Press TVThailand’s coup leaders say the national constitution has been suspended and a night-time curfew is now in place across the country.
“In order to run the country smoothly, (coup leaders have) suspended the constitution of 2007, except for the chapter on the monarchy,” said a statement read out on Thailand’s national television on Thursday.
The 2007 constitution — drafted by a military-appointed committee following the last coup of September 19, 2006 — has been revoked except for Article 2, which states that Thailand is a democracy under a constitutional monarchy with the king as head of state.
Meanwhile, the army has declared a night-time curfew across all parts of Thailand, banning anyone from leaving their home from 10 pm to 5 am.
National TV and radio stations have also been ordered to broadcast only army-approved material, according to some media reports.
Earlier in the day, the Thai army chief announced in an address to the nation that the armed forces have taken over the government.
General Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thailand’s National Peace Keeping Committee needs to prevent violence and restore stability in the country.
The general failed, however, to provide clarity on a path forward.
The army coup comes after a second round of talks between rival political parties and election officials failed on Thursday.
On May 20, Thailand’s army declared martial law across the country.
Anti-government protesters, however, say they will continue their rallies, which erupted in Thailand six months ago.
Tensions deepened in Thailand after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office on May 7 for abusing power. The premier’s Pheu Thai Party, however, refused to leave power and immediately replaced Shinawatra with the country’s Commerce Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.
Protesters are pushing the Senate and the country’s courts to remove the caretaker administration and install a non-elected premier. They say they will obstruct the elections set for July that would likely give the ruling party a victory.
Anti-government demonstrations primarily erupted in Thailand after the government proposed an amnesty bill last October that could have pardoned Yingluck’s brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, setting the scene for his return to Thailand.
Opponents saw Yingluck as a proxy for her elder brother, who was toppled in a coup in 2006. Thaksin has been in self-exile since 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence.
GMA/AB
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/05/22/363718/thailand-army-suspends-constitution/