The Thai military announced on May 24 that it had disbanded the Senate and handed over all law-making authority to the army chief – Prayut Chan O-cha, who led the May 22 coup to overthrow the civilian government.
The military decided to establish a new administration with General Prayut Chan O-cha as caretaker Prime Minister.
The same day, the military said former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and many ministers in her cabinet as well as demonstration leaders are being detained, adding that they are all safe and will be kept in custody for not more than one week.
At the same time, the US said it has cancelled several cooperation programmes with Thailand, including an ongoing military exercise and military delegations’ visits, as a result of the military coup in the Southeast Asian country.
"While we have enjoyed a long and productive military-to-military relationship with Thailand, our own democratic principles and US law require us to reconsider US military assistance and engagements," said Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby.
Earlier, the US also suspended a 3.5 million USD military aid to Thailand and is reviewing a further 7 million USD in direct assistance to Thailand, and an undetermined amount of aid from other global and regional programs.
Rear Adm. John Kirby called on the Thai armed forces to end the coup and restore both the principles and the process of democratic rule, including a clear path forward to elections.-VNA
The military decided to establish a new administration with General Prayut Chan O-cha as caretaker Prime Minister.
The same day, the military said former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and many ministers in her cabinet as well as demonstration leaders are being detained, adding that they are all safe and will be kept in custody for not more than one week.
At the same time, the US said it has cancelled several cooperation programmes with Thailand, including an ongoing military exercise and military delegations’ visits, as a result of the military coup in the Southeast Asian country.
"While we have enjoyed a long and productive military-to-military relationship with Thailand, our own democratic principles and US law require us to reconsider US military assistance and engagements," said Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby.
Earlier, the US also suspended a 3.5 million USD military aid to Thailand and is reviewing a further 7 million USD in direct assistance to Thailand, and an undetermined amount of aid from other global and regional programs.
Rear Adm. John Kirby called on the Thai armed forces to end the coup and restore both the principles and the process of democratic rule, including a clear path forward to elections.-VNA
