US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks at the opening plenary meeting at the 13th Asia Security Summit in Singapore, on May 31, 2014.
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks at the opening plenary meeting at the 13th Asia Security Summit in Singapore, on May 31, 2014. -
SINGAPORE (AFP) - US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on Saturday urged Thailand's coup leaders to release detainees and call for elections soon.
"We urge the Royal Thai Armed Forces to release those who have been detained, end restrictions on free expression, and move immediately to restore power to the people of Thailand, through free and fair elections," Mr Hagel said at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a top Asian security conference in Singapore.
In his first televised national address after announcing the army takeover last week, Thai junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said late on Friday that the new military regime planned to work towards returning the nation of 67 million people to democracy in around 15 months. -
In his first televised national address after announcing the army takeover last week, Thai junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said late on Friday that the new military regime planned to work towards returning the nation of 67 million people to democracy in around 15 months. -
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US Defence secretary Chuck Hagel demands the Thai military junta to allow immediate elections and to free detainees when the junta says there will be no polls for 15 months.
Speaking at the opening plenary meeting at the 13th Asia Security Summit in Singapore Saturday,
the Pentagon chief urged Thailand’s military to free scores of people detained under martial law since the May 22 coup.
Hagel’s strong comments came as military junta faced the threat of anti coup pretests at Ratchaprasong in central Bangkok Sunday.
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 on Saturday also said Canberra had reduced its “engagement” with the Thai military.
