By Cod Satrusayang and Peter Janssen (DPA)

BANGKOK —Hundreds of Thai protesters took to the streets of Bangkok Sunday to demonstrate against last week's coup, in open defiance of martial law imposed in the capital.

Soldiers arrested at least three protesters, injuring one, after hundreds gathered at Ratchdamri Avenue in central Bangkok.

The soldiers retreated and regrouped after finding themselves outnumbered. Their momentary withdrawal was greeted with cheers and more shouts of "Get out!" 

More demonstrators arrive at the scene after news and video of the arrests circulate on social media, prompting troops to retreat temporarily to avoid larger confrontation.

The protesters then marched from Ratchadamri Road toward Victory Monument, where a similar protest had taken place Saturday, witnesses said.    

Thailand's junta warned people not to join protests.

"We want to create confidence in Thailand's stability in the eyes of the international community," National Peace and Order Maintaining Council spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree said in a televised broadcast.

The statement followed a protest of several hundred people in Bangkok Saturday that led to a standoff with soldiers and police, but no violence. Martial law prohibits all political gatherings of more than five people.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power with a coup d'etat on Thursday and placed the country under martial law, detaining at least 150 politicians, activists and scholars over the past three days.

On Saturday, the junta dissolved the Senate, strengthening Prayuth's legislative powers as sole ruler of the nation.

"He wants to consolidate power in order to handle the security situation," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University. 

After Thailand's last coup in 2006, the military was quick to appoint a prime minister and set up an interim government to run the country, but Prayuth has not yet announced a schedule for doing so.

"This is a different situation from 2006, because the military is facing a much more diverse and well-organized opposition," Panitan said. "In the end, the military may be in power longer than expected."

The coup has drawn criticism from the United Nations and Thailand's close allies such as the EU and US. 

The US military announced the cancellation of joint exercises with Thailand after cancelling 3.5 million dollars in military assistance on Friday.

"It is important that the Royal Thai Armed Forces end this coup and restore to the people of Thailand both the principles and the process of democratic rule, including a clear path forward to elections," Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said in Washington.

Thailand and the US have enjoyed close military ties since the Vietnam War, when the Asian kingdom was allied with US forces and hosted their military bases on its soil.

"While we have enjoyed a long and productive military-to-military relationship with Thailand, our own democratic principles and US law require us to reconsider US military assistance and engagements," Kirby said.

The Pentagon canceled this year's exercises as well as planned visits in June by US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris to Thailand and Thai Armed Forces Commander General Tanasak Patimapragorn to the US Pacific Command.

BANGKOK — The US Embassy in Bangkok has disputed an army spokesman's claim that a top US Navy commander expressed his "understanding" to the Thai military junta that staged a coup d'etat last week.

In a press conference this morning, a Thai army spokesman said that US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris phoned army chief and coup-leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to tell him he "understood" the situation in Thailand.

"The American commander understood the situation because he is also a soldier,"  said army spokesman Col. Winthai Suwaree. "But the US and Thai governments have different opinions, in the aspect of idea and rules. It's a matter of international politics."

"The commander also understood that in order to restore order in the country, there has to be a sustained orderliness, not a temporary one," Col. Winthai added.

But only several hours after Col. Winthai's remarks were published by the pro-establishment Thai newspaper The Nation, the US Embassy in Bangkok posted on twitter that the news was "completely false."

"There has been no call from the US Pacific Fleet," the US Embassy tweeted. In a follow up message, the US Embassy urged the public to "beware false reports regarding alleged statements. The US remains concerned by [the Thai coup] and calls for immediate return to democracy."

The alleged phone conversation with the US Pacific Fleet Commander had strongly contradicted the US government's official stance on the coup in Thailand. The US cut military aid to Thailand almost immediately after Gen. Prayuth seized power, and US Secretary of State John Kerry sharply criticised the Thai military takeover, calling it unjustified. 

The Royal Thai Army is known to have made misleading statements in the past. For instance, it insisted on 16 May that martial law would only be invoked as last resort if large-scale unrest broke out in Thailand. Less than a week later, the army imposed martial law even though ther had been no escalation in violence. 

In the same press conference earlier today, Col. Winthai dismissed concerns over the US government's cut in military aid,  stating that Thai officials have informed Americans that the two countries are different.

"Democracy in our country led to losses," Col. Winthai told reporters.

BANGKOK — His Majesty the King will formally appoint army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha as head of the military junta, a top military officer said.

According to Lt.Gen. Panuwat Nakawong, Thailand’s 86-year-old king will attend a ceremony tomorrow to officially designate Gen. Prayuth as head of the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO). His Majesty the King is currently recovering from an illness at his summer palace in Prachuap Kiri Khan province.

Gen. Prayuth seized power from the civilian government and established himself as the chairman of the NCPO on 22 May.

The palace’s delay in formally approving the NCPO’s coup has puzzled many observers. In past coups, royal approval has been issued almost immediately.

Yesterday, the NCPO said a letter was sent to notify the palace of the military takeover, and that His Majesty the King “acknowledged" it.

After Gen. Prayuth is formally appointed head of the NCPO, a temporary charter will be drafted and a new Prime Minister will be appointed, said Lt.Gen. Panuwat,

A National Assembly and "Reform Council" will also be established to govern the country, Lt.Gen. Panuwat added.

It is not clear what the time frame for any of these developments will be.

Since seizing power on Thursday, the NCPO has voided the 2007 Constitution and dissolved the country’s Cabinet, Senate, and Parliament.  As a result, all legislative and administrative powers currently rest with the NCPO, which is governing Thailand under martial law. 

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BANGKOK (DPA) — The US military announced the cancellation of joint exercises with Thailand in the wake of last week's coup.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power with a coup d'etat on Thursday and has placed the country under martial law, detaining at least 150 politicians, activists and scholars over the past thee days.

On Saturday, the junta dissolved the Senate, strengthening Prayuth's legislative powers as sole ruler of the nation.    

"It is important that the Royal Thai Armed Forces end this coup and restore to the people of Thailand both the principles and the process of democratic rule, including a clear path forward to elections," Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said in Washington.

Thailand and the US have enjoyed close military ties since the Vietnam War, when the Asian kingdom was allied with US forces and hosted their military bases on its soil.

"While we have enjoyed a long and productive military-to-military relationship with Thailand, our own democratic principles and US law require us to reconsider US military assistance and engagements," Kirby said.

The Pentagon cancelled this year's exercises as well as planned visits in June by US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris to Thailand and Thai Armed Forces Commander General Tanasak Patimapragorn to the US Pacific Command.

The cancellations followed the US State Department's decision on Friday to suspend 3.5 million dollars in aid to Thailand.

"We are reviewing all programmes to determine other assistance which we may suspend," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

"As we have made clear, it is important that the Royal Thai Armed Forces end this coup and restore to the people of Thailand both the principles and the process of democratic rule, including a clear path forward to elections."
 

BANGKOK — The Thai military junta further consolidated its power tonight by dissolving the Senate and transferring top officials allied to the previous government to inactive posts.

The announcement was made in a statement released by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) this evening.

The NCPO provided no reasons for dissolving of the Senate, whose members are half-elected and half-appointed by the Courts and other independent agencies allied with the establishment. This Senate was largely controlled by its appointed members, who were considered to be sympathetic to the anti-government protest movement's cause. 

The announcement effectively voided the last remaining legislative body in Thailand, granting the coup leaders all law-making powers. The House of Parliament and the Cabinet were dissovled by the NCPO when it seized power. 

General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who declared a coup d'etat on 22 May, is now the acting prime minister. There has been no word on whether he will appoint a civilian premier, as was the case under past coups.

The NCPO also announced tonight that it would be transferring three officials to “assistant” duties at the Office of Prime Minister, which are understood to be inactive posts. 

The three transferred officials include chief of the Division of Special Investigation (DSI) Tharit Pengdith, Royal Thai Police chief Adul Saengsingkaew, and Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Nipat Thonglek.

All three men have been close allies to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the influential former Prime Minister who was ousted in the 2006 military coup, but remained the de facto leader of the former government while living in self-imposed exile abroad.

Since seizing power, the NCPO has summoned hundreds of politicans, activists, and academics. Many of those summoned, including former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, have been detained in undisclosed locations.

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BANGKOK — Hundreds of anti-coup protesters demonstrated in Bangkok for a second day of public protest against the military coup d'etat, despite the military junta’s ban on public gatherings of more than five people.

Earlier in the day, at least 150 demonstrators gathered in front of Major Cineplex shopping mall on Phahonyothin Road. The protesters, who held placards condemning the coup, repeatedly shouted "Ai Ley Org Pai!" ("Cross-eyed, get out!") in reference to coup-leaer Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is said to be cross-eyed.

"I am frustrated, I can't stand this," said a 33-year-old protester who declined to be identified by name. "Why should I bow down to this lawless power who is using guns to threaten people?"

Although the protest was largely peaceful, commotion broke out when a prominent royalist activist, who has previously filed a lese majeste charge against a student activist, was spotted near the soldiers. The crowd rushed to surround Ponnipa Supatnukul, which prompted soldiers to hail a public minivan and whisk her away.

At around 3 pm the protesters attempted to march down Phahonyothin Road to join other protesters at Victory Monument, but were stopped by rows of soldiers and riot police near Soi Phahonyothin. 

Minor clashes broke out, and several protesters were detained but later released by the military after a shoving match and more fistfights. Meanwhile, soldiers took a visibly more aggressive stance toward reporters, asking some journalists not to take photos. 

When it was clear that the soldiers would not yield, protesters changed their plan and took the Skytrain to Victory Monument, where hundreds of other protesters awaited them with huge banners, placards, and paper signs denouncing the coup and demanding an immediate return to a civilian administration.

The protesters initially occupied the elevated Skywalk surrounding Victory Monument, but as the crowd grew the demonstrators took to the road and marched clockwise around the iconic monument.

Dozens of soldiers were stationed near the monument but a large group of protesters later chased them away, forcing soldiers to take positions around the elevated skywalk and the nearby Skytrain station. Many of the soldiers were armed with automatic rifles, but they did not attempt to disperse the protesters.

The protest was initially scheduled to end at 6 pm, but many protesters remained in the area as the sun began to set.

The situation became increasingly tense after sundown, especially when one protester – understood to be one of the event’s organisers – was taken away by the military. An enraged crowd followed, streaming onto Phaholyothin Road, and the group of soldiers who arrested the activist were eventually outnumbered and forced to release the suspect.

Several other protesters were also reportedly arrested. Reports indicate that some soldiers behaved aggressively toward the demonstrators and attempted to detain those who held protest signs.

It is not clear who has been organising the mass protests, but the location of the rally was announced on an anti-coup Facebook page.

Another smaller protest was held in front of the Bangkok Art Cultural Centre today, which was the location of a similar protest yesterday. At least one protester was detained by security forces. 

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