Thai junta clamps down

On Sunday, the military met with leaders of state and private commercial organizations, senior officials of the Commerce and Finance ministries, and business leaders. The military also asked 18 newspaper bosses to a meeting on Sunday, presumably to direct supportive coverage.

"We would like to ask all people to avoid gathering to stage protests because it's not a usual situation for the democratic process," deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said in a televised statement on Sunday, referring to the current military rule. "For those who use social media to provoke, please stop because it's not good for anyone. For media, they should be careful about speaking, criticizing or doing anything that causes damage to any party, especially civilian, police and military officials."

On Thursday, Thailand's military forced out the remnants of the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra after months of protests - a period that fell into a decade of instability, including the reign of her brother, Thaksin.

Since taking power, the military has detained leaders of the ousted government, including Yingluck and several ministers, officials from her Puea Thai party, and her supporters. The military has also thrown out the constitution and censored the media; and dismissed the Senate. General Prayuth Chan-ocha and the National Council for Peace and Order currently hold the power to make all decisions within Thailand.

'Get out dictators'

The military junta has also ordered dozens of outspoken activists, academics and journalists to surrender themselves to military authorities, including a prominent Thai reporter.

Pravit Rojanaphruk, an outspoken columnist for the English-language daily The Nation, wrote on Twitter that he would report to the junta: "On my way to see the new dictator of Thailand. Hopefully the last."

The military, which has launched 19 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 - 12 of them successful - has also banned gatherings of more than five people and imposed a 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew. That has not deterred some critics.

Up to 1,000 people marched in Bangkok on Saturday, many with handwritten signs such as "Anti the Coup" and "Get out Dictators." Police detained several people.

mkg/hc (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)