravitR Military Order #3 prohibiting news&print content which affects "peace & order"

 

Richard Barrow â€@RichardBarrow 40s

Army tells these stations to stop broadcasting: MV 5, DNN, UDD, Asia Update, P&P, 4 Channel, Blue Sky, FMTV, T News & ASTV

[waerth]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/US-understand-martial-law-invoking-is-not-a-coup-30234069.html

US understand martial law invoking is not a coup

 

The United States called on the Thai military that invokes martial law to respect democratic principles Tuesday.

 

We expect the army to honour its commitment to make this a temporary action to prevent violence, and to not undermine democratic institutions," said US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

 

Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha declared martial law early Tuesday in a bid to stem violence in the country, which has been wracked for the past six months by anti-government protests.

 

"This development underscores the need for elections to determine the will of the Thai people," said the State Department.

 

The US is concerned about the political crisis in Thailand and urges "all parties to respect democratic principles, including respect for freedom of speech," Psaki said.

 

"We understand the Royal Thai Army announced that this martial law declaration is not a coup. We expect the Army to honor its commitment to make this a temporary action to prevent violence, and to not undermine democratic institutions," Psaki said.

 

"The United States firmly believes all parties must work together to resolve differences through dialogue and find a way forward. This development underscores the need for elections to determine the will of the Thai people," she added.

[waerth]

Japan express fears after army takeover

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Japan-express-fears-after-army-takeover-30234078.html

 

Thailand's biggest investor Japan on Tuesday expressed "grave concerns" after the army imposed martial law.

 

After almost seven weeks of anti-government protests, generals ordered forces onto the streets of Bangkok and troops were positioned at television stations as the army said the media would be censored.

 

"We have grave concerns about the situation in Thailand," Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo. "We once again strongly urge all parties concerned to act in a self-restrained manner without using violence."

 

Thailand important to Japan firms

 

Private-sector think-tank Teikoku Databank said in February nearly 4,000 Japanese firms operate in Thailand, with investments the Bank of Thailand said were worth $6.89 billion in 2013 -- half of the total inward investment.

 

That figure is more than the next three biggest investors combined -- the United States, Britain and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

 

Thailand has become increasingly important for Japanese firms as they shift operations from home to counter high wages and an overvalued yen and to mitigate the effects of natural disasters on the supply chain.

 

Car giant Honda said political instability was leading it to reconsider a second assembly plant it is hoping to go online in April 2015.

 

Spokesman Teruhiko Tatebe said: "We are watching the political situation in order to decide to go ahead with the plan (to start operations) or not. If the political situation improves, we may complete the factory and start production."

 

And Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker, also said it was watching events carefully, but added all three of its plants were operating normally. "The morning shift started as per usual at all plants. A decision concerning the evening shift will be made based on the situation," a spokesman said.

[waerth]

Martial law declaration draws mixed reactions

 

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/martial-law-declaration-draws-mixed-reactions/

 

The imposition of martial law in the country drew mixed reactions with academics and retired general voicing both opposition and support while some even suggesting the acting prime minister to issue a royal decree for royal endorsement to lift it.

Voicing opposition to the martial law on his Facebook page Tuesday, Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a Thammasat lecturer, questioned the justification of the army chief to declare martial law.

He said while Section 4 of the Martial Law Act allows the army to invoke martial law, but this could be done only when there was a war or riot.

But there is no such condition at present that warrants the imposition of martial law effecting the whole kingdom, he said.

He said that the current political situation needed to be solved by civilians and a normal democratic process.

He suggested acting premier Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan to draft a decree to lift martial law and submit it to the King for endorsement.

But Rattha Bukkon Group leader Gen Saiyud Kerdpol, former Supreme Commander, praised the army chief’s declaration saying it was what the group wanted to see when the country was plagued with unruly people taking out arms to incite disturbances and harm innocent people.

He said the army chief is now vested with supreme power to restore peace and order back to the country and therefore needn’t have to seek royal intervention.

However, legal advisor and independent academic Verapat Pariyawong said the situation in Thailand was uncertain.

On his Facebook, he said the military has two choices, either to use this opportunity to create a secure and inclusive environment for election and reform under civilian government; or to push for a pseudo-legitimate process that replaces the caretaker government with transitional guarantees for the traditional elites.

With full powers in its hand there is no more excuse for the military to remain reluctant he said.

With the law in effect, officers will be exempt from all civil, criminal and disciplinary liability when performing their duties.

But unlike a coup, the constitution remains in force and assemblies are still allowed.

Gothom Arya of Mahidol University’s Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies said he hoped the army would act as a middleman to bring the two rival groups to resolve the political conflict.

[waerth]

tulsathit â€@tulsathit 15m

Many community radio stations known to be "red" are playing luk thoong songs instead of airing political statements.

 

George Thaivisa â€@georgebkk 17m

RT@Saksith: Meeting between military and govt officials set to begin shortly, may we’ll know what’s next!

 

Turdsak Numsakul Esq â€@bkkbase 23m

Dudes gonna get a lot of practice going 'pew pew pew' with his unloaded machinegun. pic.twitter.com/Y153Ty3zlu

[cavanami]

The Thai TV News at noontime announced the 5 leaders; three from the military (Army, Navy, Airforce), Police and some other one who I did not hear.

 

The game is afoot....

[waerth]

Benjamin Zawacki â€@benjaminzawacki 44m

1/2: Kinokuniya just informed that 6 books on #Thai politics I ordered are prohibited for sale due to Martial Law, all removed from shelves.

 

Benjamin Zawacki â€@benjaminzawacki 39m

2/2: 1 book on 1940s Free Thai. Criteria for removal: "disagreements in #Thai politics". McCargo, Baker

 

MCOT English News â€@MCOT_Eng 6m

Army chief, in capacity as POMC chief, briefs heads of government agencies, state enterprises on martial law at Army Sports Club

 

bangkokpundit â€@bangkokpundit 4m

Ekanat of PDRC announces that PDRC will continue protests even though there is a declaration of martial law pic.twitter.com/Jn4cUwhZjo

 

Saksith Saiyasombut â€@Saksith 10m

Meeting with military, govt officials started. Also, press not allowed to listen in. RT @Reporter_Js1: 14.20น. pic.twitter.com/nlbcrpqae3

[waerth]

Sunai â€@sunaibkk 2m

Army Chief Gen Prayuth told press conference that #MartialLaw will be enforced as long as necessary.

 

Richard Barrow â€@RichardBarrow 3m

Immigration & Embassies still open as normal today. And for those asking about MBK & Pratunam, yes all malls are open

 

Patric Youngsamart @PatricLand · 14m

Acting PM asks Gen Prayuth to treat every side equally RT @js100radio: http://www.js100.com...ews/view/1841 …

 

@veen_NT

Gen Prayuth: every side must stop. If I call them, they must come (to talk). pic.twitter.com/fbVf0d4qh0

 

veena T. @veen_NT · 2m

Gen Prayuth: Govt officials and solders will work normally and we will try our best not to violate any human rights. #MartialLaw

 

veena T. @veen_NT · 1m

Asked about curfew? Gen Prayuth replied: "would you like one?" He then joked that maybe media curfew first.

 

tulsathit â€@tulsathit 1m

Ask if/how he will report to govt, Prayuth: Where's the govt now? via @jin_nation

 

Channel NewsAsia â€@ChannelNewsAsia 7m

New #selfie genre alert: Thais pose with armed soldiers as #ThailandMartialLaw takes effect http://cna.asia/1o9Zlay pic.twitter.com/5taJMg3TfU

 

tulsathit â€@tulsathit 5m

On controlling broadcast media, Prayuth: It's necessary now. When calm returns, we'll take another look.

 

veena T. â€@veen_NT 2m

His parting shot, Gen Prayuth asked people to give their supports to military and police.

 

tulsathit â€@tulsathit 1m

Recap Prayuth: He wants caretaker govt and its rivals to sit down and talk.

[Guest]

Almost all major events in history employ the Hegelian Dialectic of : Problem - Reaction - Solution

 

Then apply the Occam's Razor a principle of logic : Easiest Answer

[cavanami]

More like...when the politicians fail, they send in "boots on the ground"...