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Thai Army Chief Meets Political Rivals

by Steve Herman May 21, 2014

A day after Thailand's army chief declared martial law, he gathered top politicians and protest leaders for talks in Bangkok. The talks are intended to try to break the six-month political deadlock that continues to damage the country's economy.

Prominent political figures were summoned for closed-door talks by General Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Following the unprecedented session among the opposing sides, army Colonel Werachon Sukondhapatipak characterized the talks as serious in content but conducted in a friendly atmosphere.

'The very first day we are not able to come up with the solution. But we gave them some homework to go back and to consult with their supporters, with their teams, in order to come back again and propose some ideas in order to find the best solution,' Werachon said.

A second session is scheduled for Thursday.

The talks began just one day after martial law was declared by the army chief.

On day two there was scant evidence of the military on Bangkok's streets, a contrast from the previous day when there were numerous checkpoints in and outside the capital.

One significant difference after the implementation of martial law: a muting of Thailand's media. At least 14 satellite TV stations and hundreds of small radio stations were taken off the air. At the remaining channels on air which carry news, soldiers were inside to monitor content.

The pro-government red shirts, camped just west of the capital, have reiterated they will not remain passive if the caretaker cabinet is ousted.

At the anti-government rally site, adjacent to the main government complex, the army's headquarters and the U.N.'s largest regional office, there was no military presence. As was the case before martial law was enacted, guards of the People's Democratic Reform Committee control access to roads and the group's expansive camp site.

PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister, vows his supporters will break camp only when the government is rid of the influence of the powerful Shinawatra family, whose political parties have won every election since 2001.

That record is why anti-government protesters such as freelance photographer (from Pattalung province) Sathit Yoddecha oppose another vote. Instead, they want an unelected council to change Thailand's political system.

He says elections are not the goal because that would only mean the same group would come back to power. And that is not what the anti-government demonstrators desire, he says. What they do want is to no longer walk down the same path that hurt the country.

There is little doubt the extended period of political upheaval has hurt Thailand. The country's economy shrank by more than two percent in the first quarter of the year.

Even before Monday's declaration of martial law, government planners had cut the economic growth forecast for the entire year. A prolonged period of martial law or another coup would almost certainly give pause to many more investors and tourists.