Thailand military seizes power: Army chief
Iran Press TV
Thu May 22, 2014 12:48PM GMT
Thailand's army chief says the armed forces have seized power, saying the act was necessary to restore stability after six months of political deadlock and turmoil.
The National Peace Keeping commission would now take control of the country's administration, General Prayuth Chan-ocha said in an address to the nation on Thursday.
He said that the country's committee needs to prevent violence and restore stability in the country.
The general failed, however, to provide clarity on a path forward.
The army coup comes after a second round of talks between rival political parties and election officials failed on Thursday.
On May 20, Thailand's army declared martial law across the country.
Anti-government protesters, however, say they will continue their rallies, which erupted in Thailand six months ago.
Tensions deepened in Thailand after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office on May 7 for abusing power. The premier's Pheu Thai Party, however, refused to leave power and immediately replaced Shinawatra with the country's Commerce Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.
Protesters are pushing the Senate and the country's courts to remove the caretaker administration and install a non-elected premier. They say they will obstruct the elections set for July that would likely give the ruling party a victory.
Anti-government demonstrations primarily erupted in Thailand after the government proposed an amnesty bill last October that could have pardoned Yingluck's brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, setting the scene for his return to Thailand.
Opponents saw Yingluck as a proxy for her elder brother, who was toppled in a coup in 2006. Thaksin has been in self-exile since 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence.
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