Thailand’s army chief has taken control of the government in a coup on Thursday, two days after he declared martial law.
General Prayuth Chan-ocha said the army had to restore order and push through reforms, reports Reuters.
The army chief made the announcement in a television broadcast after he held a meeting with all rival factions aimed at finding a solution to six months of anti-government protests.
“In order for the situation to return to normal quickly and for society to love and be at peace again … and to reform the structure of the political, economic and social structure, the military needs to take control of power,” Prayuth said in the televised announcement.
The announcement came shortly after soldiers took the leader of anti-government protests, Suthep Thaugsuban, out of the meeting that was aimed at finding a solution to a drawn-out power struggle that has polarised the country and battered its economy.
The crisis is the latest installment in a long battle between supporters of ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and opponents backed by the royalist establishment.
The army had declared martial law on Tuesday, saying the measure was necessary to prevent violence, but it rejected accusations the measure amounted to a coup.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
