General Declares Martial Law Across Thailand Amid Paralyzing Protests

International New York Times | 20 May 2014

Pedestrians strolled past armed Thai soldiers guarding a government building in Bangkok after martial law was declared. Credit Wason Wanichakorn/Associated Press

BANGKOK — The head of Thailand’s army declared what he described as nationwide martial law early Tuesday and urged protesters who have paralyzed the government and blocked elections to “stop their movement.” The order also appeared to apply to pro-government demonstrators who are leading a separate protest.

In a country where the army has staged more than a dozen coups in recent decades it was not immediately clear what degree of control the military planned to take in the country. The presence of soldiers on the streets of Bangkok was relatively sparse early Tuesday and life in the city continued normally, including morning traffic jams and puffy television talk shows.

“The army intends to bring peace to the beloved country of all Thais as soon as possible,” said Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, the head of the army, in a nationally televised speech broadcast at 6:30 a.m. “We would like to urge people from every group to stop their movement in order to quickly find a sustainable solution for the country.”

General Prayuth said martial law had been imposed “in order to keep peace and order efficiently and to bring back peace to the people.”

Soldiers went to television stations before dawn Tuesday, informing them that they should broadcast the speech.

In his speech, General Prayuth cited “ill-willed people who created violence by using weapons of war” for his decision. More than 25 people have been killed in political violence since the protests began six months ago.

A separate statement issued later in the morning appeared to strip the government of some of its security powers. The statement said the government’s security unit, the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order, had been dissolved and replaced by a military-staffed organization. A movement to oust the government has the backing of the Bangkok establishment and is seeking to put in place an appointed prime minister. Led by a former opposition politician, Suthep Thaugsuban, the movement has obstructed elections and is seeking the removal of the country’s caretaker government. The military has refused to take sides between the protest movement and the caretaker government.

The antigovernment movement has shut down government buildings and continues to occupy the prime minister’s office. The courts have issued numerous favorable rulings to the movement, including the removal of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra earlier this month and an order barring the dispersal of the protests.

The imposition of a state of emergency earlier this year failed to quell violence and was withdrawn.

Akanat Promphan, a spokesman for the protest movement, posted a message on his Facebook page on Tuesday that said the protesters would “temporarily suspend our movement today” because of the imposition of martial law. But it was unclear if they would disperse.

The movement’s satellite television station showed protest leaders continuing to address crowds from their stage across from the United Nations building in Bangkok. The movement is seeking the eradication from politics of the country’s most powerful political family, which is led by Ms. Yingluck’s brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former business tycoon. Mr. Thaksin was removed by the military in a 2006 military coup but his party, which draws its strength from the provinces, has defied the traditional elites in Bangkok. The party has won every election in the country since 2001.