BANGKOK – Student activists have defied the military’s ban on political gatherings of more than five people by continuing to protest the military coup in Bangkok today.

The protests were organised by Thammasat University student activists who call themselves the League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD). Students from other universities and members of the public also joined the demonstration as well.

At 11 a.m.  protesters began marching from Thammasat University's Tha Prachan campus down Ratchadamnoen Avenue toward the Grand Palace, passing the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the Supreme Court on the way.

Some placards held by the protesters read, "Let us find the pigeon [symbol of democracy]," "We are coup generation," "Bring me back my damn votes,” and "Anti-Coup."

Since seizing power in coup d'etat yesterday, the military junta led by army commander-in-chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has banned gatherings of more than five people and warned against any public dissent.

Security forces kept watch on the demonstrators as they marched, but did not interfere until the group tried to enter the 14 October Uprising Memorial dedicated to the 1973 student protests that toppled a military dictatorship.

The soldiers tried to prevent demonstrators from entering the memorial site. But while some activists were arguing with the soldiers, one motorcycle taxi driver took a placard and sat down on the road in protest, prompting the rest of the group to follow suit. 

Large crowds of on lookers, Thai and foreign, started to gather around the protesters, forcing the soldiers to retreat and allow the demonstrators into memorial site. Once inside, the demonstrators gave speeches condemning the military coup and sang pro-democracy songs before marching back to Thammasat University at around 1 pm.

Many vendors and motorcycle taxi drivers applauded the activists as they marched along Ratchadamnoen Avenue, while others who disagreed with the students approached the group and argued with the activists. No violence was reported.

Sirawit Serithiwat, a member of LLTD, said that the demonstration was meant to show that many students and citizens are opposed to the military coup – the 12th in Thailand's political history.

"I think everyone learned the lesson from the 2006 coup that coups don't solve any problems. In fact, it has made problems worse to this day," Mr. Sirawit said. "The soldiers did not only insult themselves by launching this coup. They also insult the people, because they chose to seize power instead of letting politics solve the problem."

"Democracy should come from the people, not from gun barrels," Mr. Sirawit added.

The activists also called on the administration of Thammasat University to publicly oppose the coup and urge the military to return power to the people without delay.

The protest occurred amid the intensifying effort by the coupmakers to crackdown on media and political freedom. Dozens of activists have been detained and media sites blacked-out in the first 24 hours of the military takeover.

Another anti-coup protest is also underway at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre in downtown Bangkok.

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NONG KHAI —The military has occupied the Thai-Lao border crossing in Nong Khai province in an effort to prevent Redshirt activists from leaving the country.

The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge was sealed off by a mixture of troops, customs officials, and immigration police, shortly after the military seized power from the government yesterday afternoon.

At around 6:00 pm yesterday, soldiers began manning the arrival and departure sections of the border checkpoint. Military personnel said they were under orders to prevent "important" leaders of the Redshirt movement from leaving the country. They did not say which leaders soldiers were instructed to look for.

Traffic across the border was allowed to continue with severe restrictions. Thai commuters were not allowed to leave the country, and foreigners were not permitted to enter. Soldiers at the checkpoint said they were ordered to stay until a change was announced by the central command.

The news of the border shutdown caused panic among Laotian tourists and residents on the Thai side of the border. Laotian motorists made way to the border in droves, causing massive a traffic jam near the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. 

Laotians who have appointments at hospitals in Nong Khai province would still be allowed across the border, soldiers said.

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BANGKOK —Former Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn has reported to the military junta, after the coup leaders summoned over 100 politicians and activists to their headquarters this morning.

Mr. Niwatthamrong, who was ousted in a military coup just yesterday, arrived at the Army Club in Thavet district at around 9:35 a.m. It is reported that former Labour Minister and chairman of the now-dissolved Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), Chalerm Yoobamrung, accompanied Mr. Niwatthamrong to meet with the armed forces.

The meeting was convened by the military’s National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC), which took power in a televised address yesterday evening.

More than 100 prominent politicians and activists have been instructed to meet with the military, including former PM Yingluck Shinawatra and her sister Yaowapa Wongsawat. Both are siblings of the influential former PM, Thaksin Shinwatra, who was similarly ousted in a 2006 military coup.

It is not immediately clear whether Ms. Yingluck and Ms. Yaowapa will comply with the military’s summons.

Mr. Niwatthamrong’s arrival at the Army Club this morning effectively dispelled rumours—and hopes—among his Redshirt supporters that the ex-PM was planning to announce a "parallel government" to oppose the military takeover. 

One version of the rumour alleged that the former Prime Minister was seeking shelter in the US Embassy in Bangkok. US Ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenny, personally denied the rumour on her Twitter account last night.

The area surrounding the Army Club in Thavet is being heavily guarded by armed troops and sealed off from the traffic.

Reporters are not allowed to enter the Army Club. 

Meanwhile, sources from the former ruling Pheu Thai Party claim that the whereabouts of its spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, is currently unknown. Mr. Prompong is thought to have been detained by the military shortly after the coup was announced.

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By Peter Janssen (DPA)

BANGKOK —Thailand's ruling junta Friday summoned a score of leading politicians attached to the former government, which was ousted by a military coup.

The streets of the capital Bangkok were calm, with most public transport operating as normal on the first morning since the coup was announced by army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The country has been under martial law since early Tuesday.

The military's National Peace and Order Maintenance Council (NPOMC), in an early-morning television broadcast, summoned 23 politicians to come to its headquarters immediately, without providing an explanation for the order.

Among those summoned were former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was dismissed from her post earlier this month by a constitutional court ruling, former prime minister and Yingluck's step-brother, Somchai Wongsawat, and her sister Yaowapa, who is Somchai's wife.

On Thursday, shortly after seizing power, the council called on Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, Thailand's last premier, to turn himself in along with cabinet members, but he never did, said NPOMC spokesman Colonel Winchai Suwaree. 

Anti-government protesters had sought to topple the former Pheu Thai party government, backed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, during months of protests in the capital.

Thailand's last coup in 2006 ousted Thaksin – a deeply divisive figure who has been living in self-exile since mid-2008 – and led to about a year of rule by a military-appointed administration.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Friday that she was "gravely concerned" about the military coup in Thailand.

"It is a volatile situation," Bishop told national radio.

The United Nations, United States, and the EU Thursday called for a swift return to civilian rule.