Thai Military Coup
News of the military coup in Thailand has spread around the world since the coup took place last night. The FiNS Magazine team in Thailand has prepared this update:
Troops are all around the city, but everything has been completely peaceful. The soldiers are all poilte, and people are free to walk around. Many of the soldiers have tied yellow or blue ribbons on themselves as a sign of respect for our King, who is loved by everyone in the country.
We’re not sure if it’s clear in the international media or not, but everyone here is free to move about, despite the imposition of martial law. In fact, many people in Bangkok are going around taking photographs with tanks and the soldiers. Some people have even prepared snacks, flowers and other gifts for the soldiers.
For the time being, all banks, schools, universities and most businesses are closed, though hospitals are open for emergencies and patients with appointments. But all-in-all, the atmosphere is calm, almost like having a public holiday.
For everyone who’s not familiar with Thai culture and history, the military has been an important part of society for many years. Coups have happened in the past, but they have mostly been resolved quite quickly, and the military is respectful of civil society.
This coup has been rumoured for many weeks, due to the longstanding political crisis in Thailand. The reasons for the political crisis that spawned this coup are complex, so it will no doubt take time to work through the political implications. But everyone expects that this crisis will pass soon, and life will return to normal.