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| Thailand Army |
Martial law is the imposition of military power over designated regions on an emergency basis.
Martial law is usually imposed on a temporary basis when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively (e.g., maintain order and security, or provide essential services). In full-scale martial law, the highest-ranking military officer would take over, or be installed, as the military governor or as head of the government, thus removing all power from the previous executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
Martial law can be used by governments to enforce their rule over the public. Such incidents may occur after a coup d'état (such as Thailand in 2006); when threatened by popular protest (China, Tiananmen Square protests of 1989); to suppress political opposition (Poland in 1981); or to stabilize insurrections or perceived insurrections (Canada, The October Crisis of 1970). Martial law may be declared in cases of major natural disasters; however, most countries use a different legal construct, such as a state of emergency.
Martial law has also been imposed during conflicts and in cases of occupations, where the absence of any other civil government provides for an unstable population. Examples of this form of military rule include post World War II reconstruction in Germany and Japan as well as the southern reconstruction following the U.S. Civil War.
Typically, the imposition of martial law accompanies curfews, the suspension of civil law, civil rights, habeas corpus, and the application or extension of military law or military justice to civilians. Civilians defying martial law may be subjected to military tribunal (court-martial).
It's tense in Thailand, where violence has spilled into the streets, causing deaths, injuries and political instability that led to the Thai army declaring martial law Tuesday. Two weeks ago, after protests shook the country, the country's Constitutional Court removed caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from government. The people of Thailand are all too familiar with coup d'etats. The military is guarding all Thai TV stations, Thai public television announced, showing pictures of soldiers and armored vehicles taking positions outside broadcast facilities in the country's capital. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok alerted American citizens in the country to the invoking of martial law in a statement Tuesday. The military has established a security task force called the Peace Keeping Command Center, which is headed by army Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and operates from the Thai Army Club in Bangkok. At a news conference, the general said he wanted "all political parties" to start a dialogue aimed at ending the political crisis in Thailand, saying the military "won't allow any bloodshed." A human rights activist as well as a divisive political icon, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have criticized the army's bold actions. "With the enforcement of martial law, the army is one step closer to taking over power completely from civilian administration," he said. The ousted caretaker Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is Thaksin's younger sister. Military tightrope walk It's too soon to tell whether the military's declaration of martial law will ease tensions or heighten them, analysts said. If the military appears to be favoring one side, he said, violence could escalate rather than cool down. Paul Quaglia, director at Bangkok-based risk assessment firm PQA Associates, described the situation as "martial law light." "Right now the military has deployed troops around key intersections of the city. Increased government efforts to improve security are a positive step, Quaglia said. "That being said, martial law will not solve the political problems that continue to haunt this country," he said. Thailand's army chief has invited both sides of the kingdom's political divide to talks, hours after imposing martial law following nearly seven months of anti-government protests. The army chief urged pro- and anti-government protesters not to clash, amid fears of widespread violence as the political crisis intensifies, and added martial law would be revoked after peace and order had been restored to the country. Earlier the military said its action was not a coup. Months of anti-government protests have seen 28 people killed and hundreds more wounded in political violence.
When asked if he intends to stage a military coup, in a nation which has seen nearly 20 successful or attempted coups, the general responded: "Don't jump to conclusions." "We are concerned this violence could harm the country's security in general. Then, in order to restore law and order to the country, we have declared martial law," Gen Prayuth said. An aide said caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan had summoned a government meeting at an undisclosed location to discuss the situation. The military, which put down a pro-Thaksin protest movement in 2010, has staged numerous coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Anti-government protesters want a "neutral" prime minister appointed to oversee electoral reforms aimed at ending Mr Thaksin's influence. Thailand's powerful military chief intervened Tuesday for the first time in the country's latest political crisis, declaring martial law and dispatching gun-mounted jeeps into the heart of the capital with a vow to resolve the deepening conflict as quickly as possible. The army action came one day after Thailand's caretaker prime minister refused to step down, and followed new threats by anti-government protesters to intensify their campaign to oust the ruling party by next week. Cabinet ministers said army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha did not consult the government before issuing the surprise announcement Tuesday to take charge of security nationwide. Selfies with soldiers In the military announcement, Prayuth cited a 1914 law giving authority to intervene during crises. Afterward, he issued a brief statement saying only that the government hopes the military action will "bring peace back to the people of every group and every side." Thailand's problems are "fundamentally political problems that must be solved through political processes under democracy ... not military or security measures," Chaturon said. The anti-government protesters want an interim, unelected government to implement vaguely defined reforms to fight corruption — and to remove the Shinawatra family's influence from politics.
On Monday, Thailand's acting prime minister insisted his government would not resign, resisting pressure from a group of senators calling for a new interim government with full power to conduct political reforms. Competing protests in Bangkok have raised concerns of more violence. Brad Adams, Asia Director for Human Rights Watch, denounced the army move, calling it "a de facto coup." Thailand Politics An armed Thai military police stands guard at the entrance to a hall of the army club in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand's army said martial law was aimed at keeping the country stable after six months of turbulent political unrest. "The broad powers conferred on the military mean that there are no legal safeguards against rights violations." The army issued edicts throughout the day. In one, they asked TV and radio stations to interrupt programming for army broadcasts. In another, they ordered police "to stop gatherings or activities that oppose" a new military command centre established to oversee the imposition of martial law. Prayuth said rival protesters could remain at their rally sites as long as they remain peaceful and stop marching. 'We will see what the army wants' The leader of the pro-government Red Shirt movement, Jatuporn Prompan, said his group could accept martial law, but wouldn't tolerate a coup. "We will see what the army wants," he said, warning that the undemocratic removal of the country's caretaker government "will never solve the country's crisis and will plunge Thailand deeper into trouble." "Martial law is just a short-term intervention. Thailand needs to find a solution for the political vacuum," the group said.
It's tense in Thailand, where violence has spilled into the streets, causing deaths, injuries and political instability that led to the Thai army declaring martial law Tuesday. Two weeks ago, after protests shook the country, the country's Constitutional Court removed caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from government. The people of Thailand are all too familiar with coup d'etats. The military is guarding all Thai TV stations, Thai public television announced, showing pictures of soldiers and armored vehicles taking positions outside broadcast facilities in the country's capital. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok alerted American citizens in the country to the invoking of martial law in a statement Tuesday. The military has established a security task force called the Peace Keeping Command Center, which is headed by army Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and operates from the Thai Army Club in Bangkok. At a news conference, the general said he wanted "all political parties" to start a dialogue aimed at ending the political crisis in Thailand, saying the military "won't allow any bloodshed." A human rights activist as well as a divisive political icon, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have criticized the army's bold actions. "With the enforcement of martial law, the army is one step closer to taking over power completely from civilian administration," he said. The ousted caretaker Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is Thaksin's younger sister. Military tightrope walk It's too soon to tell whether the military's declaration of martial law will ease tensions or heighten them, analysts said. If the military appears to be favoring one side, he said, violence could escalate rather than cool down. Paul Quaglia, director at Bangkok-based risk assessment firm PQA Associates, described the situation as "martial law light." "Right now the military has deployed troops around key intersections of the city. Increased government efforts to improve security are a positive step, Quaglia said. "That being said, martial law will not solve the political problems that continue to haunt this country," he said. Thailand's army chief has invited both sides of the kingdom's political divide to talks, hours after imposing martial law following nearly seven months of anti-government protests. The army chief urged pro- and anti-government protesters not to clash, amid fears of widespread violence as the political crisis intensifies, and added martial law would be revoked after peace and order had been restored to the country. Earlier the military said its action was not a coup. Months of anti-government protests have seen 28 people killed and hundreds more wounded in political violence.
When asked if he intends to stage a military coup, in a nation which has seen nearly 20 successful or attempted coups, the general responded: "Don't jump to conclusions." "We are concerned this violence could harm the country's security in general. Then, in order to restore law and order to the country, we have declared martial law," Gen Prayuth said. An aide said caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan had summoned a government meeting at an undisclosed location to discuss the situation. The military, which put down a pro-Thaksin protest movement in 2010, has staged numerous coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Anti-government protesters want a "neutral" prime minister appointed to oversee electoral reforms aimed at ending Mr Thaksin's influence. Thailand's powerful military chief intervened Tuesday for the first time in the country's latest political crisis, declaring martial law and dispatching gun-mounted jeeps into the heart of the capital with a vow to resolve the deepening conflict as quickly as possible. The army action came one day after Thailand's caretaker prime minister refused to step down, and followed new threats by anti-government protesters to intensify their campaign to oust the ruling party by next week. Cabinet ministers said army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha did not consult the government before issuing the surprise announcement Tuesday to take charge of security nationwide. Selfies with soldiers In the military announcement, Prayuth cited a 1914 law giving authority to intervene during crises. Afterward, he issued a brief statement saying only that the government hopes the military action will "bring peace back to the people of every group and every side." Thailand's problems are "fundamentally political problems that must be solved through political processes under democracy ... not military or security measures," Chaturon said. The anti-government protesters want an interim, unelected government to implement vaguely defined reforms to fight corruption — and to remove the Shinawatra family's influence from politics.
On Monday, Thailand's acting prime minister insisted his government would not resign, resisting pressure from a group of senators calling for a new interim government with full power to conduct political reforms. Competing protests in Bangkok have raised concerns of more violence. Brad Adams, Asia Director for Human Rights Watch, denounced the army move, calling it "a de facto coup." Thailand Politics An armed Thai military police stands guard at the entrance to a hall of the army club in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand's army said martial law was aimed at keeping the country stable after six months of turbulent political unrest. "The broad powers conferred on the military mean that there are no legal safeguards against rights violations." The army issued edicts throughout the day. In one, they asked TV and radio stations to interrupt programming for army broadcasts. In another, they ordered police "to stop gatherings or activities that oppose" a new military command centre established to oversee the imposition of martial law. Prayuth said rival protesters could remain at their rally sites as long as they remain peaceful and stop marching. 'We will see what the army wants' The leader of the pro-government Red Shirt movement, Jatuporn Prompan, said his group could accept martial law, but wouldn't tolerate a coup. "We will see what the army wants," he said, warning that the undemocratic removal of the country's caretaker government "will never solve the country's crisis and will plunge Thailand deeper into trouble." "Martial law is just a short-term intervention. Thailand needs to find a solution for the political vacuum," the group said.
