Thailand’s military junta on Saturday dismissed the country’s Senate as it intensified its post-coup crackdown and summoned 35 more people after detaining former premier Yingluck Shinawatra and top leaders of the ousted government for up to a week.
“The Senate is dismissed. Responsibility for any laws needing the approval of the parliament or Senate will instead be assumed by the leader of the (junta),” said an announcement on national television by National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree.
The move came two days after Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha staged a bloodless coup. The scrapping of the 150-member Senate has abolished the last democratic institution in the country.