Preserve democracy, Phl urges Thailand

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday urged the military junta that took over the Thai government to maintain democratic rule and human rights and restore civilian authority as soon as possible.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippines hopes for a peaceful resolution of the political turmoil in Thailand.

“As a friend and fellow ASEAN member, the Philippines hopes the Thai people will be able to resolve this latest political challenge peacefully through dialogue and in the spirit of national harmony,” Jose said in a statement.

“The Philippines likewise hopes that the present authorities will honor their commitment to respect democratic principles and human rights at all times and will restore civilian authority,” he added.

Last week, the DFA raised Alert Level 2 in Thailand after the Thai Army declared martial law.

“Alert Level 2 is issued when there are real threats to the life, security and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbance in or external threat to the host country,” Jose said.

Filipinos in Thailand are advised to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places and prepare for possible evacuation amid the ongoing political crisis. Non-essential travel to Thailand is also discouraged at the moment, the DFA official added.

The Philippine government is also eyeing a partial deployment ban of Filipino workers to Thailand.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the ban would cover newly hired overseas Filipino workers bound for Thailand.

There are about 15,000 to 20,000 Filipinos in Thailand, according to the DFA.

Protesters defy junta ban with Bangkok march

In Bangkok, public anger at the Thai military’s coup grew yesterday as more than 1,000 protesters shouting “Get Out!” marched across the capital in defiance of an Army warning against protests.

Demonstrators began marching in the Chidlom district and made their way across the city to the Victory Monument cheered by onlookers, an AFP reporter at the scene said, after a tense standoff with armed soldiers in the city’s retail heart.

It was the largest expression of dissent since the Army seized power on Thursday after months of political turmoil.

There was no sign of soldiers or police on the streets during the march yesterday, which went ahead despite a junta statement calling on people not to protest and a martial law ban on gatherings of more than five people.

“I am not afraid of them,” protester Kongjit Paennoy, 50, told AFP. “We want an election – to choose our own boss.”

The military has detained former premier Yingluck Shinawatra and scores of other ousted government leaders and political figures since the coup, which brought sharp international criticism.

“I ask for people’s understanding on the current situation and that they refrain from anti-coup rallies, because democracy cannot proceed normally at the moment,” said junta spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree yesterday morning, adding a warning against using social media to “incite” unrest.

Before the main march, minor scuffles broke out as dozens of protesters, some waving signs reading “Junta Out” and “Fuck Coup,” staged a boisterous demonstration, jeering angrily and pushing at lines of armed soldiers outside a Bangkok shopping mall. 

At least two protesters were taken away by the troops, one bleeding, according to AFP journalists.

Bangkok has seen several smaller outbreaks of protest against the junta since Army chief Gen. Prayut Chan-O-Cha launched his takeover on Thursday.

Witnesses also reported demonstrations overnight in parts of the Shinawatra family’s northern power base, with rallies in the city of Khon Kaen and a heavy military presence in Thailand’s second largest city Chiang Mai.

The junta on Saturday announced it had disbanded the Senate and placed all law-making authority in Prayut’s hands.

Civil liberties have been curbed, media restrictions imposed and most of the constitution abrogated.