BANGKOK — Anti-coup protesters staged another largely peaceful demonstration at Victory Monument in Bangkok today, despite one military officer's attempt to rile the crowd with a provocative diatribe.

Speaking from an army humvee fitted with a loudspeaker, a military officer accused the protesters of being paid by their organisers, and urged the foreign media covering the demonstration to go home because they don't understand Thailand.

"There have been many coups in Thailand. This isn't the first time," the unnamed soldier told the foreign press. "The foreign correspondents are scroundels. They are here to sell Thailand."

The comments drew heated responses from the protesters, many of whom yelled insults at the soldiers and riot police who were stationed by the humvee on Phayathai road. Others threw bottles of water in anger.

"The protesters don't love the country," the military officer said over the loudspeaker in response. "Those who throw water bottles are scums."

He continued, "The military is here to maintain order and ensure safety for the people, whereas the protesters are here to cause trouble. They cause traffic jams that affect the public … [affected citizens] should come look at these damn protesters … who don't want our country to be peaceful."

The military officer made several other bold assertions, including the accusation that armed elements had infiltrated the protest and were plotting to overthrow Thailand's important institutions. He also claimed that the military has photographed every protester and will visit them in their homes.

The unusually provocative comments led many protesters to suspect that the military was trying to goad demonstrators into attacking the security forces to provide the pretext for a military crackdown. 

The presence of water cannons and several companies of troops —  some armed with automatic rifles —  on the nearby Phayathai Road appeared to confirm protesters' suspicions that the army was prepared for a crackdown.

The arrival of of pro-coup protesters on the scene added to the rally's already-tense atmosphere.  The group was led by Cpt. Songklot Chuenchoopol, a military officer known for his activism against the former government.

The pro-coup group shouted verbal abuses at the anti-coup protesters and instigated several heated arguments. However, no violence broke out, and Cpt. Songklot disappeared from the protest shortly after the military loudspeaker started berating the anti-coup crowd.

The protesters eventually started to disperse after sundown. Road traffic and Skytrain service — which was suspended on the stations close to Victory Monument during the rally —  was restored. No arrests or injuries were reported.

Today's protest marks yet another outburst of defiance against the military junta led by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, which has banned public gatherings of more than five people. Earlier this afternoon, Gen Prayuth warned that those who defy the ban will be met with "harsh" law enforcement and may face prosecution in military courts. 

Despite the military officer's accusations, our correspondents at the scene found no evidence of protesters being paid. In fact, the anti-coup demonstrations that have cropped up around the city since the military staged a coup d’etat last Thursday appear to lack a clear leader or organising force. The Facebook page "People Have Had Enough," which was behind earlier protests at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre (BACC), said today that it has asked supporters to suspend activities for "1-2 days" to monitor the situation.

However, a fugitive activist, Sombat Boonngarm-anong, has already called for another major anti-coup rally at Ratchaprasong Intersection in Bangkok on 1 June. 

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BANGKOK — According to Thai army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the military has not established a time frame for when it will return power to a civilian administration.

Gen. Prayuth, who installed himself as the head of the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO) after seizing power from the former government on 22 May, also refused to answer questions about whether he will assume the position of Prime Minister.

"Do you want to be Prime Minister? Do you?" Gen. Prayuth shot back at the reporter who asked the question.

Gen. Prayuth was speaking at press conference this morning after attending a ceremony that granted him official royal endorsement from His Majesty the King.

Speaking to the press, Gen. Prayuth stressed that the military now has "full authority" over all governmental functions, but said that many sectors of society are still participating in the governance.

After dissolving the Cabinet and both houses of Parliament, the NCPO now holds all legislative and executive powers.

Gen. Prayuth told reporters that the NCPO plans to establish an agency that will oversee nationwide "reforms," followed by the appointment of a new legislative assembly.

The army chief said that the military will swiftly solve many problems, including the overdue payments to farmers who participated in the government’s rice-pledging scheme. However, he also asked the public not to make too many demands.

"Right now, they should be concerned about what they can do to make the country safe," Gen. Prayuth said.

In response to the anti-coup demonstrations that have been cropping up around Bangkok in defiance of the NCPO's ban on public gatherings, Gen. Prayuth said that that soldiers have been ordered to enforce the laws harshly. He added that all illegal actions will now be dealt with in martial court.

Gen. Prayuth also repeated orders that journalists and social media users refrain from publishing anything that could “escalate the dispute." He warned that if necessary, the military may summon people for posting provacative comments on social media. 

The military has already summoned over 200 people to the Army Club, including journalists and political activists who have been critical of the NCPO's actions. Many of those summoned have been detained in undiscolsed locations. 

Gen Prayuth also asked the Thai Journalists Association, who signed a letter asking the NCPO to lift its restrictions on media, to stop making demands from this day onward.

When a reporter asked about when elections might take place, Prayuth answered,  “It depends on the situation,” and walked off stage. The army commander has a history of taking a brusque attitude with the press.

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BANGKOK — It was pepper spray, not sympathy for anti-coup protesters, which drove the soldier in the now-viral photo to cry, claimed the Royal Thai Army in a statement posted on Facebook.

The widely-circulated photo shows a soldier with tears rolling down one of his cheeks as he stood alongside other troops.

The photo was accompanied by a caption alleging that he was one of the soldiers that attempted to contain anti-coup protesters near Ratchaprasong Intersection in downtown Bangkok on Sunday. The caption said he was driven to tears by the demonstrators who berated him for siding with the military.

However, according to a statement posted on the Facebook page of the 1st Cavalry Division, King's Guard, the soldier did not cry in response to the protesters' rebukes.

"The truth is, it was caused by demonstrators spraying pepper spray on his eyes," the army statement said. "That's why he cried." 

There was no information on whether the alleged pepper-sprayer has been arrested.