By Somchai Kwankijswet and Peter Janssen

BANGKOK (DPA) — Thousands of soldiers and police were deployed in Bangkok Sunday to thwart sporadic protests against the May 22 coup.

Troops and riot police were stationed in the central shopping district where one political activist had vowed to host a "coup party."

Many of the businesses in the area were closed, although cars were allowed on the streets as usual.

"I've changed the venue of the party," Sombat Boonngamanong posted on Facebook, without saying where he wanted his followers to meet.

One woman, who showed up at the venue sporting a Sombat face mask, was arrested by police after she attempted to flee.  

Sombat, an activist of the Red Shirt street protests that occupied the centre of the capital for months in 2010, has defied a summons from the junta for questioning.

"Catch me if you can," he taunted on his Facebook page.

More than 6,000 soldiers and police were mobilized at eight spots in the capital to quell any signs of unrest Sunday, but by mid-day no major demonstration had materialized.

About 50 anti-coup protesters gathered at one intersection shouting "Elections, Elections," and "Army get out, Police get out."

"I'm not afraid of being arrested because I've done nothing wrong," said Thip, a saleswoman. "It's the army that has done wrong."

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power on May 22, saying the coup was necessary to restore order after more than six months of street protests resulting in terrorist attacks and a political gridlock.

On Friday, he vowed to appoint a prime minister once peace is restored, to enact political reforms and hold elections within about 14 months.       

Since coming to power, the National Council for Peace and Order has detained more than 200 people, most of whom were released after seven days or less.

Thailand has been placed under marital law that bans political gatherings of more than five people. The junta has warned protesters that they face immediate arrest.

Despite the ban, sporadic protests of several hundred people have been held over the past week, so far without the outbreak of serious violence.

To quell the protests, the junta has taken to blocking off traditional protest venues before rallies can gather in force. 

BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra made her first public announcement since the 22 May coup d’état in a Facebook post this morning.

Alongside a photo of her and her son, Ms. Yingluck wrote:

In the past week many things have changed and happened in our country. Many of you have expressed concern about me. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who sent your wishes either through the Facebook fan page or through other media. And thank you again for all the support that you have given me all along. I would like to give my moral support to all of you.  

Ms. Yingluck, who led the former goverment until she was ousted in a judicial ruling earlier this month, was one of the first political leaders to be summoned and detained by the military after it staged a coup d'etat. 

The military released Ms. Yingluck after several days on the condition that she not participate in any political activities or leave the country without notifying the army. 

Ms. Yingluck is the sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 but continues to play an influential role in Thai politics. 

A fiercely loyal fan base in Thailand's rural North and Northeast has whisked political parties associated with the Shinawatra family into power in every national election since 2001.

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BANGKOK – Barred from organising rallies by the military, a group of anti-coup activists staged a silent "read-in" protest in central Bangkok this evening.

The activists separated into groups of four along the Siam – Chid Lom elevated "Skywalk" to circumvent the military junta's ban on public gatherings of more than five people.

"This is a non-violent civil disobedience," said one activist, who asked not to be named, explaining that they chose books with titles and topics that symbolize their defiance to the military junta's rule. In addition to George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four," activists were reading titles  like "Unarmed Insurrection," and ''The Power of Non-Violent Means."

"I believe the security force cannot prosecute us for this activity," the activist added, "If they do, it means a full-scale censorship has taken place [in Thailand]."

The military has sealed off the rally sites of anti-coup protesters in recent days, namely the Victory Monument, and threatened to harshly prosecute any dissidents that publicly air their grievance against the coup.

The activists at Skywalk dispersed peacefully after an hour. They said they had not planned when the next read-in will be held, as the organisers have to assess the situation first. 

BANGKOK — A fugitive anti-coup activist is urging supporters to prepare for a cat-and-mouse chase with security forces in a major protest planned for Sunday.

Earlier this week, Sombat Boonngarm-anong, aka "the Dotted Editor," announced plans for a large anti-coup rally at Ratchaprasong Intersection in the heart of Bangkok's financial district on Sunday. 

However, Mr. Sombat said today that he will announce a new location for the protest by 10 am tomorrow morning in order to evade security forces, who have been locking down on other anti-coup rally sites.

Since seizing power in a coup d'etat on 22 May, the military has outlawed public demonstrations of more than five people. 

On Thursday and Friday, hundreds of soldiers and riot police sealed off Victory Monument in a massive show of force to prevent the anti-coup rallies that had become a daily occurrence.

Media reports indicate that a similar lockdown may be in store for tomorrow to block Mr. Sombat’s rally. The BTS has reportedly announced that it will suspend service to three Skytrain stations around Ratchaprasong Intersection from 9 am tomorrow until further notice.

This morning, Mr. Sombat advised protesters to closely monitor the situation on social media and be prepared to adapt quickly.

Mr. Sombat has billed the protest as a "Fancy Masquerade," urging supporters to arrive at the yet-to-be-designated protest site with masks bearing the faces of prominent political figures, such as ousted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and head of the military junta Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Mr. Sombat has been actively voicing his opposition to the military junta and organising protests on social media since he went into hiding last week after receiving a summons order from the National Council of Peace and Order.

After learning of the summons, Mr. Sombat posted on social media that he would not bow down to the NCPO's command.

"Catch me if you can!" Mr. Sombat wrote on his Facebook.

The military has since freezed Mr. Sombat's bank accounts and warned that he will face a trial in martial court and a punishment of several years in prison for defying the summons.

Mr. Sombat was also an active campaigner against the last military coup in September 2006, when he a co-founded the 19 Sep Network Against Coup D'etat. He later split from the network and founded his own group, "Thais Say No," whose members adopted red shirts as their trademark, preceding today's Redshirt movement by a year. 

Speaking to Khaosod English from hiding, Mr. Sombat said he believes the ongoing protests against the NCPO have the potential to be successful, but stressed that it is too soon to tell.

"I think we have to wait for a month first,” he said.

"Now that the coup makers have installed themselves in power, will they make any mistakes?" Mr. Sombat asked. "The people's protesters have already been formed. If the military does any mistakes, it will be exacerbated by the existing people's movement."

He also praised the role of social media in organising protests, noting that it is a crucial difference between the most recent coup d'etat and the military takeover in 2006.

"They are both coups, but the difference is that the people are better prepared this time to resist the coup," Mr. Sombat said.

Although Mr. Sombat admitted that he is concerned about potential violence on Sunday, he said believes the military will behave with restraint to preseve its image.

Asked whether he is confident that the military will not discover where he is hiding, Mr. Sombat said, "We have to see whose luck will outlast the other."

"Right now the biggest concern in my life is that I can't go to buy dim sum at 7-11," the activist added wistfully. 

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BANGKOK — Thailand will not see an election for at least a year, says the head of the military junta, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha.

In a televised address last night, Gen. Prayuth explained his three-phase "roadmap" for Thailand, following last week’s military coup d’etat and dissolution of the civilian government.  

The first phase involves "2-3 months" of military-led efforts to "reconcile" Thai society, which has become radically polarised amidst the political tumult that has rocked the country on-and-off for the past eight years. To achieve the ambitious goal of healing these divisions, the military will form local "reconcilation centres" across the country and convene a council dedicated to the "reconciliation" mission, Gen. Prayuth said.

The reconciliation effort will not award amnesty to those involved in the political violence that preceded the military's takeover, the army chief added.

After nationwide "reconciliation" is achieved, the military junta will set up an interim government and reform council to revise the constitution and solve problems of “all aspects.”

The reform phase will take about a year, Gen. Prayuth said. "It can be longer, or shorter. It depends on the situation," he said.

After reconciliation and reforms are completed,  there will be an election "under a genuine democratic regime,” the army chief said. 

According to Gen. Prayuth, this roadmap will ensure that Thailand's next election will produce a "good, honest, and just" leader that is accepted by all sides.

The televised address was the first time Thailand’s military junta has detailed its plans for the country after seizing power from the previous government and forming the National Council of Peace and Order on 22 May.

Prior to last night's speech, Gen. Prayuth evaded questions related to elections and an appointment of Prime Minister.

The speech dispelled any hope that an election will be held in Thailand in the near future. Many observers noted Gen. Prayuth's emphasis that the 15-month roadmap can be extended "depending on the situation." 

Gen. Prayuth's  roadmap immediately alarmed the United States, Thailand's biggest western ally, which has been calling on the Thai junta to organise an election and return to civilian administration as soon as possible.

"We know that they have announced a, quote, 'road map toward democracy,' but with scant details included," American State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki was quoted by the AFP as saying.

The US strongly condemned the military takeover last week and has already cut military aid to Thailand in response.

Ms. Psaki said that the US would prefer to see the military set a timeline for early elections held through an “inclusive and transparent electoral process.”

"There's no reason that they can't be held in the short term," she said.

The Australian government also announced today that it will decrease its cooperation with the Thai military to protest the coup d'etat, and that it has banned the coup-makers from travelling to Australia. 

The Australian government urged the NCPO "to set a pathway for a return to democracy and the rule of law as soon as possible, to refrain from arbitrary detentions, to release those detained for political reasons and to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms."

It is unclear whether international pressure will persuade Gen. Prayuth to hasten the election roadmap.

“We understand that we are living in a democratic world,” Gen. Prayuth said in last night's speech. “Please give us time to change attitudes, values and many other things.”

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