1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

+Thailand live updates+

May 22, 2014

Thailand's army chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, has said the military is taking control of the government and would restore order to the country. Follow our updates for the latest.

https://p.dw.com/p/1C4Zw
hai soldiers stand guard as they provide security at the Army Club where Thailand's army chief holds a meeting with groups and organizations with a central role in the crisis, in central Bangkok May 22, 2014. Thailand's military chief will press political rivals on Thursday to end a drawn-out power struggle that has polarized the country and battered its economy, after neither side gave ground in a first round of army-brokered talks. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Image: Reuters

All updates in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC)

13:30 - Thai army deputy spokesman, Winthai Suwali, has said that any gatherings of more than five people are banned. "Anyone who violates this could be liable to not less than one year in prison," he said on national television. The military has declared a curfew starting at 10 p.m. local time (1500 UTC). The Associated Press news agency reports long queues at train and subway stations in the capital Bangkok, as people seek to beat the deadline.

12:39 - Thailand's coup leaders have ordered members of the now-deposed government's cabinet to report to the military by the end of the day. "In order to keep peace and order, the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council orders these persons to report themselves to the Council by May 22," a statement read out on television by the military said.

12:14 - Thailand's military leaders have suspended the national constitution. A statement read out on national television by Colonel Winthai Suwali said, "In order to run the country smoothly, (coup leaders have) suspended the constitution of 2007, except for the chapter on the monarchy."

12:12 - The Thai army has told all protesters to go home. "In order to keep peace and order all protesters from every group must leave for their homes immediately," an army spokesman said in a televised address.

12:10 - Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has said that a military commission that took power two days ago will not take control of the country's administration. All national broadcasting is to be replaced with the commission's announcements and patriotic music.

11:35 - Thai army re-declares martial law, says DPA news agency.

11:32 - Thai army says all television and radio stations must only broadcast army material, says Reuters news agency.

11:19 - Thai military sets curfew across country from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.

10:56 - Reports of army firing into air to disperse "Red Shirt" protesters in Bangkok's Western districts.

10:17 - Thai army sends troops to clear protest sites, Reuters reports.

10:15 - The AFP news agency reports that both rival political leaders, Jatuporn Prompan of the pro-government "Red Shirts" and anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, have been escorted from the meeting.

10:02 -Thai army chief announces a coup, in which the military is to take control of the government, live on television. He says this will not affect international relations and that the army will restore order and push through political reform.

09:58 - Reports, including Reuters news agency, say that the leader of anti-government protests was taken out of a meeting of political opponents by Thai soldiers.

09:52 -The Thai military says its chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, is to make a statement on national television.

msh,rc/tj (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)