Representatives of the Thai army have been speaking to the media, a day after the military seized power in the country. The briefing was given in Thai, with the officers taking media questions, while officer spoke in English. (TAKE SOUNDBITE)
The army seized power on Thursday and ordered the arrests of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her family. The military says they will be held for no longer than a week. Despite international calls for the restoration of a democratic government, the head of the army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, says there won’t be a return to civil rule anytime soon.
He says that can only happen after broad reforms have been introduced, and the country has returned to stability. Under its new administration, the military has banned gatherings of more than five people, censored the media, and imposed a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. On Friday, several hundred people gathered at a central Bangkok shopping district in what appeared to be a protest against the takeover.
