Dear Friends of Thai Democracy:
As you are well aware, on May 22, 2014, the military staged a military coup taken the control of governing country from the caretaker government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra. They called themselves the National Council for Peace and Order (NPCO), led by General Prayut Chan-ocha, the commander of the Royal Thai Army, following six months of anti-democratic protest.
Prior to seizing the power, the commander of the Royal Thai Army, declared martial law, and detained some members of the government representatives, the opposition party members, as well as the leaders of the protest groups. Once the coup was declared, the military summoned many people; those include ex-PM Yingluck, Government Ministers, MPs, academics, journalists, and social activists. As of today, there were more than 300 people summoned and detained. TV and radio stations were closed. Press is controlled. The leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) were detained.
This coup was not only to overthrown the elected government, but also to prevent the growth of democracy, to suppress the democratic movement, the Red Shirt movement led by UDD. The latest coup is like the past 11 coup; its purpose is to make Thai Democracy infantile and not having any firm foothold.
On the other hand, people who cherish democracy from all segment of Thailand have stood up and protest against the military dictatorship, including some members of ousted government and the UDD. They declared not to accept the legitimacy of the military coup, their orders, nor their dictatorial power. They will fight for democracy using peaceful and non-violent means.
Finally, I would like to thank the governments from the international community who stood up for democracy against the military. Their cancellation of certain aid and military support, their refusal to engage and/or reducing the interaction with the Thai military, help the case for Thai democracy tremendously. I hope that the international community and its governments will continue to do the same and add more pressure to the NCPO to stop detention, release all detainees, and stop controlling the press, stop violating human rights, and return Thailand to the path of democracy very soon.
Yours Truly,
Jaran Ditapichai
UDD Leader
Advisor to Deputy Prime Minister
Former National Human Rights Commission