Thailand's army in a surprise pre-dawn move today declared martial law to maintain order after six months of anti-government protests that left the country paralysed, but denied it had staged a coup.
Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha also invited both the country's rival political blocs for talks, hours after imposing martial law.
"We are in the process of inviting both sides to talk but at the minute the situation is still not normal... That's why I have had to invoke martial law," Prayuth told reporters.
The move was announced on the military's television channel at 3 AM (1:30 IST).
"The Army aims to maintain peace, order and public safety for all groups and all parties," a ticker running on the army's television channel said. The military insisted that its assumption of responsibility for national security was not a coup.
"People are urged not to panic, and can carry on their business as usual. Declaring martial law is not a coup d'etat," it said.
An army spokesman said that the imposition of martial law will have no impact on the caretaker government which remains in office. The announcement also granted the army wide-ranging powers to enforce its decision.
In response, acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan urged the army to act "under the constitution" and "with no violence".
An aide to the premier said the government had not been consulted about the army's decision.
"They took this action unilaterally. The government is having a special meeting regarding this," the aide said, describing the situation as "half a coup d'etat".
The military's decision was approved by Prayuth, citing a 1914 law that allows it to intervene during times of crisis.
Prayuth called on the rival parties to talk to each other and resolve the political crisis. Martial law would remain in place until "peace and order" had been restored, he told government officials today, the BBC reported.
Martial law comes after a long-running political crisis, and months of escalating tensions between the government and the opposition. Anti-government protesters have staged mass protests in recent days to topple the government.
