Thailand under Martial Law

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Early this morning the Royal Thai Army declared martial law throughout the kingdom, but it insists that this is not a coup.  The present caretaker government is still in place, but the Army is taking control of all security and will censor whatever media it sees fit for the time being. 

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In 2006 the Army did stage a coup, ousting then Prime Minister Thaksin and his government.  As they did today, the Army moved in the early morning hours, and the nation wakes up to the news. 

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Since the anti-government demonstrations started six months ago, over two dozen people have died and hundreds wounded in violent clashes between them and the pro-government Red Shirts.  Neither group will stand down.  Evidently the Army thinks it can stop the cycle of violence, but that will depend on the Reds next move.  The Reds are hard-core tough, and they have no love for the Army. 

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Here is a good article from The Nation about “What the Martial Law Entails.”  Here is an article from the Bangkok Post. 

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I plan to take a cautious walk about the immediate neighborhood today to check things out. 

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Latest news:  Army prohibits TV broadcasts from radical stations on both sides of the political divide, those of the Red Shirts and of the anti-government camp.  (This is where Twitter is actually useful:  up-to-the-minute news flashes.) 

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-Zenwind.

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