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Coup in Thailand

US rebukes junta, urges immediate elections

AFP, Singapore
Thailand's coup leaders faced fresh international condemnation yesterday when US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel demanded immediate elections and the release of detainees held by a junta which says there will be no polls for at least a year.
Speaking at an Asian security conference in Singapore, the Pentagon chief urged Thailand's military to free scores of people detained under martial law since generals seized power from the civilian government on May 22.
Hagel called on the junta to end its curbs on "free expression" --
which include banning political gatherings of more than five people and sweeping media controls - and for the army to "immediately restore power to the people of Thailand" through elections.
Condemning the kingdom's "retreat from democracy” Hagel said the US had suspended its long-standing military ties with Thailand.
Australia's foreign minister yesterday also said Canberra had reduced its "engagement" with the Thai military.
Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha late Friday gave a rough timetable for a return to democracy, offering polls once a reconcilia- tion drive across the bitterly split nation and a year-long reform period are complete.
In his first televised address to the nation, he said power transition to democracy may take 15 months. But he warned his roadmap will probably fail "if there are still protests or people do not co-operate".
Since taking power, authorities have overridden the constitution, curtailed civil liberties under martial law.
After leading Thailand's 19th actual or attempted coup in modern history, Prayut ordered the detention of scores of political figures, academics and activists.
Some of the detainees have been freed
after signing agreements to refrain from their political activities, among them several high-profile figures from the 'Red Shirt' movement - which supports the ousted government ofYingluck Shinawatra.
But rights groups have warned detentions violate basic civil liberties and that military courts wield unchecked power.
Anti-government demonstrators staged a months-long protest against the government prior to the coup. Twenty-eight people died in political violence linked to those rallies, losses Prayut said left him no choice but to intervene.