Thai military announces coup, gives its chief PM powers
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Military chief has the power of Prime Minister
Military chief: Rival factions couldn't propose a suitable agreement
The coup came hours after the military and opposition parties met to try to find a solution
The Thai military declared martial law earlier this week
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Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- The Thai military has taken control of the government in a coup and has given the country's military chief the power to act as Prime Minister.
Military officials also imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time (11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET), authorities said in a televised address.
And the military has ordered that the 2007 constitution be thrown out, except for Section 2, which acknowledges that the king is the head of state.
The developments are the latest in a chain of failed attempts to defuse tensions that have simmered since November. The discord has its roots in politics, and led both pro- and anti-government factions to fight over the country's leadership.
The military on Tuesday imposed martial law in an attempt to end the instability, but said it was not a coup. Now, it has taken power outright.
In a statement released by the military, it said the military chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, now had the powers to act as Prime Minister until a new Prime Minister is in place.
The move came after rival factions were unable to come up with a suitable agreement to govern, the military chief said in a national address.
Hours earlier, members of the military and opposition parties met for a second day to try to find a solution to the crisis.
Members of the political parties involved in the talks were seen under military escort after the meeting. A lawyer for the pro-government "Red Shirts" confirmed that the military had detained the movement's leaders.
Gunshots were heard Thursday at the site in Bangkok where the Red Shirts have been protesting. A former national security chief described these as warning shots to get the crowd to leave.
In his address, the military chief told citizens that it should be business as usual. All civil servants and officials should report to work, he said, and anyone who has weapons -- such as police -- should not make any attempt to move those without orders.
The military also said it will provide security to foreigners, including vacationers and diplomats.
At the same time, the military ordered all state-run, satellite and cable TV providers to carry only the signal of the army's television channel.
It also announced that all schools in Thailand will be closed for three days, starting Friday.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the military takeover.
"He appeals for a prompt return to constitutional, civilian, democratic rule and an all-inclusive dialogue that will pave the way for long-term peace and prosperity in Thailand," his spokesman said.
The people of Thailand are all too familiar with coups. Thursday's coup was the 12th successful military takeover since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.
Fruitless talks
During the meetings this week, Thai election officials said the caretaker Prime Minister and his Cabinet should resign and a new interim government should be named ahead of elections to be held in six to nine months.
But interim Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan rejected that proposal.
Among those invited to the meetings were the chairman of the election commission, the acting Senate house speaker, the leader of the governing Pheu Thai Party, the leader of the opposition Democrat Party, the leader of the anti-government protesters and the leader of the Red Shirts.
Deep-seated tensions in Thailand in recent months have caused deadly clashes, paralyzed parts of the capital and brought down Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Rights groups sound alarm on martial law
The military, which has a long history of interfering in Thai politics, stepped into the fray Tuesday with its sudden declaration of martial law -- without giving any warning to the acting Prime Minister.
Thailand martial law: A cheat sheet to get you up to speed
"They took this action unilaterally," an aide to the Prime Minister told CNN, describing the situation earlier this week as "half a coup d'etat."
Human rights activists warned the imposition of martial law is a major step away from democracy and lacks safeguards. Human Rights Watch said it "threatens the human rights of all Thais."
The law includes restrictions on where protesters can gather, what TV and radio broadcasters can air and social media posts.
How the chaos unfolded
Thailand has been hit by bouts of political unrest over the past decade.
The current wave was triggered in November by Yingluck's botched attempt to pass an amnesty bill that would have allowed the return of her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, another former prime minister who lives in exile. A military coup deposed Thaksin in 2006.
Groups opposed to the government seized on the amnesty bill furor and began large-scale protests in central areas of Bangkok.
In an attempt to defuse tensions, Yingluck called early elections. But the Democrat Party boycotted the February election, and Yingluck's opponents blocked voting in enough districts to prevent a valid outcome.
The leaders of the anti-government protesters say elections -- which the Shinawatra family's populist Pheu Thai Party is likely to win -- aren't the way to resolve the crisis. They say they want the establishment of an unelected "people's council" that would oversee political changes.
Yingluck, who first took office in 2011, stayed on after the disrupted election as a caretaker Prime Minister. But the Constitutional Court forced her from office two weeks ago, finding her guilty of violating the constitution over the appointments of top security officials.
Yingluck has denied breaking the law.
By Paula Hancocks, Kocha Olarn and Holly Yan, CNN
May 22, 2014 -- Updated 1845 GMT (0245 HKT)
韓国 新首相任命で停滞感払拭へ5月22日 18時20分
韓国のパク・クネ大統領は、旅客船沈没事故の対応を巡って辞意を表明した首相に代えて、政界への捜査で名を上げた元最高裁判所裁判官を新たな首相に任命し、政権を取り巻く停滞感の払拭（ふっしょく）を図るねらいがあるとみられます。
旅客船沈没事故を巡って韓国政府は救助された人の数を誤って発表するなど混乱が続いたうえに、海洋警察の初動対応も問題があったと強い批判を受けています。
韓国大統領府は２２日、混乱の責任をとって先に辞意を表明していたチョン・ホンウォン首相に代えてアン・デヒ元最高裁判所裁判官を新たな首相に任命する人事を発表しました。
アン・デヒ氏は、ノ・ムヒョン政権期に検察の捜査部長を務め、大統領側近や国会議員らを次々に逮捕したことから、「国民の検事」という異名をとりました。
大統領府のミン・ギョンウク報道官は、「今後、政府組織を改革して、国家改造を成功させてくれると思う」と述べました。
さらにミン報道官は、事故直後に責任逃れとも受け取れる発言が批判された大統領府のキム・ジャンス国家安保室長と、大統領選挙への介入疑惑で野党から追及を受けていた国家情報院のナム・ジェジュン院長の辞表をパク大統領が受理したことも明らかにしました。
パク・クネ大統領は３日前に国民に改めて謝罪するとともに、海洋警察を解体するなどの方針を発表したばかりですが、政権中枢の人事も入れ替えることで、政権を取り巻く停滞感の払拭を図るねらいがあるものとみられます。
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