The Thai military seized control of the country on Thursday in a coup, the culmination of months of maneuvering by the Bangkok establishment to sideline the populist movement founded by a billionaire tycoon that has won every national election since 2001.
It was the second time in a decade that the army has overthrown an elected government and at least the 12th military coup since Thailand abandoned the absolute monarchy in 1932. The takeover came two days after the military declared martial law.
In a series of announcements Thursday, the military declared the Constitution invalid, dissolved the cabinet, banned gatherings of more than five people, imposed a curfew and shut schools. But it said the courts would continue operating, as would the Senate, half of whose members are appointed and are friendly to the Bangkok elite.
Television stations were ordered to replace their regular programming with messages from the military and patriotic songs.
Thailand, with one of Southeast Asia’s largest economies, has long been a potent draw both for foreign investment and tourists attracted by its reputation as “the land of smiles.” But in recent months, the country has made headlines worldwide for a protest movement seeking to suspend democracy, at least in the short term, as it struggled to unseat a governing party it has been unable to defeat at the polls.
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