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Thai General Says Coup Has King’s Backing

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CrazyExpat

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Thailand’s military junta said Monday that it would stay in power “indefinitely” and that its rule had been endorsed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the monarch for nearly seven decades who has semidivine status in the country.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who overthrew the elected government on Thursday, said during a news conference that the military would create a “genuine democracy” but gave no time frame for doing so. “It will depend on the situation,” he said, before hastily leaving a podium as he was questioned by reporters.

Amid small but daily protests against the coup, General Prayuth warned that the junta would become “more strict” if resistance continued.

King Bhumibol is above criticism both by tradition and law; insulting him, the queen or the crown prince is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment under a law that has been broadly interpreted by the authorities in recent years. The military said over the weekend that all lèse-majesté cases would now be heard in military courts.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/world/asia/thailand.html?hp

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