UPDATING All Day, Every Day
KEY Internet service providers were being called to a meeting with Army authorities today to discuss ways of controlling and censoring comments and articles detrimental to the wishes of the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council. At 4pm, the coup commander speaks to all Bangkok ambassadors at the club.
Original Report
BANGKOK: A list of more than 100 names was displayed on television today as the military leaders of Thailand ordered ''prominent figures of rival sides'' who could possibly cause trouble to report to the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council.
The list included some military officers who are known supporters of powerbroker former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and ex Cabinet ministers but also included civilian protest leaders from both anti-government and pro-government groupings.
Deposed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of Thaksin, was among the first ordered to report in an earlier list. She has already contacted officials to say she would do as ordered, according to Thai media.
At the same time, other leaders, held in custody since the coup was announced yesterday, were being allowed to return home, according to the coup military spokesperson.
With General Prayuth Chan-ocha moving swiftly to prevent any threats, the coup's top commander assumed control of the country.
While all television stations were still screening the NPOMC image today, life was continuing as normal in Bangkok, Phuket and other parts of Thailand.
The effects of the coup are just beginning to be felt, with cancelled bookings and tighter travel warnings deterring nervous tourists from visiting Thailand under military control.
Although many people could see that the generals had to intervene because the threat of violence had grown too great, media rights groups condemned the suppression of television and radio coverage.
The NPOMC was beginning to report the news itself, screening a short news service that showed street protesters from both sides being bused out of Bangkok.
Last night's 10pm curfew heightened concern but the military organised buses to transport tourists from Thailand's international airports.
The biggest problem in the capital, as retail stores and restaurants shuttered up early, was finding a taxi. Many drivers opted to go home early.
The streets of central Bangkok were packed with vehicles as people scurried to beat the deadline, a situation that is unlikely to reoccur as people plan their outings with greater care.
With the military carefully targetting the people it sees as most likely to cause problems, it's expected that the curfew will be lifted before Monday. It will need to be.
Photographs taken at 10pm last night in Soi Bangla, the popular walking spot in Phuket's Patong holiday hub, show all the nightspots closed. It will be the same tonight, authorities are being led to believe.
Phuket and other destinations in Thailand that depend solely on tourism will have to be revived quickly or the severe wound now being inflicted on tourism could put the industry into a coma from which it could take months to recover.
Governors of Phuket and all provinces throughout Thailand were being called to meetings today at which more of the planning for the coup is likely to be explained in detail.
Phuket's Governor Maitree Intrusud and the governors of the other 13 southern provinces were required to meet in Nakhon Si Tammarat at 10am.
Possibly for logistical reasons, they were not moving to Bangkok for a second, larger gathering of provincial governors this afternoon.
Schools have closed throughout Thailand but the country was operating normally today despite the coup.
Weekend football, including Phuket FC's match against Khon Kaen, has been postponed because inevitably crowds are in breach of a ban on gatherings of five people or more.
Would there be taxi's available to take arrival passengers to hotels in Phuket after 10pm tonight?
Posted by Anonymous on May 23, 2014 10:10
Editor Comment:
It's fairly certain the needs of tourists will be met.