Thai Army Declares Coup, Citing Need to ‘Reform’ Nation

International New York Times | 22 May 2014

BANGKOK — Two days after declaring martial law the Thai military on Thursday seized full control of the country, the second time in a decade that the army has overthrown an elected government.

The military, which had invited political leaders Thursday for a second day of talks on how to resolve the country’s political deadlock detained the meeting participants instead. The head of the army, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha then announced the coup on national television, saying it was “necessary to seize power.”

Mr. Prayuth said the coup was launched “in order to bring the situation back to normal quickly” and to “reform the political structure, the economy and the society.”

Six months of debilitating protests in Thailand have centered on whether to hold elections. The governing party dissolved Parliament in December in an attempt to defuse the crisis and set the election for February. The opposition Democrat Party, which has not won a national election since 1992, refused to take part. Protesters called for an appointed prime minister and blockaded polling stations, leading to a court ruling that the election was unconstitutional.

A television screenshot shows Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, center, making the announcement on Thursday. Credit Rungroj Yongrit/European Pressphoto Agency

The country’s democracy was in deadlock.

General Prayuth made the coup announcement Thursday flanked by senior military officers.

Supporters of the former government of Yingluck Shiniwatra, a group known as red shirts, who were holding a demonstration Thursday on the outskirts of Bangkok, were dispersed by soldiers in black masks. The Thai media reported that their leaders were arrested.

The last coup in Thailand was in 2006 and was followed by more than a year of military rule.

Thousands of antigovernment protesters remained on the streets at dusk but leaders warned the crowds that the military was on its way. “The military is coming but do not panic,” said Samran Rodpetch, a protest leader.

In Thailand’s turbulent political history, the king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, has on at least one occasion helped resolve political disputes. But he is 86 years old and ailing.

General Prayuth said in his announcement that the king was “above the entire conflict.”

The military “will protect and worship the monarchy,” he said.

General Prayuth referred to the people staging the coup as the “The national peacekeeping committee.”

Antigovernment demonstrators have sought to eradicate the country’s most powerful political family, the Shinawatras. The country’s politics have been turbulent since 2006, when the military removed Thaksin Shinawatra, the patriarch of the family, who founded a populist movement that has won every election since 2001.

Mr. Thaksin, whose power base was in the provinces, challenged the power of the Bangkok establishment, a clash that was at the root of the conflict. Mr. Thaksin lives overseas but remains very influential in Thai politics.

The coup announcement was made after the Thai stock market was closed.

Correction: May 22, 2014
An earlier version of this article misstated the day that martial law was introduced. It was Tuesday, not Thursday.