Thailand‘s powerful military has again moved a step closer towards staging a coup, as forces overnight move into the nation’s capital city Bangkok, following months of violent anti-government protests that have left 28 people dead, and scores more injured.
The military has taken control of TV broadcasting, but insists that their moves are not part of any planned coup. Though the Thai Government insists it was not consulted prior to the move, it was quick to reassure that acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan remained in power.
The nation has been in the grip of growing political and civil unrest since November of last year, when protests started following a proposed amnesty bill that would have pardoned all wrongdoers stemming from previous unrest in 2004, which included exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The protest movement aimed to remove the influence of the Shinawatra family from Thai politics altogether. Political parties either led by, or aligned to, Thaksin Shinawatra have won every democratic election held in Thailand since 2001, although four Prime Ministers have been removed either by coup or court ruling.
The crisis intensified earlier this month after incumbent Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra – Thaksin’s sister – was thrown out of office. Clashes between pro and anti-government groups has since escalated, with leaders of the anti-government movement threatening increased levels of violence over the past few weeks, which has caused the military to intervene.
Thailand’s military is particularly influential in Thai politics and has, over the past 81 years, attempted or staged coups on 18 occasions.
The situation remains extremely volatile, and has led the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to issue warnings to all Australians currently in Thailand or planning on visiting in the coming months.
Photo: Christophe Archambault via Getty Images.
via ABC News.
