Thai Army Declares Martial Law

Thailand army on Tuesday placed the country under a martial law, a surprising move which the government did not know, said an aide to the Prime Minister.

The aide said the action is unilateral and that the government had a special meeting on this, describing the act as “half a coup d’etat”.

“We have to watch and see if the army chief honors his declaration of impartiality,” the aide said.

Lieutenant General Nipat Thonglek said over CNN report that the move was not a coup while a ticker from the army television said the aim is to maintain peace and order and public safety for all parties.

Martial law went into effect at 3 am on Tuesday, the ticker said. It also called the people not to panic, and carry on their business as usual, as declaring martial law is not a coup d’etat, it said.

Thai public television announced that all Thai TV stations are being guarded by the army, showing pictures of soldiers and armored vehicles positioned outside broadcast facilities in Bangkok.

The military declared that all of the country’s radio and television stations must suspend their normal programs “when it is needed”, a statement read on Thai television, which was announced days after the head of the army issued a stern warning after political violence had surged in the country’s capital.

Political tensions have been brewing in Thailand as supporters and opponents of the country’s government have staged mass protests in recent days.

Earlier this month, the high court removed caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office, along with nine cabinet ministers.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor, described the situation as “very volatile.”

“This is a precarious time now for the army,” he said. “They have to be even-handed.”

Pongsudhirak said that if the military appears to be favoring one side, violence could escalate rather than cool down. “If it’s seen as favoring one side or the other side, then we could see more violence and turmoil against the military,” he said in a report.

Source: CNN

Image Credit: bangkokpost.com