Army imposes martial law over Thailand

BANGKOK – After months of demonstrations which sporadically turned violent between anti- and pro-government forces, the Thai Royal Army finally stepped in. Since Tuesday morning, the martial law is in place over the Kingdom. The military statement was signed by army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-Ocha. According to a statement from the military, the martial law was called on action because on-going struggles which increasingly constitutes a threat to the stability and safety of the Kingdom. 
 

Acrimonious demonstrations and increasing violence – which already claim 28 deads and over 700 injured people, are also taking their toll on the economy and tourism. Thailand GDP contracted by 2.1% during the first quarter, the worst performance of any countries in Asia while 50 countries put travel advisories advising to avoid, defer or exercise caution when travelling to Thailand. 
 

The martial law is “not a coup” stressed the army which took over all television channels this early morning. According to the statement “the move is to restore peace and order for people from all sides. The public do not need to panic but can still live their lives as normal,” according to the Army. Tourists have nothing to fear from the call to the martial law. In contrary to other countries, the martial law aims only at assuring peace in the Kingdom. Life goes on normally in Bangkok and the provinces with offices, malls and entertainment venues operating as usual. 
 

Martial law indeed gives the army control over security, but leaves the government in place to fulfill its duties in other fields, unlike a coup. Except that the political limbo in Thailand currently remains as the acting government has no power following the collapse of ex-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. 
 

In the past 80 years, Thailand already witnessed 18 coups, the last of which being in 2006. At least, if the martial law helps to process with peaceful elections and not finally turns into a permanent rule by the military, normality is now expected to come back to a country struggling about its future.