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| Thai army declares martial law | Thai army declares martial law |
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| Thailand's army has declared martial law, deploying troops in the heart of Bangkok before dawn in an attempt to end months of political turmoil and violence that has claimed 28 lives to date. | Thailand's army has declared martial law, deploying troops in the heart of Bangkok before dawn in an attempt to end months of political turmoil and violence that has claimed 28 lives to date. |
| The army's commander, General Prayuth Chan-ocha said the military had stepped in to restore order, and invited both sides of the kingdom's bitter political divide to talks. | |
| "We ask all sides to come and talk to find a way out for the country," Prayuth told reporters after meeting directors of government agencies and other high-ranking officials. | |
| Prayuth warned pro- and anti-government protesters to avoid violence, and said martial law would be revoked after peace and order had been restored. Earlier, the military insisted the intervention was not a coup d'etat and said in a statement: "The public do not need to panic and can continue on with normal life." | |
| The statement – read out in one of a number of televised proclamations – said the military had been compelled to act because "groups with bad intentions" risked escalating a six-month-long political crisis by threatening to overthrow the elected government. | The statement – read out in one of a number of televised proclamations – said the military had been compelled to act because "groups with bad intentions" risked escalating a six-month-long political crisis by threatening to overthrow the elected government. |
| "The royal Thai army intends to bring back peace and order to the beloved country of every Thai as soon as possible," said Prayuth in the statement, adding: "We intend to see the situation resolved quickly." | |
| On Monday, the caretaker prime minister, Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, refused protesters' demands to step down. The army did not inform the caretaker government of its plan to declare martial law. | On Monday, the caretaker prime minister, Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, refused protesters' demands to step down. The army did not inform the caretaker government of its plan to declare martial law. |
| While troops were deployed along a number of roads in Bangkok and soldiers took back Government House and other buildings that had been occupied by anti-government protesters, the situation in the capital remained largely calm, with schools and businesses open and traffic flowing as usual. | While troops were deployed along a number of roads in Bangkok and soldiers took back Government House and other buildings that had been occupied by anti-government protesters, the situation in the capital remained largely calm, with schools and businesses open and traffic flowing as usual. |
| The justice minister, Chaikasem Nitisiri, told the Associated Press that although the army had not consulted Niwattumrong about the declaration, the caretaker government was still running the country and the army was in charge of security. | The justice minister, Chaikasem Nitisiri, told the Associated Press that although the army had not consulted Niwattumrong about the declaration, the caretaker government was still running the country and the army was in charge of security. |
| "Security matters will be handled solely by the military, and whether the situation intensifies or is resolved is up to them," he said. "There is no cause to panic." | "Security matters will be handled solely by the military, and whether the situation intensifies or is resolved is up to them," he said. "There is no cause to panic." |
| Thailand has been gripped by off-and-on political turmoil since 2006 when the then prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was toppled by a military coup after being accused of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for King Bhumibol Adulyadej. | Thailand has been gripped by off-and-on political turmoil since 2006 when the then prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was toppled by a military coup after being accused of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for King Bhumibol Adulyadej. |
| The army, which is seen by many as sympathetic to anti-government protesters, has staged 11 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. | The army, which is seen by many as sympathetic to anti-government protesters, has staged 11 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. |
| One anti-government protester, Wichada, who has been on the streets for nearly 200 days, welcomed the intervention. "We're very happy about the army's announcement because it means they are on our side," she told the Guardian from a protest camp next to Democracy Monument in Bangkok's old city. | One anti-government protester, Wichada, who has been on the streets for nearly 200 days, welcomed the intervention. "We're very happy about the army's announcement because it means they are on our side," she told the Guardian from a protest camp next to Democracy Monument in Bangkok's old city. |
| Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a specialist on Thai affairs and associate professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said martial law could break the impasse of the past six months. "The government is unable to govern, and the protesters' goals haven't been realised, so both sides now have to answer to martial law," he said. | Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a specialist on Thai affairs and associate professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said martial law could break the impasse of the past six months. "The government is unable to govern, and the protesters' goals haven't been realised, so both sides now have to answer to martial law," he said. |
| Thitinan said the army had placed itself in a precarious position. "It now has to walk a tightrope, not too far in the government's camp, not too far in the protesters' camp. The army had better have a good game plan – the other sides knew what they wanted, but it's not clear if the army does." | Thitinan said the army had placed itself in a precarious position. "It now has to walk a tightrope, not too far in the government's camp, not too far in the protesters' camp. The army had better have a good game plan – the other sides knew what they wanted, but it's not clear if the army does." |
| The latest round of unrest started last November when anti-government protesters took to the streets to try to oust the then prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's sister. She dissolved the lower house of parliament in December in an attempt to ease the crisis, and then led a weakened, caretaker government with limited powers. | The latest round of unrest started last November when anti-government protesters took to the streets to try to oust the then prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's sister. She dissolved the lower house of parliament in December in an attempt to ease the crisis, and then led a weakened, caretaker government with limited powers. |
| This month, the constitutional court ousted Yingluck and nine cabinet ministers for abuse of power, but the move has done little to resolve the political conflict that pits the rural poor majority, who support Yingluck, against her opponents who are largely drawn from the urban middle and upper class. | This month, the constitutional court ousted Yingluck and nine cabinet ministers for abuse of power, but the move has done little to resolve the political conflict that pits the rural poor majority, who support Yingluck, against her opponents who are largely drawn from the urban middle and upper class. |
| An overnight attack last week on the main anti-government protest site left three dead and more than 20 injured. It raised the death toll since November to 28 and drew a strong rebuke from the army chief. | An overnight attack last week on the main anti-government protest site left three dead and more than 20 injured. It raised the death toll since November to 28 and drew a strong rebuke from the army chief. |
| Along with the declaration of martial law, the army issued an order suspending a number of television and radio stations, which have provided platforms for both political camps to air often aggressive rhetoric. At least 10 politically affiliated private TV stations from both sides stopped broadcasting – after armed soldiers entered and requested they do so. | Along with the declaration of martial law, the army issued an order suspending a number of television and radio stations, which have provided platforms for both political camps to air often aggressive rhetoric. At least 10 politically affiliated private TV stations from both sides stopped broadcasting – after armed soldiers entered and requested they do so. |
| The leader of the pro-government Red Shirt movement, Jatuporn Prompan, said his group could accept the imposition of martial law, but said they "won't tolerate a coup or other non-constitutional means" to grab power. | The leader of the pro-government Red Shirt movement, Jatuporn Prompan, said his group could accept the imposition of martial law, but said they "won't tolerate a coup or other non-constitutional means" to grab power. |
| "We will see what the army wants," he said, warning that the undemocratic removal of the country's caretaker government "will never solve the country's crisis and will plunge Thailand deeper into trouble". | "We will see what the army wants," he said, warning that the undemocratic removal of the country's caretaker government "will never solve the country's crisis and will plunge Thailand deeper into trouble". |
| The US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was "very concerned about the deepening political crisis in Thailand". She said it urged "all parties to respect democratic principles, including respect for freedom of speech … We expect the army to honour its commitment to make this a temporary action to prevent violence, and to not undermine democratic institutions." | The US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was "very concerned about the deepening political crisis in Thailand". She said it urged "all parties to respect democratic principles, including respect for freedom of speech … We expect the army to honour its commitment to make this a temporary action to prevent violence, and to not undermine democratic institutions." |