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| Why launch Thailand takeover now? | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| It was a strange day, but not because we were not expecting a military takeover - a coup had been on the cards since martial law was declared on Tuesday. | It was a strange day, but not because we were not expecting a military takeover - a coup had been on the cards since martial law was declared on Tuesday. |
| It was more the way events unfolded. | It was more the way events unfolded. |
| On Wednesday, Thailand's army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha had summoned representatives of all the main political groups for talks. | On Wednesday, Thailand's army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha had summoned representatives of all the main political groups for talks. |
| They spoke for two hours and we were then briefed that things had gone well and that everyone had been given "homework" to complete on the key issues. | They spoke for two hours and we were then briefed that things had gone well and that everyone had been given "homework" to complete on the key issues. |
| We were expecting more of the same on Thursday. | We were expecting more of the same on Thursday. |
| No-one realistically expected Thailand's deep-rooted political problems to be solved overnight - or indeed in a couple of hours of discussions - so why did Gen Prayuth decided to so dramatically end proceedings and seize power? | No-one realistically expected Thailand's deep-rooted political problems to be solved overnight - or indeed in a couple of hours of discussions - so why did Gen Prayuth decided to so dramatically end proceedings and seize power? |
| No timetable | No timetable |
| Watching from outside the compound where the meeting was taking place, we saw military trucks suddenly block the entrances and exits before soldiers began to force us back. | Watching from outside the compound where the meeting was taking place, we saw military trucks suddenly block the entrances and exits before soldiers began to force us back. |
| Then minivans containing the leaders of the political parties, demonstrating groups and government emerged, escorted by troops. | Then minivans containing the leaders of the political parties, demonstrating groups and government emerged, escorted by troops. |
| Something was clearly up and a few minutes later Gen Prayuth appeared on television to announce that he had taken over. | Something was clearly up and a few minutes later Gen Prayuth appeared on television to announce that he had taken over. |
| Tellingly, in his address he spoke of restoring order and reforms, but not of a timetable for elections. | Tellingly, in his address he spoke of restoring order and reforms, but not of a timetable for elections. |
| In the evening, decrees were issued consolidating the military's hold on power. | In the evening, decrees were issued consolidating the military's hold on power. |
| Key coup conditions | Key coup conditions |
| By then it had a new name for their command structure, the Orwellian sounding "National Peace and Order Maintaining Council". | By then it had a new name for their command structure, the Orwellian sounding "National Peace and Order Maintaining Council". |
| Over a period of hours the constitution was suspended, TV channels blocked and a curfew imposed. | Over a period of hours the constitution was suspended, TV channels blocked and a curfew imposed. |
| Protest camps were cleared - the pro-government Red Shirts' site outside Bangkok forcefully; the opposition PDRC movement's in the city centre more amicably, with buses laid on to take demonstrators home. | Protest camps were cleared - the pro-government Red Shirts' site outside Bangkok forcefully; the opposition PDRC movement's in the city centre more amicably, with buses laid on to take demonstrators home. |
| What changed? | What changed? |
| For many of the PDRC's supporters, a coup is the end result they had been hoping for. | For many of the PDRC's supporters, a coup is the end result they had been hoping for. |
| But questions remain. Did Gen Prayuth really expect to achieve success in talks in two short meetings? Or was it his always his intention to make a token nod towards negotiations before stepping in? | But questions remain. Did Gen Prayuth really expect to achieve success in talks in two short meetings? Or was it his always his intention to make a token nod towards negotiations before stepping in? |
| Could the talks really have been a ruse to get all the key leaders in one place before detaining them? | Could the talks really have been a ruse to get all the key leaders in one place before detaining them? |
| In the past, Gen Prayuth has expressed a reluctance to resort to a military coup. | In the past, Gen Prayuth has expressed a reluctance to resort to a military coup. |
| So what changed from Tuesday to Thursday? There certainly was not a deterioration in security. | So what changed from Tuesday to Thursday? There certainly was not a deterioration in security. |
| There has been some suggestion that elements within the Thai army may have forced his hand, or indeed that some external factor may have played a part. | There has been some suggestion that elements within the Thai army may have forced his hand, or indeed that some external factor may have played a part. |
| The rush from martial law to full-blown coup has left many here shaking and scratching their heads. | The rush from martial law to full-blown coup has left many here shaking and scratching their heads. |
| Are you in Thailand? What is your reaction to the military coup? Email Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences, using the subject Thailand. | Are you in Thailand? What is your reaction to the military coup? Email Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences, using the subject Thailand. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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