Military junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has declared himself acting prime minister until the new coup regime announced Thursday can find someone to serve in the post full time, authorities announced Thursday night.
Announcement No.10 of the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) says Gen Prayuth, who is also army commander, will act as prime minister for administrative purposes.
"As some laws stipulate that 'the prime minister' authorises actions under the law, the NPOMC leader or his assigned individuals will uphold that authority for the time being," the announcement said.
In the first 16 hours of junta rule, military authorities have issued two orders and 19 announcements. Each is read several times over radio and TV stations, which otherwise are blacked out, under total military control, and playing only traditional music used for junta takeovers.
Other communications including print media, the internet and both regular and mobile phones were not been affected as of Friday morning Thailand time.
In other announcements, the permanent secretary of each ministry has been appointed to take the authority of ministers until further announcement or, presumably, the formal formation of a cabinet.
Provincial govenors across the country were ordered to report to military bases in their region - Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phitsanulok and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Heads of ministries and state enterprises were ordered to report to the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road by Friday morning.
Censorship announcement No. 14 repeated a martial law attempt to muzzle the mainstream media.
It ordered all media including print and internet not to interview former government officials, academics, judges or other members of independent organisations "in a way that may create conflict or confusion among the public"
The junta repeated the martial law threat to shut down offending media at their discretion and also "face legal action". That is to differentiate it from shutting down print media, which is forbidden by the Thai press law and other statutes.