BANGKOK — The government is urgently convening a meeting to draft a formal response to the Royal Thai Army’s unexpected pre-dawn declaration of martial law on Tuesday, a top official said.

Suranand Vejjajiva, secretary to the caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn, said the Cabinet is currently meeting to discuss the developing situation and will announce a formal response later in the day. He did not say where the meeting is being held.

Martial law, which grants the military “superior power over the civil authority” in matters of maintaining public order, was declared at 3:00 a.m. this morning by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army and chairman of the recently-installed Peace and Order Maintaing Command (POMC).

The military has ordered representatives from all state agencies to attend a 2:00 p.m. meeting this afternoon at military bases across the country. 

This morning, security forces were seen clearing anti-government protesters out of the Government House, taking control of major intersections, surrounding the Redshirt rally on Aksa avenue, and entering the residences of a number of Cabinet members, including Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. 

The army has also shut down a number of politicized TV stations, including Asia Update and Blue Sky TV.

However, daily life for most Thais proceeded normally this morning, and so far the military presence in Bangkok is considered “light.”

Almost 30 people have died since the most recent bout of political unrest erupted in Thailand last November.

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By Somchai Kwankijswet and Peter Janssen (DPA)

BANGKOK — Thai army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha early Tuesday declared martial law, giving the military full control over peace-keeping in the country that has seen six months of anti-government protests.

The statement was issued about 3 am Tuesday (2000 GMT), according to local media reports.

In a brief statement Prayuth dissolved the government's Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CAPO) and set up an army-controlled peace keeping centre.

Prayuth has the authority to declare martial law without the consent of the government, which has had caretaker status since December 9.

"It looks like he may have decided to do this without consulting the government, since his first order was to dissolve the CAPO which was jointly run by the government and police," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist and military affairs analyst at Chulalongkorn University.  

Thailand has been wracked by six months of non-stop protests seeking to topple the government.

At least 25 people have died in political-related violence and more than 700 injured.

On Thursday, Prayuth warned the army would use "full force" to maintain law and order in the country during the on-going political crisis, after three protesters were killed.

The declaration of martial law follows the launch over the weekend of a "final battle" against the government by Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), the main anti-government protest group.

Suthep on Saturday said he would pressure the remaining 25 members of the caretaker cabinet to resign and launch a mass protest on Friday to Monday to topple the administration.  

He vowed to turn himself in to authorities to face insurrection charges on May 27 should his final battle fail.

"I think Prayuth is trying to neutralize the confrontation between the PDRC and elements of the pro-government groups who have threatened to fight back if Suthep's group capture some of the ministers," Panitan said.

Martial law gives the army control over security, but leaves the government in command of other tasks, unlike a coup.

Thailand has witnessed 18 coups in the past eight decades, the last of which ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

The army has stationed troops in the capital to help police keep the peace during the past six months of protests, which have brought Thai politics to a stalemate.

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Bangkok (CNN) — The Thai army declared martial law throughout the country Tuesday in a surprise move that an aide to the country's embattled Prime Minister said the government didn't know about beforehand.
"They took this action unilaterally. The government is having a special meeting regarding this. We have to watch and see if the army chief honors his declaration of impartiality," the aide said, describing the situation as "half a coup d'etat."
Lt. Gen. Nipat Thonglek told CNN the move was not a coup.
"The Army aims to maintain peace, order and public safety for all groups and all parties," a ticker running on the army's television channel said. "People are urged not to panic, and can carry on their business as usual. Declaring martial law is not a coup d'etat."
Martial law went into effect at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, the ticker said.
All Thai TV stations are being guarded by the military, Thai public television announced, showing pictures of soldiers and armored vehicles taking positions outside broadcast facilities in the country's capital.
The dramatic announcements come days after the head of the army issued a stern warning after political violence had surged in the country's capital.
Political tensions have been running high in Thailand. Supporters and opponents of the country's government have staged mass protests in recent days, and caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was removed from office, along with nine cabinet ministers, by a top court earlier this month.

BANGKOK — Family members of victims of the 2010 military crackdown have renewed their calls for justice, demanding the government allow the International Criminal Court to pursue the pending court cases against those responsible for the crackdown.

"It's been four years since I lost my son, but the case is not going anywhere," said Somchai Chiamphol, whose son, Thipnet Chiamphol, was shot dead near Soi Rang Nam during clashes between the military and Redshirt protesters on 14 May 2010. 

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters that left over 90 people dead, yet the Thai authorities have still failed to make any headway on the lawsuits against the government and military officials who authorised the crackdown.

As a result, families of the victims and human rights activists have been calling on the government to formally cede jurisdiction over the cases to the ICC.

"I want the DSI [Division of Special Investigation] to press ahead with the cases of the martyrs, and I want the government to accept the jurisdiction of the ICC, so that the world will know [about the crackdown] and help us find the wrongdoers," said Mr. Somchai, whose son died in the crackdown. "That way, the country can move forward."

In April of 2010, former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban ordered the brutal military crackdown on the tens of thousands of Redshirt protesters who were rallying on Bangkok’s streets to demand a fresh election. 

The 10 April crackdown was followed by weeks of clashes between the protesters and security forces, culminating in a final military assault on the Redshirts' encampment on 19 May. 

Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Suthep have been charged by the DSI for murder due to their role in 2010, but both have denied the charges, blaming the deaths on shadowy "Blackshirt" militants thought to be allied with the Redshirts. 

Pan Kamkong, whose brother Phan Kamkong was shot dead by the military near Ratchapralop Airport Link Station on 15 May, said he wanted authorities to hasten the legal procedures against Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Suthep. 

"Especially Mr. Suthep. He is now charged with insurrections and murder, yet he is allowed to walk free and hurt our feelings," Mr. Pan complained. "If it's possible, I want the government to finally accept the jurisdiction of the ICC, because this is a big case. A lot of people died."

Despite their alliance with the Redshirts, the current government has been reluctant to pass jurisdiction onto the ICC.

In November 2013, the ruling Pheu Thai Party also attempted to pursue a "blank amnesty bill" that would pardon all politicians accused of corruption and political violence since 2005, including the authorities responsible for the 2010 military crackdown.

"I have to admit that I am still deeply disappointed by the government's attempt to pass the 'all in the basket' amnesty bill," Mr. Pan told Khaosod. "Eventually, it led to what is happening right now. If the government had not done it, the PCAD wouldn't be here," Mr Pan said, referring to the anti-government People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State, who began their protests in response to the introduction of the amnesty bill last November.   

To commemorate the anniversary of the crackdown, Redshirts invited 2,000 monks to their rally site on Aksa Avenue in western Bangkok to perform a religious ceremony this morning.

Yesterday, a group of families, under the name "Families of April-May 2010 Martyrs,” arranged their own ceremony to honor their loved ones at Plab Pla Chai Temple in Bangkok.  

"It's been four years since the loss, but as a relative of the victim, I am still upholding their democratic ideal. I have not forgotten those who died," said Ubonwan Chantorn, the sister of a taxi driver who was shot dead while rallying with the Redshirts near Lumpini Park on 14 May 2010.

"I want the legal process to move forward, because so far progress has been abysmal," Ms. Ubonwan said, "Personally, I understand bureaucracy, and I see that some cases that have clear evidence are being processed, but many cases have not seen any progress at all.”

She added, "I want to use this occasion of the fourth anniversary to remind officials, to ask them whether they are ready to perform their duties, find the truth, and bring us justice."

According to Ms. Ubonwan, the "Families of April-May 2010 Martyrs" will renew their campaign for justice once the current political crisis calms down. 

Phayao Akhard, thhe mother of "Nurse Kate" who was shot dead by the military inside a temple on the last day of the 2010 crackdown, said she plans to meet with DSI chief Tharit Pengdith herself and urge him to make genuine progress on the more than 70 still unresolved cases. 

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BANGKOK — A prominent anti-government activist is reportedly planning to sue the editor of a popular Thai website over critical remarks about anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

The editor of Kapook, Poramet Minsiri, angered many anti-government protesters when he claimed on Twitter that Mr. Suthep, the self-appointed leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), is willing to use his "Sovereign Power" to summarily execute, detain, and seize the assets of his opponents after he manages to topple the current government.

Mr. Poramet's comment was a paraphrase of Mr. Suthep's speech, delivered in April, in which he announced plans to appoint himself as a "Sovereign Body" and wield absolute power through a number of "Revolutionary Decrees" that would grant him authority similar to that which was enjoyed by the military dictatorship in the 1960s. 

Although Mr. Suthep did not explicitly threaten to order summary executions, he did mention that he would be able to do so as a "Sovereign Body": "We will have something like Article 17 [of 1959 Administrative Charter] as the highest law … [I] will be able to order anyone to be executed by firing squad, but I will only freeze assets."

However, another PCAD activist, former Democrat MP Satit Wongnongtoey, has deemed Mr. Poramet's interpretation of the speech unacceptable.

Yesterday, Mr. Satit told the anti-government newspaper Manager ASTV that he is consulting with his lawyer to bring a libel lawsuit against the Kapook editor. 

"I insist that Mr. Suthep's movements have nothing to do with violence, let alone the threats of execution," Manager ASTV quoted Mr. Satit as saying. He did not mention when his lawyer will file charges against Mr. Poramet. 

Responding to the threat of libel lawsuit, Mr. Poramet released a statement claiming that he is an impartial observer of Thai politics, equally critical of both the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the PCAD.

"I find it incredible that for all of the years I have been exposing the Thaksin Administration and the Pheu Thai Party, I have not been threatened by any legal action. But today I have received news that the lawyer of a Democrat Party politician intends to sue me only few months after I criticised Mr. Suthep," Mr. Poramet said in the statement. 

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