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Thailand’s army declares martial law **
BANGKOK: Thailand’s army declared martial law in a surprise announcement in Bangkok before dawn on Tuesday, intensifying the turbulent nation’s deepening political crisis. The military, however, denied a coup d’etat was underway.
The move came after six months of anti-government demonstrations aimed at ousting the government and one day after the Southeast Asian country’s caretaker prime minister refused to step down.
The army said in a statement that the military had taken the action to “keep peace and order” and soldiers entered several private television stations in the capital.
An army official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, told The Associated Press “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.”
A ticker on Chanel 5, an army station, also denied the military was taking over and asked the public not to panic.
Thailand’s army has staged at 11 successful coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.
Full Report
Another successful coup that makes it a dozen. Thai army and politicians, both seem to have taken a leaf out of Pakistan’s book where abuse of power by democratic governments are periodically corrected by always-ready men in uniform.
A large number of Thai people have been on roads for months demanding political reforms before going to another elections. I think it is a fair demand. The protestors want apolitical setup to carry out reforms but caretakers have been so persistently refusing to step down that finally army had to intervene.
Let us see if the junta will accept anti-government protesters’ demand of genuine political reforms.
