Royal Thai Army announced military coup in Thailand

The Royal Thai Army  led by Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha in fourth week of May 2014 announced military coup in Thailand. Earlier on 20 May 2014, the army declared imposition of martial law in Thailand.

All these actions of army happened after the caretaker government headed by Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan refused to step down. He was appointed as the caretaker government after the Constitutional Court of Thailand ordered the then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down for abuse of power.

General Prayuth assumed the powers to act as Prime Minister except Section 2 which acknowledges that the king is the head of state.

This is the second military coup in Thailand after the 2006 military coup in which the then Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinatwara was toppled on account of corruption charges.

Chronological events of some incidents after coup

26 May 2014: General Prayuth Chan-ocha warned people who are protesting against the military rule by saying that he has received the royal endorsement by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to run the politically unstable country. He urged people to stop demonstrating, warning that they risk a stricter enforcement of martial law and prosecution in military courts. In his declaration from Bangkok, he refused to give a set time frame for end of military rule in the country.

24 May 2014: The Senate the Parliament’s Upper House was dissolved by the Thai Army and total control was assumed. For time being, all the powers went in the hands of National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) headed by the Thai Army Chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha.

22 May 2014: The army detained members of the political class at a place, shut-down the media and closed the borders on an off-and-on basis. The men in uniforms were made in charge of government ministries. It has banned at least 150 people that includes politicians and activists from leaving the country.

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