May 22, 2014

Thailand’s military announced today that it has taken control of the government and has suspended the constitution. Speaking on state television, the chief of the Thai army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, stated his intention to restore order and enact political reforms. General Prayuth will head a ruling military body–the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council–but the upper house of parliament and courts will continue to function.

In late January, the Thai government imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok, the capital, and surrounding provinces, in an attempt to quell public unrest. Bangkok has been roiled by antigovernment demonstrations since November 2013. Protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who had long been accused of abuse of power.

The government of Thailand had been tied up in a power struggle since the military had ousted Ms. Yingluck’s brother, Yingluck Shinawatra, as prime minister in a 2006 coup. Thaksin–a telecommunications billionaire who lives in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai–had been accused of ruling Thailand through his sister. Thaksin and Yingluck enjoyed strong support in rural areas and among poorer voters but were despised by Thailand’s urban middle and upper class elite who accused them of massive corruption.

On May 7, the Thai Constitutional Court ordered Prime Minister Yingluck and nine members of her Cabinet to resign. The court ruled that Yingluck acted illegally when she removed her national security head in favor of a relative. On May 20, the army imposed martial law while claiming there was no coup.

Today, TV broadcasting was suspended, political gatherings were banned, and a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. nationwide curfew was imposed “in order to keep peace and order.” The United Nations Human Rights Council responded to the coup by urging Prayuth and his ruling council “to take all necessary measures to ensure fundamental human rights are respected.”

Additional World Book articles:

• Thailand 2006 (a Back in Time article)
• Thailand 2007 (a Back in Time article)
• Thailand 2008 (a Back in Time article)
• Thailand 2009 (a Back in Time article)
• Thailand 2010 (a Back in Time article)
• Thailand 2011 (a Back in Time article)
• Thailand 2012 (a Back in Time article)
• Thailand 2013 (a Back in Time article)