Live Tweeting the Coup in Thailand
Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the military coup in Thailand. I don’t think anyone thought that the generals would still be in control of the country two years later with no end in sight of a return to democracy. To mark the anniversary, I have posted highlights of the tweets as and when the coup happened, late in the afternoon of 22nd May 2015. My last tweet was at 3:30am. I then started tweeting again at 5am after a short nap.
URGENT 4:50pm All Thai TV channels have ceased their regular programming #Thailand pic.twitter.com/gB8dk8O68M
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
4:52pm – RT @pakhead: Soldiers have blocked off army club. Very nervous. Am told leaders of reds and PDRC are detained inside #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
4:59pm Thai Army chief now on every channel #Thailand pic.twitter.com/El9SK4RTJC
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
As of 4:30pm, the Thai army has taken control of #Thailand. This is now officially a coup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
The Thai army chief has said he will assure the safety of all foreigners & foreign embassies in #Thailand #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
BBC World & CNN are still on air in #Thailand despite the #ThaiCoup. @JonahFisher just did a live piece to camera pic.twitter.com/ajDss4gUaJ
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
5:30pm So far, social media in #Thailand is working & so we can share news on Twitter & Facebook. But not sure for how much longer #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
5:30pm Soldiers enter Red Shirt rally site on Aksa Road. Protesters heading home – TR @hathai_thaipbs: pic.twitter.com/3aJVm0AdNV #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
The new name of the people now controlling #Thailand: National Peace Keeping Committee (NPKC) /via @veen_NT #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/EbEhXLftw6
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Although all the TV channels in #Thailand have been taken off air, Thai journalists are still reporting the news of the #ThaiCoup on Twitter
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
5:45pm Thai TV channels blocked in #Thailand but international news stations still on air (Pic @jin_nation) pic.twitter.com/fqx08yHSi1 #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
5:54pm PDRC protesters wait for their leader to take to stage after announcement of #ThaiCoup – TR @sataporn_tpbs: pic.twitter.com/pJSnywrg0a
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
UK Amb @KentBKK: Thai military have staged a coup. British citizens should exercise extreme caution & follow travel advice & media updates
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
URGENT 6:15pm 3rd announcement from the army: Curfew declared in #Thailand from 10pm to 5am #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/rtcGihBcZF
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
There is a nationwide curfew in #Thailand from 10pm-5am due to #ThaiCoup. You can presume any events in #Bangkok tonight will be cancelled.
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
All major shopping malls in #Bangkok will close until further notice at 8pm every night due to the curfew & #ThaiCoup #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
UPDATE: BTS Skytrain will operate until 9pm – RT @BTS_SkyTrain: BTS วันนี้เปิดให้บริการถึง 21.00 น. #ThaiCoup #Bangkok #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Rush hour on the BTS Skytrain is worse than normal as people rush home (Pic @Mikeisms_c) pic.twitter.com/YBLENB900B #ThaiCoup #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Thai army spokesman says that people heading to the airport to leave #Thailand can do so at any time day & night #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
7pm CNN, BBC & other international news channels are still on air in #Thailand despite the #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/BCNwHyJCrr
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
7:01pm Soldiers on Chaeng Wattana Road #Bangkok – RT @Chu_SpringNews: 19.01น. ทหารขอคืนพื้นที่ แจ้งวัฒนะ pic.twitter.com/X2V0WrY92E #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Q&A @RealDennisFC: Will the curfew mean that 7-11s might be closed? => Yes, they only close during a #ThaiCoup #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
URGENT 7:42pm CNN has just been taken off the air in #Thailand #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/Oy1MGnjCFg
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Thank God for InternetTV. I still have many international channels including BBC World #ThaiCoup #Thailand pic.twitter.com/2gIQXjgaMl
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
With all TV & radio channels now under control of the army, the only way people are receiving news in #Thailand is via Twitter #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Breaking News: The Thai Army has blocked the Disney Channel in #Thailand #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/5YY4M81NB2
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
8pm #Thailand is lead story on BBCWorld with reports by @pakhead & @JonahFisher #Censorship #ThaiCoup #Thailand pic.twitter.com/H5WwbxqRaq
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
8:15pm BBC World & CNN are being blocked in #Thailand by the military but we can still watch them on Internet TV #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
8:20pm Traffic in #Bangkok is worse than ever as people rush home (Pic @political_drama) pic.twitter.com/vdwx4D3DZM #Bangkok #Thailand #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
UPDATE: 7-Eleven in #Thailand will CLOSE from 10pm-5am due to the curfew #ThaiCoup – TR @TonGlassHeart pic.twitter.com/0g58itoBAv
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
The military are trying to silence Thai journalists but many of them are still reporting by using Twitter #ThaiCoup #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
9:05pm BTS Skytrain in #Bangkok has closed for the curfew – RT @lotviler: รถไฟฟ้าBTSปิดให้บริการแล้ว pic.twitter.com/vGEAOshMIn #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
All AOT airports in #Thailand will operate as normal. For example: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket etc #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
9:40pm – RT @brewsterbudgen: Plenty of Pattaya bars still open and busy #ThaiCoup #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
I think it is wise to presume that ALL schools across #Thailand will be closed for the next three days #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
10pm – RT @ThaipbsEngNews: Many people still waiting for public transport at Victory Monument pic.twitter.com/htdtX2aVnn #ThaiCoup #Bangkok
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
7-Eleven is closing – RT @BkkLifestyle: เซเว่น จะปิด pic.twitter.com/AlgcqxcCkW #Bangkok #Thailand #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
10:18pm – RT @chrissychrzan: Here’s Khao San Road right now #Bangkok #Thailand #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/4t3KVADV1H
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
10:25pm – RT @anilsoi11: Curfew in soi11 #Bangkok #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/pPKEd35A1t
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Q&A @yhalushka: Why do schools need to close? => Routine, same during last coup. It’s our version of “snow days” #Thailand #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
10:30pm The #ThaiCoup has been going on for 6 hours now. How long will it last? Weeks, months, years? #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
#Thailand – RT @Bigaz1210: This is Walking Street Pattaya at 22.30 #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/pXvQQ1Tz9b
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
11:04pm – RT @anilsoi11: Outside on the main sukhumvit rd. Feels like 4am pic.twitter.com/8CRc6n8Hmi #Bangkok #Thailand #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Some 7-Eleven stores don’t have a door lock & so they have to cover the windows – @RujTH: pic.twitter.com/woO5wSfKRF #ThaiCoup #Thailand
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
11:40pm – RT @ThaipbsEngNews: Peaceful and quiet at Victory Monument #Bangkok #Thailand #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/9rRT83gvoR
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
Midnight – #Thailand is still lead story on BBC World though most Thais & expats won’t be able to see it #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/5MjeINlAHG
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014
3:30am Nothing much to report at this hour. All quiet in #Bangkok as the city sleeps under a curfew & our first night of the #ThaiCoup
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) May 22, 2014