Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, the nation's new military ruler, had warned coup opponents Monday warned coup opponents Monday saying the nation could revert to the "old days" of turmoil and street violence if they did.
Still, small numbers of protesters have gathered on Bangkok streets in defiance of martial law. Several hundred people gathered Monday at Victory Monument and eventually dispersed on their own, vowing to return some time Tuesday
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Monday's protest was tense but nonviolent, as others have been since last week, when the army first declared martial law and then announced it was taking over the government.
Through a loudspeaker, a soldier taunted the protesters, saying they had been paid to come out. "Can you still call yourselves patriots?" he said
The soldier also accused international journalists at the scene of inciting conflict. "Do you think they are good for Thailand?" he said, before addressing them directly in English: "Foreign media, you be careful ."
After declaring martial law May 20, Prayuth invited political rivals and Cabinet ministers for two days of peace talks to resolve the crisis. But those talks lasted just four hours. At the end of the meeting, Prayuth ordered everyone inside detained, and announced the coup on state television almost immediately afterward.
The junta has ordered more than 200 people — including most of the ousted government — to report to the authorities. They include scholars, journalists and political activists seen as critical of the regime.
Those summoned included former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who already had been removed from power at the time of last week's imposition of martial law.
An aid said she was released Monday from military custody after being held for three days at an undisclosed location without access to a telephone. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said Yingluck had returned to her home.
PR
