National Council for Peace and Order

Thailand
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Thailand
Constitution Constitutional history Human rights
Monarchy King (list) Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) Chakri Dynasty Privy Council Royal Household Bureau of the Crown Property
Government National Council for Peace and Order Prime Minister (list) Prayuth Chan-ocha Cabinet Ministries Independent agencies
National Legislative Assembly President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai First Vice President Surachai Leangboonleodchai Second Vice President Peerasak Phorchit
Law Judiciary Constitutional Court Administrative Court Supreme Court
Elections Election Commission Recent elections General: 2011 2014 next Senate: 2000 2006 2008 Political parties
Administrative divisions Changwat (provinces) Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Thesaban (municipalities)
Foreign relations Foreign aid
Related topics Southern insurgency 2008–2010 political crisis 2010 political protests 2010 military crackdown 2013–14 Thai political crisis
Other countries Atlas

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO; Thai: คณะรักษาความสงบแห่งชาติ; rtgs: Khana Raksa Khwam Sa-ngop Haeng Chat; abbreviated คสช) is the junta that has ruled Thailand since their 2014 Thai coup d'état on 22 May 2014.^[1] On 20 May 2014, the military had declared martial law nationwide in an attempt to stop the country's escalating political crisis, and to force the democratically elected government out.^[2] On 22 May, the military ousted the Yingluck Shinawatra government and formed the NCPO to take control of the country. The junta censored the broadcasting system in Thailand, suspended the constitution, and detained members of the Thai cabinet.^[3]

Name

The original English name assumed by 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

On 22 May 2014, the NCPO announced its composition^[6] and stated that its leader would exercise all powers and duties which the laws invest in the prime minister and the cabinet, until a new prime minister was elected or appointed.^[7][8]

On 23 May, the NCPO announced that short- and long-term national administrative policies would be determined by its leader. It assigned its members to government ministries and agencies.^[9]

On 24 May 2014, the NCPO dissolved the Senate and vested 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 Prayut Chan-o-cha to "take charge of public administration" as of 24 May.^[13][14] The royal endorsement was seen as key to legitimising the coup.^[14]

Board of consultants

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

Political motivations and objectives

The stated objective of the coup and NCPO was 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 2015, 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]

The NCPO imposed a curfew throughout the country, ordering the people to stay indoors from 22:00 to 05:00.^[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 NCPO staff. General Prayut was granted 125,590 baht per month. Each of the other NCPO members was granted salaries of 119,920 baht per month. These salaries are in addition to the benefits they are already entitled to receive by virtue of their posts in the armed forces.^[21]

Domestic and international reactions to the coup

Immediately after the coup was announced, People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters expressed their support for the takeover.^[22] Phra Buddha Issara, a Buddhist monk who is a PDRC co-leader, went on stage and proclaimed the victory of the anti-Yingluck Shinawatra government protesters before requesting that protesters return to their homes.^[23] Some pro-Shinawatra government protesters dispersed at the behest of the military, while others refused to leave.^[22] The NCPO provided 70 military vehicles to send the protesters from both sides home.^[24]

•  Canada - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird condemned the coup and said, "This decision violates Thailand's democratic principles and stands in stark contrast to the Army's earlier assurances that its role would be limited to securing public order. We hope and expect the Thai military will return Thailand to civilian rule as soon as possible, respect democratic processes and the rule of law, ensure freedom of expression and assembly, and guarantee due process for those who have been detained."^[25]
•  EU – The European External Action Service called for the military to accept and respect the constitutional authority of civilian power and stressed "the importance of holding credible and inclusive elections as soon as feasible".^[26]
•  France – President François Hollande condemned the coup and called for "an immediate return to the constitutional order and for a vote to be organised".^[27]
•  UN — Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations issued a statement through his spokesman, expressing serious concern over the coup, calling for "a prompt return to constitutional, civilian, democratic rule" and movement towards cooperation between the parties.^[28]
•  USA – Secretary of State John Kerry strongly condemned the coup and said that "this act will have negative implications for the U.S.–Thai relationship, especially for our relationship with the Thai military".^[29]
•  UK — Britain expressed concern over the coup, however it did not go as far as to condemn it. The British Foreign Office urged British travelers to follow travel advice, and stated that, "We are concerned at the announcement of a military coup in Thailand and are following developments closely. We urge all sides to put aside their differences, and adhere to the values of democracy and the rule of law. This is clearly in the interests of the people of Thailand." They also added, "ongoing political instability and the continued violence undermine Thailand's democratic framework."^[30]

The NCPO in action

The government seized thousands of "divisive" blue medical boxes and towels intended for distribution to the elderly on 12 April 2016. The boxes were donated by the Democrat Party. The blue boxes carried the photo of Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the party. The military had only the week before seized almost 9,000 red Songkran water bowls from the Democrats' rival, the Pheu Thai Party. "The NCPO adheres to principles, righteousness and fairness under the same law. People may wonder why things cannot be handed out during this time of happiness, please understand the officials," said Colonel Piyapong Klinpan, NCPO spokesman. The Democrats had assembled more than 1,200 sets of medicine boxes and towels for the elderly in Phran Kratai District of Kamphaeng Phet Province, a party stronghold. The giveaways were aimed at marking Elderly Day on 13 April.^[31][32]

See also

• 2013–14 Thai political crisis
• 2014 Thai coup d'état
• Constitution of Thailand
• 2014 interim constitution of Thailand
• Prayut Chan-o-cha

References

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Proclamation on Appointment of Leader of the National Council for Peace and Order

• National Council for Peace and Order on Facebook
• National Council for Peace and Order on Twitter
  

Royal Thai Government
Constitution of Thailand list National Council for Peace and Order
Monarchy	King of Thailand list Privy Council
Executive	Prime Minister of Thailand list Council of Ministers of Thailand
Legislative	National Legislative Assembly
Judicial	Constitutional Court Courts of Justice Administrative Court Military Court
Ministries	Office of the Prime Minister Agriculture and Cooperatives Commerce Culture Defence Armed Forces Army Navy Air Force Education Energy Finance Foreign Affairs Digital Economy and Society Industry Interior Justice Labour Natural Resources and Environment Public Health Science and Technology Social Development and Human Security Tourism and Sport Transport
Constitutional organizations	Office of the Election Commission Office of the Ombudsman Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Office of the Auditor General Office of the Attorney General Office of the National Human Rights Commission Office of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council
Independent departments	Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary Bureau of the Royal Household National Office of Buddhism Office of the Royal Development Projects Board Office of the National Research Council of Thailand Royal Society Royal Thai Police Anti-Money Laundering Office
Independent organisations	Bank of Thailand Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Insurance Commission Office of the Energy Regulatory Commission Thai Public Broadcasting Service Deposit Protection Agency Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission
Thailand portal WikiProject Commons Category