Thailand tourists and locals, as part of their daily routine, have taken time to pose for selfies amid the tenseful environment with the declaration of martial law before dawn on May 20.
Army Chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha declared martial law at 3 a.m. citing a 1914 law that the authority has the power to intervene in times of crisis. A signed statement noted the military had taken actions to keep peace and order, but denied it is not a coup d' etat.
What follows the declaration are troops and armored vehicles taking positions outside the broadcast facilities and in the streets at some key intersections in Bangkok.
With the suspension of normal programming, television stations in the country are placed under the watchful eyes of the authority.
"The Army aims to maintain peace, order and public safety for all groups and all parties. People are urged not to panic, and can carry on their business as usual. Declaring martial law is not a coup d' etat," read the ticker from the television channel according to CNN.
Apparently, the ordinary citizens and people in Thailand have been accustomed to the political unrest that has beset the country over the past six months. Commuters and passers-by rarely blink their eyes while going through the main intersection in Bangkok's shopping district, which is already occupied with an armored vehicle at the center.
Some of the citizens snapped selfies while attending a small rally near the Government House in Bangkok in opposition to the martial law declaration. There are also others to take their smartphones and tablets to click photographs of the passing military vehicles.
In an article from First Post, a manager for an IT company named Win said, "I am not worried but let's wait and see. Now there is deadlock. I'm OK with martial law, it is a way to control the two sides. In a few days, the situation will be clearer."
Bangkok-based risk assessment firm PQA Associates Director Paul Quaglia said the situation in Thailand is a martial law light.
He added, "I think what the military is trying to do with this...is to convince protesters to go home. They're trying to dial down the tensions here as well as preempt several large rallies and strikes that were scheduled for later this week."
Checkout the selfies and other photos in the slideshow regarding the declaration of martial law in Thailand.
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Anti-government protesters deliver food and water to Thai soldiers at a checkpoint near pro-government "red shirt" supporters encampment in suburbs of Bangkok May 20, 2014. 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 the surprise move amounted to a military coup. REUTERSA woman takes a "selfie" photograph as activists attend a small protest against the declaration of martial law and the army's involvement in politics, in central Bangkok May 20, 2014. 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 insisted the surprise intervention was not a military coup.REUTERSAn anti-government protester blows a whistle as other cheer during a rally near the Government House in Bangkok May 20, 2014. 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 insisted the surprise intervention was not a military coup. REUTERSA morning commuter passes behind a machine gun mounted on a military vehicle after Thai army took positions in central Bangkok May 20, 2014. Thailand's army declared martial law on Tuesday to restore order after six months of anti-government protests which have left the country without a proper functioning government, but the move did not constitute a coup, military officials said. Reuters/StringerCommuters drive their motorcycles past Thai soldiers positioned in the middle of a main intersection in Bangkok's shopping district May 20, 2014. Thailand's army declared martial law on Tuesday to restore order after six months of anti-government protests which have left the country without a proper functioning government, but the move did not constitute a coup, military officials said. REUTERSA man takes pictures of a soldier sitting in a military vehicle, with a machine gun mounted on it, after the Thai army took their positions in central Bangkok May 20, 2014. Thailand's army declared martial law on Tuesday to restore order after six months of anti-government protests which have left the country without a proper functioning government, but the move did not constitute a coup, military officials said. Reuters/StringerThai soldiers occupy the foyer of the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand television station in Bangkok May 20, 2014.Thailand's army declared martial law on Tuesday to restore order after six months of anti-government protests which have left the country without a functioning government.The declaration did not constitute a coup and was made in response to deteriorating security, an army general said. REUTERS
