WUNRN
HOW DOES THE THAI MILITARY COUP
IMPACT WOMEN & GIRLS OF THAILAND?
If one looks around the world at the
media coverage of these new developments in Thailand, the photos, the power
references, are on MEN, especially military. Where do we read or hear how Thai
women felt to awaken to martial law, how safe they feel on the streets, their
fears and anxieties in this new situation in their country. Are the voices of
women, high level to grass roots, included, respected, in this coup period,
whether short or protracted? What is meant by "reforms for the political
structure, economy, society?" We hope to hear the realities of this
complex time from Thailand women. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THAILAND WAKES TO MILITARY RULE
By Hilary Whiteman,
CNN - May 21, 2014
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THAILAND ARMY DECLARES COUP, CITING NEED TO
"REFORM" NATION
The Thai news media reported that
political officers who were attending a meeting called by the military had been
detained.
The coup came after the introduction of
martial law on Tuesday and follows a long history of coups in Thailand.
General Prayuth said the coup was launched
“in order to bring the situation back to normal quickly.” The coup, he said,
was intended to “reform the political structure, the economy and the society.”
The last coup in Thailand was in 2006 and
had been followed by more than a year of military rule.
Thousands of protesters were on the
streets when General Prayuth made his announcement.
“The national peacekeeping committee,” he
said, referring to the military, “will worship and protect the monarchy.”
Thailand’s
king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, is 86 years old and ailing. He has been on the throne
for more than 60 years.
The Thai government has been paralyzed by
protests for the last six months.
Protesters have sought to eradicate the
country’s most powerful political family, the Shinawatras. The country’s
politics have been turbulent since 2006, when the military removed Thaksin
Shinawatra, the patriarch of the family, who founded a populist movement that
has won every election since 2001.
Mr. Thaksin, whose power base was in the
provinces, challenged the power of the Bangkok establishment, a conflict that
has been one of the roots of eight years of political turmoil in the country.
General Prayuth did not mention anything
about elections in his announcement. Elections in February were boycotted by
the opposition and blocked by protesters. The coup announcement was made after
the Thai stock market was closed.
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RVE