'This is not a coup' says Thai army, as martial law declared

[struggle4progress]

By Amy Sawitta Lefevre
BANGKOK Tue May 20, 2014 12:11am EDT

(Reuters) - Thailand's army declared martial law nationwide on Tuesday to restore order after six months of street protests that have left the country without a proper functioning government, but denied that it was staging a military coup.

While troops patrolled the streets of Bangkok, the caretaker government led by supporters of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was still in office, military and government officials said. Ministers were not informed of the army's plans before the surprise announcement on television at 3 a.m. (4 p.m. EDT on Monday).

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said the military was taking charge of public security because of violent protests that had claimed lives and caused damage. Nearly 30 people have been killed since the protests began in November last year ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/20/us-thailand-protests-idUSBREA4I0VV20140520

[merrily]

1. Of course not. Neither was Egypt.

And these are not the droids you're looking for, either.