National Council for Peace and Order

Not to be confused with Council for National Security.
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The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) (Thai: คณะรักษาความสงบแห่งชาติ; rtgs: Khana Raksa Khwam Sa-ngop Haeng Chat; or คสช.) is the junta ruling Thailand, following the 2014 Thai coup d'état.[1] On 20 May 2014, the military declared martial law nationwide in an attempt to stop the country's escalating political crisis.[2] On 22 May, the military deposed the government and formed the NCPO to rule the country. The junta censored the broadcasting system in Thailand, repealed the constitution, and arrested members of the Thai cabinet.[3]

Name

The original English name of the junta was "National Peace and Order Maintaining Council" or "NPOMC".[4] The name was later changed to "National Council for Peace and Order" or "NCPO" on 24 May 2014.[5]

Membership and authority

Prayut Chan-o-cha, Leader of the coup and NCPO

On 22 May 2014, the NCPO announced its composition[6] and stated that its leader will exercise all powers and duties which the laws invest in the prime minister and the cabinet, until there is a prime minister.[7][8]

The following day, it announced that the determination of the short- and long-term policies on national administration is the power of its leader. It also assigned its members to the government ministries and equivalent agencies.[9]

On 24 May 2014, the NCPO dissolved the Senate and vested the legislative power in its leader.[10] It also ordered the judicial branch to operate under its directives.[11] Later that day, it transferred Police General Adul Saengsingkaew, who was the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police and also its deputy leader, to an inactive post in the Office of the Prime Minister.[10] Adul was replaced by Police General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit.[12]

On 26 May, King Bhumibol Adulyadej endorsed the coup, formally appointing General Prayuth to "take charge of public administration" as from 24 May.[13][14] The royal endorsement is seen as key to legitimising the coup.[14]

Office Name Military status In charge of
Branch Rank Position
Leader Prayut Chan-o-cha Royal Thai Army General Commander-in-Chief
Deputy Leader Thanasak Patimaprakorn Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters General Chief of the Armed Forces
Deputy Leader Narong Pipathanasai Royal Thai Navy Admiral Commander-in-Chief
Deputy Leader Prajin Jantong Royal Thai Air Force Air Chief Marshal Commander-in-Chief
Deputy Leader Adul Sangsingkeo Royal Thai Police

Office of Prime Minister

 Police General Former Commissioner-General

Minister of the Office of Prime Minister
  • Bureau of the Royal Household
  • Council of State
  • Cabinet Secretariat
  • Civil Service Commission
  • Consumer Protection Commission
  • House of Representatives Secretariat
  • National Buddhism Office
  • National Economic and Social Development Commission
  • National Education Standards and Quality Assessment Office
  • National Research Council
  • Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary
  • Office of the Prime Minister
  • Office of the Prime Minister's Permanent Secretariat
  • Prime Minister Secretariat
  • Public Relations Department
  • Public Sector Development Commission
  • Senate Secretariat
  • Royal Development Projects Board
  • Royal Institute
  • Thailand Research Fund
Secretary-General Udomdej Sitabutr Royal Thai Army General Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Spokesman Winthai Suvaree Royal Thai Army Colonel Vice Spokesman of the Army

Board of Consultants

On 26 May 2014, the NCPO announced its Board of Consultants:

Office Name Note
Chairman Prawit Wongsuwan Former Minister of Defence (Abhisit Vejjajiva's cabinet)
Vice Chairman Anupong Paochinda Former commander-in-chief of the army
Vice Chairman Pridiyathorn Devakula Former Governor of the Bank of Thailand
Consultant Somkid Jatusripitak Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (Thaksin Shinawatra's cabinet)
Consultant Narongchai Akrasanee Member of Thai Monetary Policy Committee and Former Minister of Trade (Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's cabinet)
Consultant Wisanu Kruangam Former Deputy Prime Minister (Thaksin Shinawatra's cabinet)
Consultant Yongyuth Yuthavong Former Minister of Science and Technology (Surayud Chulanont's cabinet)
Consultant Itthaporn Subhawong Former commander-in-chief of the air force
Consultant Noppadol Intapanya Former Secretary to Minister of Defence (Prawit Wongsuwan)
Consultant and Secretary Dowpong Rattanasuwan Former Vice commander-in-chief of the army

Political motivations and objectives

The stated objective of the coup and NCPO is to restore order to Thailand and to enact political reforms.[15]

Since taking over the NCPO has made full use of martial law to prosecute opponents, ban political activity, and censor the media. More than 1,000 people, including academics, political bloggers, activists and politicians, have been detained or sent for "attitude adjustment" at military installations. There are allegations of torture. Prosecutions under the country’s strict lèse majesté laws, which protect the monarchy from insult, have risen sharply.[16] In its annual report in January, Human Rights Watch said military rule had sent human rights in Thailand into "a freefall".[17]

Decisions and future

The NCPO repealed the 2007 Constitution, save the second chapter which deals with the King. In addition, it formally ordered the dissolution of the caretaker government, while the Senate is dissolved on order of the NCPO. Other state agencies, including the courts and the independent organs, remain operative.[18]

Furthermore, the NCPO imposed a curfew throughout the country, ordering the people to stay indoors from 22:00 to 05:00 hours.[19] It laid down a ban on political gatherings and directed all protesters to disperse.[6] It also ordered all educational institutes, both public and private, to close from 23 to 25 May 2014.[20]

Compensation

On 2 August 2014, a law was issued to determine monthly salaries and other monetary benefits for the NCPO members. General Prayuth is granted a total of THB 125,590 per month, whilst each of the other NCPO members is given a total of THB 119,920 per month. These benefits are paid in addition to the benefits they are already entitled to by virtue of their posts in the armed forces.[21]

Domestic and international reactions to the NCPO

Immediately after the coup was announced, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters who were at their sites expressed their applause for the action.[22] Phra Buddha Issara, a Buddhist monk who is a PDRC co-leader, went on a stage and proclaimed the victory of the anti-government protesters before requesting his protesters to go home.[23] Some of the pro-government protesters dispersed at the behest of the military, while the others refused to leave.[22] The NCPO provided seventy military cars to send the protesters from both sides home.[24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Thai military declares coup, detains party leaders". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  2. ↑ "Capo dissolved, riot police ordered to withdraw". Bangkok Post. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Thai military takes over country in coup - again". CNN.com. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  4. ↑ "สำนักข่่าวแห่งชาติ : National Peace and Order Maintaining Council Announcement 1/2014". Thainews.prd.go.th. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  5. ↑ "Junta summons TV operators, TV network operators". The Nation. 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 คสช. ตั้งบิ๊กตู่หัวหน้าคณะ ให้ รธน. สิ้นสุดชั่วคราว ครม. หมดอายุ วุฒิฯ-องค์กรอิสระยังอยู่ [Big Tu leads NOPCM, charter suspended, cabinet dissolved, senate and independent organs remain in existence] (in Thai). Manager. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  7. ↑ คสช. สั่งผู้ประกอบการสื่อสังคมออนไลน์ระงับส่งข้อความยั่วยุ [NCPO orders all online media service providers to suspend provocative info] (in Thai). Manager. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  8. ↑ "Coup leader to act as PM pending new premier appointment". The Nation. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  9. ↑ 'คสช.' ประกาศ ฉ. 22 จัดส่วนงาน-กำหนดหน้าที่ความรับผิดชอบ [NCPO announcement 22: arrangement of administrative agencies and determination of duties and responsibilities] (in Thai). Thairath. 2014-05-23. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Senate dissolved, police chief sacked". Bangkok Post. 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  11. ↑ รวมประกาศ-คำสั่งคณะรักษาความสงบแห่งชาติ [A collection of NCPO announcements and orders] (in Thai). Manager. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  12. ↑ คสช. ย้ายอดุลย์-ธาริต-นิพัทธ์ เข้ากรุสำนักนายกฯ - ยุบวุฒิสภา [NCPO moved Adul, Tarit, Nipat to inactive posts in OPM, dissolved Senate] (in Thai). Manager. 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  13. ↑ ประกาศแต่งตั้งหัวหน้าคณะรักษาความสงบแห่งชาติ [Proclamation on Appointment of Leader of the National Council for Peace and Order] (PDF). Government Gazette (in Thai) (Bangkok: Cabinet Secretariat) (Volume 131, Special Part 82 D): 1. 2014-05-26. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Thai coup: Leader Gen Prayuth receives royal endorsement". BBC. 2014-05-26. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  15. ↑ Harlan, Chico (May 23, 2014). "One day after coup, Thai junta moves to tighten its grip over the country". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  16. ↑ Haworth, Abigail (2015-03-22). "Bangkok’s Big Brother is watching you". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 Mar 2015.
  17. ↑ "Thailand: Human Rights in Free Fall". Human Rights Watch. 2015-01-29. Retrieved 22 Mar 2015.
  18. ↑ คสช. ประกาศสิ้นสุด รธน. คงอำนาจ สว. [NCPO suspends charter, maintains senate] (in Thai). Post Today. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  19. ↑ คสช. ประกาศกฎอัยการศึกทั่วราชอาณาจักร-เคอร์ฟิวห้ามออกนอกบ้าน 4 ทุ่มถึงตี 5 [NCPO imposed martial law and curfew nationwide, people must be indoors from 22:00 to 05:00 hrs] (in Thai). Manager. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  20. ↑ "Schools out Friday to Sunday". Bangkok Post. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  21. ↑ เปิดบัญชีอัตราเงินตอบแทน "หัวหน้า คสช. - สนช. - สปช." [Let's see a list of remunerations of NCPO leader, NLA and NRC] (in Thai). Isra News. 2014-08-02. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 กปปส. เฮเสียงนกหวีดลั่น-แกนนำอุบเงียบรอ "สุเทพ"-ทหารคุมตัว "เหวง" ให้ม็อบ นปช. กลับบ้าน [PDRC applauds the coup - their leaders remain quiet, waiting for Suthep's orders - Weng detained by military - Red Shirts return home] (in Thai). Manager. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  23. ↑ "All protesters dispersed by soldiers; PDRC jubilant". The Nation. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  24. ↑ คสช. จัดรถส่งผู้ชุมนุมทุกกลุ่มกลับภูมิลำเนา [NCPO provides cars to send all protesters home] (in Thai). Manager. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  25. ↑ "Thailand's army coup draws fire from world community". CBC News. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  26. ↑ "EEAS on Thai coup" (PDF). EEAS. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  27. ↑ "Hollande condemns Thai coup, calls for elections". The Nation. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  28. ↑ "Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Thailand". New York: Office of the United Nations Secretary-General. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  29. ↑ "US Department of State on Thai coup". US Department of State. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  30. ↑ "Britain 'concerned' by Thailand coup < Local News | Expatica United Kingdom". Expatica.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-05-23.

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