SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Since the May 22 coup d'etat that ousted Yingluck Shinawatra's civilian government, General Prayuth Chan-ocha's military has cracked down on dissent by imposing martial law, detaining protesters, handpicking members of the legislature, and suspending all forms of popular elections. (Photo: Reuters)
Army General Who Led Coup D'etat in Thailand Named Prime Minister
Overthrow of country's elected government in May has been followed by crackdown on dissent and increased abuses against those opposed to military rule
Aug 22, 2014
Thailand's junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, an army general who led the overthrow of the southeast Asian nation's elected government in May, has been named the new prime minister.
The BBC described the vote in a Parliament comprised mostly of military and police figures as "little more than a formality...the kind of rushed acclamation favored by dictatorships and communist parties of old."
Since the May 22 coup that ousted Yingluck Shinawatra's civilian government, Prayuth's military has cracked down on dissent by imposing martial law, detaining protesters, handpicking members of the legislature, and suspending all forms of popular elections.
The New York Timesreports:
Thailand's military says it will eventually restore democracy. But the junta has not provided a firm timetable for elections, and an interim constitution introduced by the military says that democracy, when it is restored, will be "suitable for a Thai context," a vague qualification that has yet to be defined.
Surachart Bamrungsuk, a professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and an expert on the Thai military, describes the current system as a "soft dictatorship" and says that the top generals are trying to cement their place in the country's future.
"What they want is a kind of guided democracy where the military has a supervisory role," Professor Surachart said.
According to Time:
Since seizing power, the junta -- officially known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) -- has promulgated an interim constitution that was labeled "a charter for dictatorship" by Human Rights Watch. It has also led a vicious crackdown on political opponents, journalists and academics critical of the putsch.
"Fundamental rights and freedoms, essential for the restoration of democracy, are still severely suppressed by the military authorities," says Sunai Phasuk, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Thailand. "Political activity, public assembly and expression of different opinions are not tolerated. Opposition to the coup and the NCPO is criminalized and subject to prosecution."
In response to Prayuth's election, Human Rights Watch Asia director Brad Adam said: "As both prime minister and junta leader, Gen. Prayuth can wield broad power without accountability. This marks a dark day for human rights and the future of democracy in Thailand."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Thailand's junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, an army general who led the overthrow of the southeast Asian nation's elected government in May, has been named the new prime minister.
The BBC described the vote in a Parliament comprised mostly of military and police figures as "little more than a formality...the kind of rushed acclamation favored by dictatorships and communist parties of old."
Since the May 22 coup that ousted Yingluck Shinawatra's civilian government, Prayuth's military has cracked down on dissent by imposing martial law, detaining protesters, handpicking members of the legislature, and suspending all forms of popular elections.
The New York Timesreports:
Thailand's military says it will eventually restore democracy. But the junta has not provided a firm timetable for elections, and an interim constitution introduced by the military says that democracy, when it is restored, will be "suitable for a Thai context," a vague qualification that has yet to be defined.
Surachart Bamrungsuk, a professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and an expert on the Thai military, describes the current system as a "soft dictatorship" and says that the top generals are trying to cement their place in the country's future.
"What they want is a kind of guided democracy where the military has a supervisory role," Professor Surachart said.
According to Time:
Since seizing power, the junta -- officially known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) -- has promulgated an interim constitution that was labeled "a charter for dictatorship" by Human Rights Watch. It has also led a vicious crackdown on political opponents, journalists and academics critical of the putsch.
"Fundamental rights and freedoms, essential for the restoration of democracy, are still severely suppressed by the military authorities," says Sunai Phasuk, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Thailand. "Political activity, public assembly and expression of different opinions are not tolerated. Opposition to the coup and the NCPO is criminalized and subject to prosecution."
In response to Prayuth's election, Human Rights Watch Asia director Brad Adam said: "As both prime minister and junta leader, Gen. Prayuth can wield broad power without accountability. This marks a dark day for human rights and the future of democracy in Thailand."
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Thailand's junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, an army general who led the overthrow of the southeast Asian nation's elected government in May, has been named the new prime minister.
The BBC described the vote in a Parliament comprised mostly of military and police figures as "little more than a formality...the kind of rushed acclamation favored by dictatorships and communist parties of old."
Since the May 22 coup that ousted Yingluck Shinawatra's civilian government, Prayuth's military has cracked down on dissent by imposing martial law, detaining protesters, handpicking members of the legislature, and suspending all forms of popular elections.
The New York Timesreports:
Thailand's military says it will eventually restore democracy. But the junta has not provided a firm timetable for elections, and an interim constitution introduced by the military says that democracy, when it is restored, will be "suitable for a Thai context," a vague qualification that has yet to be defined.
Surachart Bamrungsuk, a professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and an expert on the Thai military, describes the current system as a "soft dictatorship" and says that the top generals are trying to cement their place in the country's future.
"What they want is a kind of guided democracy where the military has a supervisory role," Professor Surachart said.
According to Time:
Since seizing power, the junta -- officially known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) -- has promulgated an interim constitution that was labeled "a charter for dictatorship" by Human Rights Watch. It has also led a vicious crackdown on political opponents, journalists and academics critical of the putsch.
"Fundamental rights and freedoms, essential for the restoration of democracy, are still severely suppressed by the military authorities," says Sunai Phasuk, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Thailand. "Political activity, public assembly and expression of different opinions are not tolerated. Opposition to the coup and the NCPO is criminalized and subject to prosecution."
In response to Prayuth's election, Human Rights Watch Asia director Brad Adam said: "As both prime minister and junta leader, Gen. Prayuth can wield broad power without accountability. This marks a dark day for human rights and the future of democracy in Thailand."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.