Thai junta summons deposed leaders as coup takes hold

Thailand’s military leaders summoned ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to a meeting on Friday, a day after army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power in a bloodless coup and said he wanted to restore order following months of turmoil.

Yingluck is one of more than 100 political figures summoned by the army.

The army has banned 155 prominent political figures from leaving the country without permission.

On Thursday the military suspended the constitution, banned gatherings and detained politicians, saying order was needed after months of turmoil.

The army’s intentions for summoning the people were not clear.

General Prayut Chan-Ocha, the army chief, announced on Thursday that a military commission that had imposed martial law a day earlier would take control of the country’s government. He later declared himself the country’s prime minister. 

The army said it needed to restore order and enact political reforms.

It declared martial law on Tuesday but then gathered political leaders together for talks on the crisis.

However, army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha went on air on Thursday to announce the coup.

Several key figures at the talks, including opposition protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and pro-government protest leader Jatuporn Prompan, were detained.

Acting PM Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan was not at the talks and his whereabouts are unclear. However, he and all cabinet ministers, along with ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra, were ordered to report to the military.

Hundreds of troops surrounded the venue of the talks from where Suthep Thaugsuban, who led more than six months of anti-government protests, was taken away.

Hundreds of troops blocked cars from getting within 2km (1.2 miles) of the site – which was left eerily quiet as protesters packed up.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said there was “no justification” for the coup, adding that $10m in bilateral aid could be suspended.

European and Asian nations expressed concern over the coup, with Germany, France and Britain issuing statements of condemnation, Japan’s foreign minister calling it “regrettable” and Singapore urging all sides to avoid violence.

Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, said he was “seriously concerned” and appealed “for a prompt return to constitutional, civilian, democratic rule and an all-inclusive dialogue that will pave the way for long-term peace and prosperity”.

Thais, meanwhile, spent the night under a curfew which ran from 22:00 to 05:00. Bangkok was reported to be largely peaceful.

The anti-government movement has claimed victory and sent its supporters home.

Thailand’s army also told all television and radio stations in the country to halt normal programs on Thursday and only broadcast army material, according to Reuters.