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Thailand army chief announces military coup Thailand army chief confirms military coup in all but name
(about 1 hour later)
Thailand's army chief announced a military takeover of the government on Thursday, saying the coup was necessary to restore stability and order after six months of political deadlock and turmoil. Thailand's military has seized control of the country after rival factions failed in negotiations to end six months of political turmoil – resulting in the nation's 19th coup in 82 years.
General Prayuth Chan-ocha announced in a statement broadcast on national television that the commission which imposed martial law on Tuesday would now take control of the country's administration. While the head of the army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, did not use the word "coup" in his televised statement, he said the takeover was necessary "in order for the country to return to normality quickly". He added that the army, armed forces, air force and police would seize power as of 4.30pm local time on Thursday and would help "reform the political structure, the economy and society".
"It is necessary for the Peace and Order Maintaining Command – which includes army, navy, armed forces and police – to take control of governing the country," he said. He said: "It is necessary for the Peace and Order Maintaining Command – which includes army, navy, armed forces and police – to take control of governing the country."
The development followed two days of army-mediated meetings between the country's rival political leaders that failed to break the impasse. The meetings were held at an army facility in Bangkok. A military spokesman also said that all radio and television stations must stop normal programming and broadcast only army-approved material.
Shortly before the announcement was made, armed soldiers in military vehicles surrounded the building, apparently to block those inside from leaving. Thursday's sudden announcement followed an unexpected enactment of martial law just two days earlier after the military cited the need to "restore and maintain order" after six months of sometimes bloody protests that have left Thailand in an legislative paralysis.
Thailand has been gripped by bouts of political instability for more than seven years. The political fighting has also seen 28 people killed and more than 700 others injured since November when anti-government protesters began calling for the removal of the Pheu Thai government.
The latest round of unrest started in November, when demonstrators took to the streets to try to force the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, to step down. They accused her of being a proxy for her popular billionaire brother, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence on a corruption conviction. Rival political factions have spent the past two days at Bangkok's Army Club, where they attempted to come to a compromise over the future of the country. Despite various options reportedly being floated at the Prayuth-mediated talks, no agreement was arranged, although the rival leaders did tweet "selfies" of themselves smiling and laughing together at the roundtable discussions.
The coup announced on Thursday was the 12th since the country's absolute monarchy ended in 1932. On Thursday afternoon, witnesses said that hundreds of extra troops arrived at the venue and took away the leader of the anti-government protests, Suthep Thaugsuban. It remained unclear who else was detained. Members of the government, opposition party, senate, election commission and pro-government forces had been attending the talks.
Local media reported that the caretaker premier Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan's whereabouts were unknown, although it did not seem that he had been detained. He was not part of the recent negotiations.
The military announced a curfew from 10pm-5am. National television stations were off air, although social media and the internet seemed unaffected by any censorship.
Mark Kent, the British ambassador, tweeted: "The Thai military have announced a coup. British citizens should exercise extreme caution and follow travel advice and media updates".
Prayuth's announcement was met with a warning by pro-government "redshirt" activists group. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), who vowed "retaliation" shortly after the televised statement.
"NOW it is COUP – stand by for a retaliation from the UDD," the group tweeted.
Soldiers later fired into the air to disperse thousands of redshirts activists who had gathered in Bangkok's western outskirts.
For the past six months, protesters have taken to the streets, taken over government buildings and threatened political kidnappings in an attempt to remove the "Shinawatra clan" from power – a reference to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed by military coup in 2006 and whose party, or variations of it, have won every election in Thailand since 2001.
Thailand has seen 19 real or attempted coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.
Thursday's coup follows a softer so-called "judicial coup" this month in which Thaksin's sister, Yingluck, was removed as prime minister after a controversial court ruling found her, and nine of her ministers, guilty of abusing their power.
Prayuth said Thursday's announcement should not induce any kind of panic and that life would continue as normal, adding that the army would take care of the foreigners, and foreign embassies, currently in Thailand.