Thailand's army declares martial law after months of sometimes violent political ... - Washington Post

BANGKOK — Thailand’s army declared martial law before dawn Tuesday in a surprise announcement it said was aimed at keeping the country stable after six months of sometimes violent political unrest. The military, however, denied that a coup d’etat was underway.

The move effectively places the army in charge of public security nationwide. It comes one day after the country’s caretaker prime minister refused to step down and follows six months of demonstrations that have failed to oust the government.

Armed troops entered multiple private television stations in Bangkok to broadcast their message and surrounded the national police headquarters in the city center.

Army jeeps mounted with a machine guns diverted traffic on a major road in front of Central World, one of the country’s most luxurious shopping malls. But the vast metropolis of 10 million people appeared calm, and commuters could be seen driving and walking to work as usual.

An army official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said that “this is definitely not a coup. This is only to provide safety to the people, and the people can still carry on their lives as normal.”

Thailand’s army has staged 11 successful coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. The last was in 2006.

The military statement was signed by the army chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha, who later read it on the air.

Thailand, an economic hub for Southeast Asia, has been gripped by off-and-on political turmoil since 2006, when 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 latest round of unrest started in November, when anti-

government demonstrators took to the streets to try to oust then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister. She dissolved the lower house of parliament in December in a bid to ease the crisis.

The Constitutional Court ousted Yingluck and nine cabinet ministers this month for abuse of power.