No turbulence reported after military takeover in Thailand

BANGKOK, May 23 (TNA) - There has been no unrest reported after the Thai military seized the administrative power in a coup, under the martial law imposed nationwide, as of 4:30pm on May 22. Over 150 people from both the government and the opponent sides have been ordered to report to the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC), headed by Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, at the Thai Army Auditorium in Bangkok's Thewes area. Those who reported themselves to the NPOMC on Friday morning, included former Thai prime ministers Yingluck Shinawatra and Somchai Wongsawat and his wife, Yaowapa Wongsawat, as well as former acting caretaker prime minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan. Yingluck and Yaowapa are exiled ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sisters. All those summoned to report themselves to the NPOMC are prohibited from leaving the country, or facing prosecution for criminal offences under the martial law. NPOMC authorities, including General Prayuth himself, are scheduled to brief and explain foreign envoys and representatives of international organisations in Thailand on the military intervention at the Thai Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in the capital on Friday afternoon, at 4pm, in order to create proper understanding and maintain sound relations between Thailand and the allied foreign nations and organisations. Meanwhile, the army-led NPOMC arranged transport to send pro- and anti-government demonstrators back home, while soldiers were clearing rally sites of both pro-and anti-government demonstrators on Aksa Road, Rajadamnoen Avenue, Chaeng Wattana Road and even at Government House and its vicinity. Royal Thai Army Deputy Spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree reported that all the demonstrators of pro-government red-clad United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have left the rally site on Aksa Road, while most of those of the anti-government side, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former Democrat deputy prime minister and secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), have also left their rally sites through buses provided by the NPOMC and the rest were leaving by Friday evening. Solders have, however, maintained heightened security measures at rally sites, in which workers were sent for big clean-ups. Some roads connecting with rally sites remained closed or were only partly opened on Friday morning. (TNA)