Thai Army Announces Military Coup

Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha (2-R) announces the military coup on national television. Photo: EPA/BGNES

Thailand’s army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha announced on Thursday a military takeover of the government, reports The Washington Post. 

The announcement was made on national television and said that the commission, which imposed martial law on Tuesday will take control of the country's administration. 

“It is necessary for the Peace and Order Maintaining Command — which includes army, navy, armed forces and police — to take control of governing the country,” Prayuth said.

The coup comes after two days of unsuccessful consultations between the country's rival parties to solve the political crisis, which started in November. 

Back then demonstrators took to the streets to try to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down. They accused her of being a proxy for her popular billionaire brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence on a corruption conviction.

The coup announced Thursday was the 12th since the country’s absolute monarchy ended in 1932.

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