It was 3 a.m. in Thailand. Presumably barely anyone was watching. But the country's military chief chose that hour to appear on army-run Channel 5 television Tuesday to declare martial law across the country. "This is not a coup," said Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha, hours before the nation's people woke to the new public order; with soldiers stationed at intersections and tanks on the streets. The army says it has taken control to ensure law and order in a country split by deep political divisions, two weeks after the country's Constitutional Court removed caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from government. "The defendant has abused her position as prime minister," said the judge in the ruling. "Her prime ministership has ... ended."
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Thai military says it's imposition of martial law is not a coup d'etat
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Declaration made on army at 3 a.m. local time to cause "minimum fuss"
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Army chief says the move was necessary to restore law and order
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Commentators watching and waiting for military's next move
The fate of the nation is essentially in Gen. @placeholder's hands," he said.