Bangkok: As Thailand’s new military junta summoned ousted government leaders on Friday, quoted a newschannel an offcial saying that the ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra was detained at the military baracks in Bangkok.
The kingdom’s tough-talking Army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha deposed the civilian government on Thursday, the latest twist in years of escalating political turmoil in a move that drew a chorus of international criticism.
The Army chief is known to be a man who is anti-Thaksin but no other details were revealed about Ms Shinawatra’s detention.
Civil liberties have been drastically curbed, most of the constitution suspended, and a night-time curfew imposed as the army cleared warring protesters from Bangkok’s streets.
But in a sign of emerging disquiet on the streets, scores of demonstrators confronted and hurled abuse at soldiers in tense scenes on Friday afternoon in the centre of the capital, amid other smaller protests.
The Army poured dozens of soldiers in to clear the area of the protesters, some of whom held protest signs with slogan such as “We will never lick dictatorship’s boots.” Witnesses reported seeing several people taken away by troops but no clashes were seen.
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was removed from office in a controversial court ruling earlier this month, was among more than three dozen prominent figures from both sides of Thailand’s political divide summoned by the junta. She arrived at a Bangkok Army facility.
Ms Yingluck’s whereabouts, and those of others called in including her successor Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, were unclear hours later.
The Army said 155 prominent figures were banned from leaving the country without permission, a step analysts said appeared aimed at averting formation of a government-in-exile.
The coup has drawn rebukes from Washington, Europe and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who all called for civilian control to be restored.
Secretary of State John Kerry said there was “no justification” for a coup that would have “negative implications” for US relations, and demanded elections as soon as possible.
