Two days after Thailand's military instituted martial law in what it said was decidedly not a coup, the army chief took to national television today to announce that now it's staging a coup d'etat. The move abruptly ended two days of meetings between political rivals that had failed to break the impasse, reports the AP. Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said the military staged the coup "in order to bring the situation back to normal quickly," adds the New York Times. He cited the need to quickly push through reforms to "the political structure, the economy, and the society." Hours later, he announced that the country's constitution had been suspended, notes the BBC.
The military detained at least some of the political leaders who showed up for talks today, including anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, the Guardian reports. Interim premier Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan's whereabouts are unknown. Soldiers reportedly moved into position at protest sites across Bangkok, according to the Washington Post. On the outskirts of the city, they fired shots into the air to disperse thousands of redshirt activists. Television stations have stopped broadcasting—a military spokesman said that TV and radio must only air army-approved programming. A 10pm curfew has also been instituted. But Thailand is accustomed to coups, CNN points out; in the wake of Tuesday's takeover, a hashtag started trending that roughly translates to "Show me a cute soldier," with locals snapping pics of dreamy enforcers. (More Thailand stories.)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
