The WSJ reports, "Thailand's army chief announced a military coup in a televised statement Thursday, after two attempts to negotiate an end to a monthslong political impasse failed.
The military, together with the police, "needs to seize control of the situation in the country, effective May 22," Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said, citing the worry that political violence could escalate.
The country's Constitution was "temporarily suspended," the military announced, excluding any articles related to the monarchy. And the military said it terminated the caretaker government but said it expected the nation's Senate, courts and independent organizations to function normally.
The military imposed a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., ordered all street protesters to leave their rallying sites and banned gatherings of more than five people.
Gen. Prayuth's announcement came after he headed a second day of meetings with pro- and antigovernment groups, top government ministers and other key figures in Thai politics.
The country has been bitterly divided between supporters of the populist government and its conservative opponents who have been massing on the streets for more than half a year in a bid to topple the administration.
Some two dozen people have been killed in political violence since the current wave of protests began in November, deepening the fissures in a country where the memory of the coup that removed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra from power in 2006 remains vivid. The crisis escalated earlier this month when Thailand's Constitutional Court removed Mr. Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, from her post as the country's prime minister for improperly removing a top bureaucrat after her election win in 2011, a move that exasperated many of her supporters.
Gen. Prayuth's meeting with pro- and antigovernment groups lasted for more than two hours on Thursday. Then, armed soldiers were deployed and reporters were ordered to stay away. Meeting participants were rushed out in vehicles, headed off to an unknown location.
All regular television programing was suspended before Gen. Prayuth appeared on TV, with commanders from other armed forces, including police officials, by his side. The military ordered all radio and television stations to broadcast content from the military only.
"The military has to return peace and order to the country as soon as possible and to reform [the] political and social structure to ensure fairness for every side," he said. "I ask the people to remain calm and carry on with their business as usual."
The government of acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan couldn't be reached for comment. The military summoned Mr. Niwattumrong and his cabinet ministers to report immediately to an army base".
